“I
spend most of my free time photographing nature,
away from the maddening crowds.”
-Fred Braakman
Born
in the Netherlands, and emigrated to Canada in the 1950’s with his parents,
Fred Braakman, always had an interest in art. He practiced drawing and
painting during his formative years however, when he entered university, he
decided to focus on a technical career, and obtained a degree in chemistry.
Fred Braakman met his
wife during his education at the University of Alberta, and both pursued
their careers together. He continued to maintain his interest in the arts on
a part time basis, and eventually enrolled in private instruction in
painting under Eileen Raucher Sutton for three years. Along the way he
developed an interest in photography and pursued this medium to the present
day.
more
This shot was taken
early in June, as the sun was rising, through gray clouds which hung over
the eastern shore of the lake. It had been raining, and the wetness helped
to saturate the beautiful colors of the gravel bed in front of me. I love
the detail afforded by the large format camera I was using, which cannot be
equalled with by the smaller camera formats.
This image was shot inside a courtyard of an
apartment suite in Berlin this summer. The tree filled the window looking
out to the courtyard, and the air was moving gently with a slight breeze. It
was a very peaceful scene.
It was a very cold afternoon. Too cold to set up
one's camera really, but I could not resist taking the shot. The light
purveyed a softness over the scene, as the sun was setting in the west.
One of the most striking
sights in the countryside of my native Holland, are the heather fields,
which are very abundant. This location is a favourite hiking area in the
region of Gelderland, on the Elburg Way road, near my hometown. Many native
Dutch people spend their Sunday afternoons taking in the sun and nature,
either hiking on foot, or riding their bicycles along the paths in the
fields. Local Hollanders consider this to be the most beautiful area of
Holland. Again, a good opportunity to employ the view camera format for
maximum detail.
It was a misty August
morning, very quiet, and mysterious. The mist was just clearing, and I
remember taking the shot with a feeling of complete isolation. I liked the
diagonals made by the reflections in the water, and the softness of the
trees on the opposite shore.
The air was fresh, it
was a cold April morning, and I was taken by the stillness of the water, and
the air. The sun had just risen, and the light was slowly spreading its
influence over the massive peak in the distance.
The term "Graght" means "canal" in Dutch. The
sun was just rising and I was struck by the beautiful reflections of the
boats in the water. People were just stirring, and the streets would soon be
filled with hundreds of tourists, and locals, going about their daily
business.
What caught my eye was the brightness of the
aspen leaves against the reflection in the water of the mountain in the
background. Taken on the Banff Jasper highway, June.
The country side in my native homeland of Holland, is very beautiful. The
forests are very lush, and the beech trees are very large. Again, the
stillness appeals to me, and the canopy of of branches overhead gave a
feeling of oneness with nature. The afternoon sun broke through the trees in
the distance. The scene afforded optimal use of the view camera format .
Picture This
framing & gallery is an authorized representative for:
The Greenwich Workshop, Millpond Press, Somerset House,
The Western Lights Artists Group,
The Artist's Garden, Clearwater Publishing and other Fine Art publishers
Contact Us for more info.
