About
Hello. I'm Gert Jan Kole; a storyteller, an amateur, a nerd and an artist.
A storyteller.
I weave tales with light. To me, that's what photography - derived from the Greek φωτός (phōtós), meaning light, and γραφή (graphé), meaning writing - is all about. I am particularly enchanted by narrating the beauty that surrounds us, for what you focus on, flourishes.
- As a portraitist, my aim is to reveal the essence of the person in front of me, seeking beauty within.
- When shooting bodyscapes, I focus on the diverse and intriguing shapes of the human physique.
- In 'Close to My Heart' participants share a part of their life's story, as they're portrayed with something dear to them.
- In my macro photography and the images I create during my local photowalks and travels, I’m exposing the splendour I see in nature. To quote Vincent van Gogh; "Als iemand echt van de natuur houdt, vindt men overal schoonheid." (If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.)
- In the backgrounds section you'll find a collection of 16:9 4K images, available for download as desktop wallpaper, or backdrop for Teams or Zoom.
An amateur (again).
Born as a son of a photographer, I've had a passion for photography for as long as I can remember. So I attended Fotovakschool and became a professional photographer, just like my Dad. In the early nineties I found myself in a creative cul-de-sac, quit my job and pursued a different career path. Once my livelihood no longer depended on it, my passion for photography was rekindled, transforming me into an amateur in the truest sense of the term - a 'lover [of something]' - once again. Ever since I've enjoyed making photographs, increasingly honing in on the human form and nature. Occasionally, I accept assignments from private clients, corporations and magazines, but most of what you'll find here is uncommissioned work.
A nerd.
As a creative technologist, I'm constantly exploring new creative applications for technology, and new technology to support my creativity. Anything that aids my 'writing with light' process (yes, that wording intentionally excludes generative AI) is welcome. I've embraced the digital workflow since its inception but still remain fond of artisanal analog film photography. Hence, I use both digital and analog cameras, both on location and in studio.
An artist.
Dr. Edith Eger teaches us that "the opposite of depression is expression". Thus, I create art to express myself. Using light, skill and imagination, I strive to craft something beautiful and meaningful. If you want to express yourself too, and you're looking for a non-commercial creative collaboration, please explore my 'Time for Picture' Model Release (English / Dutch) to see if that concept fits your plans. If you would like to work with me, shoot me an email to see if there's a click!
Gert Jan Kole
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Please note: All images on this website with people in them are copyrighted and may not be used without permission. All other photographs on this website are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license. That basically means that you may use the images freely (as long as you mention me and link to this website), with two restrictions: you may not use them commercially, and you may not alter, remix or modify them. If you want to use an image commercially or change it in any way, or you're not entirely sure whether your intended use is covered by this license, contact me.
