A different view

There’s more to close-up photography than flowers and insects, says Tracy Calder. Four photographers share how they retain an open mind, and a sense of play, when shooting everyday subjects

- Tracy Calder

Rob Blanken

Having recently retired from his career as a dermatologist, Rob Blanken is delighted to be able to spend more time pursuing his passion for nature photography – in particular birds, insects and abstract compositions. Rob strives to capture ‘ordinary’ subjects in a fresh and unusual way, while also evoking emotions and communicating stories via his photography. He lives in the north of the Netherlands with his wife and two border terriers. To see more of Rob’s work, visit www.robblankenphotography.com

Training your eyes to see ordinary subjects in new, interesting ways takes time and patience. For Rob Blanken, the process begins by looking at the work of other nature photographers (especially the ‘real toppers’), which gives him an extensive frame of reference. Doing so also helps him to identify, ‘what has not been done yet’, which sparks ideas. Outside photography, Rob admires the work of painters JMW Turner (‘especially his use of colour’), Mark Rothko and Egon Schiele. While his style is very much his own, he admits there’s much in the world that he finds beautiful and fascinating, and subconsciously it must influence his work. But what, I wonder, does a former career as a dermatologist bring to the mix? ‘Dermatology is a profession that requires careful attention,’ he says. ‘Small differences can have important consequences. It’s the same with photography. I know quite a few dermatologists who paint or take pictures!’