Interview // Belgium Photographer Frederik Vercruysse.

Frederik Vercruysse is a talented Antwerp based photographer. No matter the subject, Frederik’s signature style is very recognisable. He describes his work as still life photography in the broad sense of the word. His aim is to photograph the subject in its purest form, sometimes realistic, often minimalistic. Clean geometric lines and pure shapes are the hallmark of his work. Frederik definitely has an eye for aesthetics and is a true expert in object compositions, as well as architecture, interior and even portrait photography. He approaches the subject with a great deal of detail and honesty. This results in graphic and sometimes even painting-like photographs.

Some of Frederik’s commisions include collaborations with magazines such as Wallpaper, Architectural Digest Germany, A Magazine, Dwell, Case Da Abitare and Elle Decoration. Some of his clients are Airbnb, Capco, Eastpak, Novy, Muller Van Severen, villa eugénie, Rabobank, ENI, Raf Simons, Casalis, Samsonite and many museums, publishers and architects. We feel ever so lucky to have the opportunity to base today’s interview around some of our favourite interior shots by the one and only, Frederik Vercruysse.

Femke & Renaud / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

+ Hello Fredrik and welcome to Yellowtrace. Could you please give us a quick introduction on yourself? When did you first decide you wanted to become a photographer and what path led you to where you are today?

I’ve always been fascinated by images and by capturing moments. I also wanted to be an architect but I quickly felt that I had more interest in photographing architecture and interiors instead of creating them. My interest lays in documenting the result, more than the design process.

The Weird of Interiors for A Magazine / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

House Frederic Hooft & Eva Goethals / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

+ What are you seeking to portray in your work? Is there something that is fundamental to your practice – your philosophy and your process?

I can truly enjoy photographing beautiful architecture or a stunning interior design project. I love to create a photographic walk through a house or a building in a way that the viewer gets a feeling of the flow and atmosphere. Capturing or even creating an atmosphere is what I love. It’s quite the same with creating a still life image. The way I photograph it can almost be considered as photographing microarchitecture. I approach both in the same way. It’s similar with people; I try to tell something about a person by photographing him or her in a specific context. Photographing still life and architecture is making compositions with spaces. It’s the same for Still life photography but then with objects. Using spaces, materials or objects as building blocks in such a way that they are subordinate to the result, the final image.

Apartment Anouk Lepere / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

House Saint-Forget by Andre Wogenscky / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

As for my philosophy… Photography is viewing reality through a pair of glasses. So, photographing something in it’s purest way, in the literal sense of the word, is relative. I just see it as an ambition to photograph as honest as possible. I see it like using a building or an object in order to achieve a good image. I do not like the word building block in a Photoshop meaning. It’s just a different kind of photography and certainly not my kind of photography. My idea of pure photography is very simple. It’s about losing a lot of environmental details and focusing on the essence. Shooting a subject in its purest form is more a kind of emotion to me. I consider it as a 2-way kind of photography – the kind that you will not hang against a wall and the kind that you actually hang against the wall. I notice to myself when an image that I’ve shot hangs on a wall, it mostly is an image that expresses a very and honest and pure story.

Famous by Architecten De Vylder Vinck Taillieu / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

Historic Town Hall of Menen / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

+ Who or what are some of your influences?

Everyday we’re confronted with imagery and other impulses. And of course this has an influence on myself personally and my work. Actually I would love to be a painter because my biggest source of inspiration is paintings. I often try to create scenic images in a contemporary and photographic way, without falling into the clichés of painting. No Still lives with ham legs or landscapes with a dramatic airing. This just seems too easy to me.

My Habitat / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

+ What advice would you give to emerging photographers who want to follow your path? What was one of your biggest lessons learned since starting your practice?

I think it’s advisable to photograph a subject that really lies within your interests and also something that excites you.
For example, if horses passionately interest you, then you should shoot horses. You have to shoot as much as possible. In that way, the best of you as a photographer will come out.
Especially being true to yourself as a person and to try to do your own thing as much as possible.
Have fun, work hard and be patient ☺
If you really believe in your ability, the results will come.

Muller Van Severen for MB! by Mercedes Benz / Photo © Frederik Vercruysse.

+ What has been your career highlight?

Too many ☺
I’ve experienced so many of great moments and it wouldn’t be fair if I would just pick one of them.

+ What’s next – can you share with us your vision and some of your goals?

I would love to engage myself to a project on the long term. Create a large range of imagery; tell a story that results in a large exhibition with as a cherry on the cake a beautiful book of my work.
And of course, keep on shooting fun projects, but that could be anything.