As with all relationships in life, the key to profoundly connecting with someone is trust. The same holds true for the bond between an artist and his or her subject.

On the majority of occasions when I first entered a community, I was unanimously rejected. They were understandably reluctant and afraid of this stranger and I was often met with scepticism towards my intentions. It became customary for me to never enter a community with a camera in sight, and it was normal to wait up to two weeks or more before the first picture was taken. Wherever I went, I would always approach and present a feeling of enormous respect. I deliberately physically positioned myself lower than the people I photographed, showering all with heartfelt compliments. Once the barrier of fear was bridged and a mutual language of awe was developed, a door of reciprocal empathy and understanding opened. As soon as the connections were made, my enthusiasm and passion for aesthetic perfection became infectious. The spirits of everyone involved were elevated to a crescendo, which climaxed in the striving for the perfect picture.

This new product will enable you to view our book wherever you place it in your room.

We are proud to have kept it close to ‘home’ as Look a Book is a small company based in Volendam, one of our proud communities represented in the book Between the Sea and the Sky. It goes without saying that it will carry all of our books with elegant dignity.