My beach photographs are never staged.
Unlike my black-and-white photographs, in which I sculpt bodies and portraits with intention, my beach images grow out of pure observation.
People move through the landscape with a natural ease: swimmers drifting through turquoise water, families creating their own little spaces between cliffs, bodies scattered across white stone. I don’t direct them; I simply observe them from my solitary place on the rocks.
Working with a 4 × 5-inch camera deepens that solitude. The slowness of the camera forces me into stillness. It makes me attentive to geology, to light, and to the way the sea shapes human behaviour.
Over the years, this practice has become a kind of diary. Every year, I choose a new beach to visit. I first go there to study the light, and on the second or third visit, I return with my 4 × 5-inch camera.
I photograph these moments because they feel honest and unperformed, and because they reveal the deep atmosphere of the Mediterranean.
About Kim De Molenaer
Kim De Molenaer is a contemporary photographer whose work is deeply rooted in the light, landscapes, and timeless atmosphere of the Mediterranean. Living and working between Antwerp and various Mediterranean locations, he draws inspiration from the region’s coastal scenery, sunlit architecture, and classical heritage.
His black-and-white photographs capture the raw beauty of the human form, emphasizing vulnerability, strength, and harmony with nature. Characterized by structure, form, and emotion, his predominantly black-and-white images convey energy and movement within stillness, while maintaining a strong sense of harmony and proportion.
De Molenaer’s photographs reveal a remarkable depth within their grey tones, shaped by the intensity of Mediterranean light. In a digital era, he returns to the essence of photography, working primarily with analog cameras and traditional techniques. His black-and-white prints possess a distinctive vibrancy and tactile quality that give his work a unique character.
His photographs reflect a strong commitment to craftsmanship. He handles the analog camera with precision and sensitivity, creating images that are balanced, pure, and visually compelling. He frequently works with the changing qualities of natural daylight in Athens and its surroundings, placing his models in close relationship with nature and the sea.
In his garden and outdoor studio, models, dancers, and athletes come and go, resulting in artworks filled with emotion, authenticity, and an overarching nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s.
His intuitive understanding of the photographic medium and its technical possibilities, combined with an unrestricted imagination and a profound dedication to his practice, reveals an original and deeply personal perspective on the human experience. [Official Website]
