Meet the Artist - Peter Geraerts
Peter Geraerts
by Catalina Christensen and Geraldine van Heemstra
To do anything well, or being in with the chance of doing anything well you have to enjoy what you are doing” (Peter Geraerts).
Peter giving a talk at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in 2019
Peter’s passion for photography started in his teens with an interest in motor racing. His first camera was a Pentax SLR. For years after that initial foray photography took a backseat, but then on a trip to Japan in 2007 he bought a digital SLR camera and immersed himself into his true vocation.
His subject matter spans across trips from the Low Lands to the Highlands, the Home Counties to the wild and exotic. Since joining the Wilderness Art Collective he has interviewed numerous artists and is on a mission to speak to all members! This time however, we turn the tables to discover what inspires Peter in his work and subject matter
Female Polar Bear, Svalbard, 2018
To our surprise, Peter states that he doesn’t like people! Amiable, modest, kind, generous and inquisitive, this is hard to accept. But he explains that he is foremost a landscape and wildlife photographer and that whilst he very much appreciates the skill in photographing people it’s not something that he particularly gets pleasure from. Photographing his grandchildren is different as their lack of self awareness and abundance of spontaneity is priceless.
In 2012 he photographed athletes at The Olympics in London, not as portraits, but to capture the action and the moment. This has been the case with motor-racing, birds and even landscapes. Peter is also interested in meteorology as he points out clouds can be such an important element in landscape photography. Their uniqueness affects the landscape in such a way that no two visits to a location are the same. We wonder about a connection here to the Old Dutch Masters with his Netherlandish sounding surname! We learn that he is from a wide European descent, but for generations his family have lived in England
With his photography he loves going out into nature on his own or with his wife Tracy, who is supportive and in his own words very patient when he is off for hours on end to capture that moment of the unexpected. Over many years she has amongst many other things been an invaluable gear carrier when trying to spread the load of the photographic equipment to keep within the baggage allowances especially on some of the smaller aeroplanes. Traveling widely with their children was always a pleasure for him and Tracy. To encourage, to inspire, and to open their minds whilst providing a great experience for all. He said that they have so many precious and happy memories.
Peter is mainly self-taught, having completed some online courses alongside numerous workshops. He has been, and continues to be inspired by numerous professional photographers including Joe Cornish, Charlie Waite, David Noton, Sebastiao Salgado and Michael Kenna. It’s not just the skill of these photographers but their outlook, modesty and approachability. They love what they do. His work furthermore is represented by the Bosham Gallery in Sussex for which the gallery director, Luke Whitaker has provided much insight and support.
We ask Peter when he made the change from amateur to professional photographer. He modestly replies that he sees himself as a happy amateur which allows him to take photos of what he wants, when he wants - purely for pleasure.
Ice to Water, Svalbard 2018
Joining the Wilderness Art Collective, however, made him think more about his own work and how to express those thoughts through words. He was part of the Landlines exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society in 2019, showing large photos of the Arctic and Antarctic. He tells us how much he enjoyed being part of this exhibition, talking to visitors - despite not liking people - about the beauty and fragility of the extremes of the natural world . He wanted to highlight the importance of the effect of climate change for which he has some experience of witnessing. His passion to talk about this subject and inspire people clearly shows.
What inspired Peter to join the Wilderness Art Collective? Peter loves the variation of artists and being part of a collective, although he sees himself as an anomaly given the career and academic backgrounds of all of the other artists. But as the conversation carries on we discuss that like so many of the Collective’s artists, it is about the process. For Peter it is about being outside, immersing himself in the wilderness, observing and learning. He also feels inspired by being exposed to the practice of other artists. He enjoys doing the interviews, loves the writing about and talking to the members. With regard to his own work, he commented: “I know what I feel, but it is hard putting one’s own thoughts into words.” We can all sympathise with this! Whatever defines ‘professionalism’, Peter is an invaluable member of the Collective. His work is breathtaking, passionate and has a strong presence and message.
He has travelled the world to various places ranging from Botswana, Bhutan, India, Argentina, Russia, the Arctic and Antarctica to name a few. To browse his website and Flickr account is a visual treat to the senses and carries you to the most amazing places and situations. (see details website below)
He enjoys the process of using a digital camera in his work. When taking photographs you are making as many decisions as possible when you are out in the field and then by shooting in RAW this provides the ability to have the maximum amount of information in the image file to make adjustments in post processing.
The use of filters on the camera lens with various gradations and densities allows him to equalize the images when the camera can’t capture all of the detail such as in high contrast situations. It is important to keep the photos as close to real as possible - the human eye is very adept in identifying when something doesn’t look right. Editing is kept to a minimum, as little as possible and as much as necessary, in order to produce natural, understated images with subtle colours. He remembers that Charlie Waite mentions the photographer is like a film director in that they are able to make all of the decisions as to the lighting, the scene and who is in or out of the picture.
Peter tells us about his interest in Wabi-Sabi – the art of imperfection, minimalism and symmetry. It has been described as acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect. He believes that is a basis on which to keep striving - to get his boots on and get out to enjoy the landscape and to take pleasure in his photography.
Petts Level, Sea Mist 2014
On walks he always has a compact camera in his pocket, which he uses as a ‘sketchbook’ like taking notes to remind himself of a place to return to at a later date.
Keen on adventurous trips Peter doesn’t shy away from danger. He has been in many unintentionally hairy situations. In the wilds of Botswana, whilst watching a pride of lions further away they were unaware that another pride of lions had silently crept up on them, passing a mere 6 feet from their open jeep. In the Antarctic, in a force 11 storm between The Falkland Islands and South Georgia his ship faced waves of up to 17 meters high. Back in Ushuaia he saw the damage caused by an iceberg that had torn a hole in the side of another ship in the same storm, which had tilted over at an angle of 43 degrees. He smiles and tells us that it’s not something he would wish to repeat. His favourite destination is South Georgia - he hopes that, despite not being a great sailor, maybe he’ll get a chance to go back there one day.
Peter prefers the cold to sun and beach holidays and it was in extreme conditions that he captured the Northern lights where his camera was enveloped in ice. These are just a few examples of numerous challenging moments and we look forward to catching up over a drink in the pub in the not too far future to hear more!
The Artist in his element
Inevitably the question rises how he has coped with Lockdown. He hasn’t missed the airports and finds great inspiration in the surrounding landscape of Bedfordshire where he has lived for over 30 years. He does a lot of walking, “every day I go out and notice the beauty in the subjects on my doorstep”. Britain has so much to offer and he is keen to continue exploring.
Saltwick Nab, Sunset 2018
We ask Peter where his next trip or project would take him once we can safely travel afar again. His face lights up and full of boyish enthusiasm he replies that he has a fascination to see a Lava Lake! These are large volumes of molten lava contained in a volcanic vent or crater. Not exactly exempt from danger, as he compares a visit to White Island off the coast of New Zealand a few years ago, where as a visitor he had to wear a gas mask and hard hat!
So what is his message to the viewer? Peter explains that for him it is about capturing a moment and focusing on the raw wonder of the wilderness. By bringing his images to the viewer, he hopes to show us the beauty as well as the fragility of the natural world that we need to protect.