In our latest interview with renowned Dutch photographer Paul Bellaart, we dive into his profound connection with nature, his love for Ireland, and his approach to capturing the essence of both. Join us as Paul takes us behind the scenes and into the heart of his creative process, where nature, people, and memories intertwine.
Bio:
I am a Dutch photographer, living in the "de Ronde Hoep" polder, just below Amsterdam, with my wife Nathalie. Together, we have three grown-up children. With nearly 30 years of experience, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for nature in all its forms—from the sea and mud to birds and rain—which often serves as inspiration for my work.
What does Ireland mean to you?
Ireland has moved something in me since the first time I was there 30 years ago, which makes me want to return as often as possible. It's the country I could—and would—like to live in one day. I regularly go there to work, but I also often visit to spend time fishing with my sons. A few days at sea and evenings in the pub with a glowing head.
For me, Ireland has an energy that always touches me. There is something multi-layered, mystical, and musical. Nature is not just nature; it is, unlike, for example, many Scandinavian countries, also a human place—where you can feel the history, or where something could happen at any moment. It’s a setting for stories, where you feel carried by something bigger. And last but not least—the Irish. Nowhere have I met so many friendly people. There will undoubtedly be unkind ones too, but I’ve never met them. Autonomous, modest, with humour and a kind of surrender to life that feels liberating. Forget those stuffy Englishmen, with their manners and ingrained hierarchy. Learn from an Irishman what it's like to be light.
How do you feel when you are there?
When I am in Ireland, I feel—for lack of a better word—alive! Breathing in the impressions of the landscape and people. It’s a strange mix of feeling free, calm, and alert—where everything feels both important and unimportant at once. Does that make sense?
Can you say something about/What comes to mind when you think back to the Blush shoot in Clare?
Our shoot in Clare had an unusual start. Things went differently than planned. Fairies took over. But because of that aforementioned surrender, we were able to create images that were unplanned and, therefore, perhaps even more special.
Do you have a favourite moment, place, and/or image from that shoot?
Danielle, our model—half-Irish, perhaps because of that—was particularly in her element, sitting in a field of daisies. That’s an image that holds a lot for me. Too bad the limitations of photography mean you can’t smell the sea and seaweed, hear the wind and waves, because that was there too... Magic.
What have you learned about photographing (people) in nature? And the connection with that nature?
You get a lot when you photograph someone in nature... without portraying that nature directly. Everything sensory that you don’t have in a studio adds to the image. Lying or sitting on the ground further enhances that feeling. The closer to the earth, the freer you feel—even when you are being photographed.
What is your most cherished personal project?
I made a book: Last Year's Nest. There’s a lot of this feeling in there: nudes in the grass, all photographed around our house. Maybe I should do a sequel and shoot something like that in Ireland.
