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ARTIST STATEMENT

I shoot the portraits of my daughter Paula on 8x10, then I scan the film and work on the image in Photoshop. But a lot of people think I get the effect of the Dutch master paintings by manipulating the image somehow. I don't. The lighting is all done in the studio, when I shoot. I don't do anything in Photoshop that I wouldn't do normally in a darkroom.

For me, this series of portraits really represents a family business. My wife works with me as an assistant, and of course my daughter is the subject. So between us at home we have a lot of time to think about the pictures. It may take three or four days to discuss together and decide how to do a particular picture. And sometimes we work quickly. Once, when Paula came back from a school trip with a terrible sunburn, we immediately saw that it could be a photograph.

Some people have wondered whether it is right to make your child the subject of work like this. Some of the pictures contain some nudity. It is a responsibility we take very seriously. We have to live with Paula, and we have to face the consequences that these pictures will be around in 50 years, when she is older. Some people say that a girl of this age is too young to give permission to be photographed; but I think if you listen well to your child, you can know if she is giving permission. You have to be sensitive. As for Paula, she loves to be photographed.

**Prices quoted for Hendrik's work are done so in Euros and are not inclusive of shipping costs, taxes (if applicable), and any mounting or framing costs.

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HENDRIK KERSTENS

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