About me

Most of you will have seen my work on Google+ but...

Please, allow me to introduce myself :-)

My name is Erik.
A.M. Brikaer is just an anagram of my name.

Photography is my passion.
My father was a photographer when he wasn't at work. At home I saw him take pictures. Portraits, macro's, product-photography.
From the day he gave me his first camera (an Agfa Clack) I got the virus. Taking pictures, next to my father, was amazing!

Years went by and my passion for photography had its highs and lows but when, in 2008, I picked up my first DSLR it appeared the virus was still there.
At first I was just clicking but soon I felt the need to know my gear. A painter has to know his materials, his tools. A photographer has to as well.

I read books, watched videos on youtube, went to workshops and, most important, I watched photo's made by other photographers.
By watching photo's from other photographers I don't only mean the greats like Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams or Anton Corbijn (Dutch). I learn a lot of looking at photographs made by all photographers. In this case, again, Google is my master. The past year I gained a lot of followers and friends on Google+ and the pictures they make teach me as well.

Think about it: Good photographs will inspire you, OK photographs learn you how to do it better and not so OK pictures tell you what not to do...

Just like it was for my father, photography is not my daytime job. It just doesn't pay the bills. Sometimes I wish it would but on the other hand I think it's good the way it is.

I work as an Information Analyst at a large IT-company. I like the job though it's not where my passion is. The job does pay the bills AND gives me the opportunity to work as a photographer as well. This gives me, as a creative person, freedom. I can do free work like street-photography, abstracts whatever. I have the freedom to do payed work as well. Portraits, family-portraits, product photography, fashion shoots, wedding photography, you name it.
But, and that is very important: my life doesn't depend on it!

As long as I have a job that pays the bills I will be free to photograph anything I want!

I am, if I may say so myself, a creative person. I play bass guitar, I draw, paint, write and take pictures. In the end, I think, it's all about the same thing: expressing yourself and creating beautiful things for the joy of others.

So: thank you for visiting this site and taking a look at my work. I hope my photographs will inspire you and the articles learn you a thing or two.

If you have questions on a topic or if you want a topic to be discussed on this site, please don't hesitate and leave a note at the contact page. If you have interesting ideas on photography please tell me. I think we can make it work!

Of course, you can use the buttons below for sharing your ideas via social-platforms!

Have a good one and keep writing with light!

Erik