Artificial Paradise
The oldest vivid photography memory I can recall – is a shadowplay photo I took in Switzerland with my dad’s analog Canon Rebel. The guillotine shutter sound really hit me.
I then first started photographing our skateboarding days in Aalter, Belgium – with a portable webcam, that could save up to 30 shots in JPG at once, probably around 1MP as resolution. I remember racing back home to transfer the JPG’s, and riding back to the skatepark to take another 30 shots – it could even take burst shots for trick sequences.
I grew up in the 90’s and early 2000’s with entry-level digital cameras, until I got my hands on a Canon 400D in 2010 – which really changed my approach, and was the perfect tool at that time. This eventually evolved into the Canon 5D Mk I and II – still 2 of my all-time favorite cameras; on which I mostly used the cheap 50mm f1.8 aka ‘the Plastic Fantastic’.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Luik-Canon-1100D.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Luxembourg.jpg)
Music has always been a big part of my life – and the song ‘Artificial Paradise’ by JJ Cale has been acting as a theme throughout my work. It’s easy to bump into absurd or odd scenes – where the often idiotic interference of humanity with the earth – is visual humour – some sort of anthropomorphism of dull objects that frequently grabs my attention – for example, the iced shopping cart in Berlin.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Berlin-Chalet.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Poitiers.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Marseille-Island.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Liège-Belgium.jpg)
Instead of reading about photography masters such as Meyerowitz, Gruyaert, Soth, Haas, Leiter, etc… (which I only started doing recently) – I adored & followed the work of lesser-known photographers like Vishal Marapon, Nico Krijno, Alex Prager, Kent Andreasen, TJ Tambellini, and others. A huge inspiration has been the Booooooom.com curated works – by the selection of Jeff Hamada – Vancouver based.
Since 2011 I’ve been working for the Canadian backpack and accessory brand Herschel Supply –- which has given me the opportunity to travel frequently to cities like Vancouver, Berlin, London, Göteborg, Stockholm, and others. During these specific trips – I’d have jetlagged 4AM photowalks – which usually gave me rewarding photos. New horizons tend to be an accelerator.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Charlie.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Bubbles-2021.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/France-2020.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/5000” . ISO 200 – France
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Audrey-5D.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Family-portrait-XPRO3.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/80” . ISO 4000
In 2017 I started noticing some Belgian talent, such as Piet Stellamans, Daniil Lavrovski, Hans Borg, Josefien Tondeleir, etc… who seems to work (partially) with the Fuji X system. I followed a similar trajectory in the Fuji X system as I previously had with the Canon. I did a complete tabula rasa, a swap, and sold all Canon gear at once – to start at the bottom with a Fuji X30, moved to an X70 and X100T, added an X-T20 with a 7artisans 35mm f1.2, collected some XF lenses like the 23 F2 and 35 F1.4 – added an X-T2, added an old Fuji X-Pro1 – which opened up a whole new & slower world – and finally decided to buy a new X-Pro3 in 2020. Later on, I also added a 7artisans 55mm and the Viltrox 56mm f1.4.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Freek-Wille-Camera-shot-concrete.jpg)
I’m still swinging like a metronome between these different focal lengths – where 35mm is the center and most used. Most of the time the X100F and X-Pro3 are with me. For more extended zooming – I used to own a Lumix TZ100 – a compact travel camera with an impressive zoom – which I used for the golden hour reflections on tower blocks. Unfortunately, I sold it, rebought it, and then lost the second one due to water damage.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Antwerp-Belgium.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gent-Belgium-Lumix-XT100.jpg)
RIGHT: Panasonic DMC-TZ100 . F/5.9 . 1/125” . ISO 320 – Gent – Belgium
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/On-A-Break-2019.jpg)
Earlier this year – I was fortunate that my father & youngest brother gifted me a Mamiya RB67 – on which I now have the 65mm and 125mm adapted. I’m currently developing my first Kodak & Ilford rolls.
It’s challenging me again – and revitalizing the love for photography – and forcing me into a new approach – which directly translates into my digital work as well. A GFX might be an interesting future purchase.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Roy_2022-13.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Roy_2022-15.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Viltrox AF 56mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/500” . ISO 1600
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-Jane-XT20.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Spa-XT20.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/9500” . ISO 200
I’d like to thank the Fuji X Passion team for offering this space to show a selection of my work – it has been a pleasure to dive into the archives – and was also confronting since I’m currently in a busy phase of my life – combining my family life with my girlfriend Audrey and two amazing sons, and the sales job in the current challenging times. Although these are days filled with gratitude – I’m craving for more camera days in the future.
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Le-Nord-X70.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Canon5D-Sa-Tuna-Spain.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Etratat.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF20mmF2.0 . F/5.6 . 1/1000” . ISO 800 – Etretat
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sa-Tuna.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Etratas-2019.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/5.6 . 1/420” . ISO 200 – Etretat
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Oudenaarde-Belgium.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Poppy-XT20.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/2.0 . 1/500” . ISO 200
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/X100T-Ferry-to-Tofino-Vancouver-Island.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Infra-Mac-Donalds.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Bristol-2021.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rented-Rooms-X100T.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Esteban-2021.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Red-Gel-5D.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Polestar_Precept_-1735.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Fuji XF18-55mmF2.8-4 @22.30mm . F/5.6 . 1/640” . ISO 640
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fuji-X70-Mustang.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Copenhagen.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Vancouver-2019.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cans-Kodak-Gold.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/RNI-Films-IMG-7038FB83-02E6-474C-A120-632F3C349583-2.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-T20 . Fuji XF23mmF2.0 . F/2.0 . 1/6400” . ISO 400
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Dunkirk-XT20.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Platja-D_Aro-Spain.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X100T . F/16 . 1/60” . ISO 6400 – Platja D’Aro – Spain
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/France-XT20.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Louvain-La-Neuve-Belgium.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Quarantaine-XT20.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hide-And-Seek-2021.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gamon-2022.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Ardennes-Belgium.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UZ.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/60” . ISO 800
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Toulouse-X100T.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Vinderhoute-Belgium.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Viltrox AF 56mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/250” . ISO 1250 – Vinderhoute – Belgium
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Ostende-2021.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Citadel-Canon-1100.jpg)
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Juno-2021.jpg)
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro3 . Fuji XF35mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/2300” . ISO 320
![](https://www.fujixpassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Freek-Profile200px.jpg)
“My name is Freek Wille, 36, living in Ghent – Belgium, with my girlfriend & 2 sons.
My photographic core theme is called ‘Artificial Paradise’ based on a song by JJ Cale; where I’m looking for pictures with a tristesse that makes you laugh.”
Brian
October 15, 2022 @ 2:35 am
I really enjoy your use of color and the portraits of people. I love the shot of the blue clouds near Vancouver Island.