Artist Research - Ron van Dongen

Ron van Dongen was born in Judibana, Venezuela in 1961.  He was then raised in Warmond, The Netherlands.  He originally studied Biology & Health Science at the University of Delft and then went on to study photography at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.  He also studied as a floral designer and while he was at college a friend had predicted that one day he would go onto photograph flowers as a primary occupation..   This was an idea that he thought to be ridiculous as he was determined to become a portrait photographer, as he was obsessed with the human form.

He did occasionally photograph plants from time to time.  It was only done so that he could practice his 4 x 5 camera skills without burdening live models.  His flower pictures did attract interest but he would tell people that they were only meant as an exercise.

During the years that followed, he continued to build a portfolio of face and body photographs which had been taken in a studio with simple strobe lighting.  He photographed light skin tones on black backgrounds.  In another project he photographed white bodies on white backgrounds.  He said that the light tones were meant to symbolize death and mourning.

He attempted to market his work to galleries and magazines and it was always his flower portfolio that was constantly singled out, so then, he reluctantly devoted his time to exclusively photograph the botanical form.

Back in May 2004 he moved to a new home and he felt motivated to create a new garden and this coincided with a transition to colour photography although he felt a resistance to photograph plants from this garden.  Again a friend commented on a colour picture that he had taken for an assignment and this friend suggested that he continue to photograph flowers in colour which he reluctantly did.



Ron van Dongen says that as long as he enjoys his gardening, he is sure that he will keep adding to his collection of plant pictures.  He also felt that when the point comes that he can’t improve on his skills or can’t find any interesting plants to photograph he will start something else.  But, something tells him that that is unlikely to happen in the near future.  Ron van Dongen now resides in Portland, Oregon.

This is another photographer that I admire.  You don’t really know who’s out there until you start looking and it is only when you find these people that you can start to appreciate their work.  I think that his portraits of white on white look a little odd, I’d much rather prefer his fantastic flower photographs.