Lars van de Goor
Photography Art
About Lars van de Goor
Lars was born in 1964 on a houseboat nestled amidst lush farmland in the Netherlands, grew up harmoniously intertwined with the surrounding nature. His first passion was music, an ardor that later intertwined seamlessly with photography in 2007, revealing a profound link between the two: composition.
His photographic journey began without a deliberate pursuit of a distinct style. Instead, it evolved organically, driven by playful exploration. His attention gravitated towards trees and forests, captivating him with their individuality and unpretentious beauty. He would describe himself as a professional and self taught photographer.
Lars van de Goor
04-01-1964 - 30-12-2022
Trees & Woodland
Lars regarded trees as living entities, each with its unique character, and found solace in their presence. The older and grander they stood, the more he admired and respected them.
This reverence led to a daily quest for trees in every corner he traveled or resided, aiming to capture their enduring strength and timeless vitality.
Merging these elements with the renowned Dutch light, he crafted landscapes reminiscent of the masterpieces of bygone eras.
His goal was to respectfully portray them in their old strength and timeless energy, the mixture with the famous Dutch light results in landscapes that remind me of those of the Old Masters.
Colors
He first picked up a camera in 2007. He always noticed interesting things worth a photograph, but always invested his money in musical instruments. instead of camera equipment. When he finally bought his first camera, he stepped right into the digital age of photography.
Because of the quality of his first camera, a Panasonic DMC FZ50 and the lack of any technical knowledge of photography, he started very early on with editing his images to make them look better.
Colors were of great importance to Lars. By working on the colors could make a scene look very surreal, unreal. And yet it looks familiar because it’s a real picture. He always aimed for an image that could both be a painting or a photograph, dreamy and magical.
Influence & Inspiration
Since he was not schooled he never looked at other photographers in the beginning, that’s mainly the reason he developed his very own style. To have no expectations and do freely what he wanted, he was not limited by any rules or knowledge Of course he had to catch up with the technical side of photography later on.
While influenced by romantic landscape painters, Dutch Masters such as Barend Cornelius Koekkoek (1803-1862), his prime source of inspiration comes from the mysterious encounter of nature and light.. He did not have any particular favorite photographers, however he admired many. Especially those who have found their own style, search for unique locations or concepts and are willing to give up everything for photography. he had to admit he enjoyed other people’s work, but he never studied how it is done. Once it’s done by someone, you can try to copy or improve it, but that’s not the kind of fun he was looking for.
Awards
You will not find a long list with awards of his achievements. He was not a big fan of competitions between artistic people, however he understood it can be valuable for someone’s career, as he experienced himself when he won the Hasselblad Masters, category Landscape & Nature award in 2016. However he never joined any competition after 2016.
He had no other goal with photography than where he once started: Walking around the corner and being amazed what Mother nature has to offer. It’s the childlike wonder he was after, being surprised by nature’s beauty, but also being surprised by whatever will arise during an editing process.
You can read more about Lars in the interviews of which you can find the links below.
–Winner Hasselblad Masters Award category Landscape/Nature 2016 One of the most prestigious in the industry, honoring the best in both established and rising photographic talent.
–First prize in the ‘Season & Weather’ 2016 Trierenberg Super Circuit
–Gold Medal 2016 in the ‘Streets and Paths’ categories of the prestigious Trierenberg Super Circuit, the world’s largest photo salon.
-Finalist Hasselblad Masters Awards 2010
Member of the Jury for:
Judging Panel: 2020 Annual Photography Awards
Trierenberg Super Circuit 2017
One Eyeland ‘World’s Top 10 Landscape Photographers: 2017
Interview On Landscape
Interview Icelandic Phototours
PDF Interview Master of Woodland
PDF Hasselblad interview
Interview 1x.com
Interview Starpics on Facebook
Interview Sleeklens
Interview Natuurfotografie (NL)
Interview Pf magazine (NL)
Traveling
From September 2017, Lars, accompanied by his wife Annemarie, embarked on a new way of life and work. They relinquished their home in Lochem, Netherlands, in favor of a mobile abode, traversing the European landscape—a testament to their dedication to a life shaped by their passions and the call of the open road.
End of a Journey
On December 30th, 2022, the world lost a visionary artist, but Lars van de Goor’s legacy lives on through the captivating images he leaves behind. His photographs continue to beckon viewers into the serene embrace of nature, encouraging them to see the world with the same awe-struck wonder that defined his life’s work. Through his lens, Lars invited us to witness the world as he saw it – a place of ethereal beauty, profound tranquility, and eternal harmony.
His heritage, all the magnigficent photographs he created, can still be purchased. See Shop for the options or contact us for more information.
Lars van de Goor - The Documentary
