CHANGE:For more information and to arrange a demonstration please contact Cambo UK on M:07863 116150 or send us an email request; cambouk@gmail.com

At aged 47 years Alex has spent most of his working life in photography. After graduating in Business Studies he continued his education in photography and established himself as a wedding photographer sharing a studio with his parents.

After 5 years of working in a social environment, he switched codes to offer commercial photography to large corporate businesses and converted his parents business into an advertising studio. After 10 years of working in a high pressure environment Alex became ill and decided to change his career to fit with his life style.

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Charles: How did you decide that portrait photography was you passion?

Alex: I love people and their faces, but more so the inner of the person, and its really a gift that they will reveal to me a little of his or her inner self. This gives me the opportunity to take the picture upon that reveal. Its quite a personal picture and sometimes that can show life’s pain.

Charles: What made you decide to choose the Cambo Actus as your camera…?

 

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Alex: In the past I took portraits with a technical camera and I’m familiar with all the movements to create the focus area in the image. I am an ambassador for FUJIFILM in The Netherlands, using the FUJIFILM-X series and I was really intrigued to see that there is the possibility of using these cameras with the Actus platform. I contacted Cambo to discuss my move into portraiture and to ask questions about how the system would work for me.

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

Charles: As you know the Actus can be used with a wide range of lenses, from Canon & Nikon, Schneider & Rodenstock digital and many of the legacy medium format lenses. Which one’s do you use?

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© alexvreeman.nl

Alex: I inherited a Hasselblad system from my Father which is now 40 years old. The standard lens on the Hasselblad is a Planar 80mm f2.8, which has a large image circle, so will easily cover the sensor if I want to use extreme movement with the Actus. Cambo also sourced a Rodagon-WA 60mm f4.0 for me which I use a lot. Despite the age of these lenses the quality of the results are fantastic and the build quality is second to none. Cambo also make a Nikon lens plate which enables me to use a Nikon 50mm f1.4 that I already have, again producing some very good results.

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

Charles: The Actus is a technical camera, you mention to me that you capture the images as you are talking to your sitter. How do you judge the focus to get the images sharp?  Alex: From my experience and working with the Actus everyday, I know where to set the camera’s area of focus. However, the sitter is always moving. So I adjust the movements with my right hand and Cambo have a customised knob so that I can focus the camera with my left hand. This knob accepts a focus whip which is normally used with the Cambo Follow Focus for professional video. The focus whip is 500mm long which is long enough to operate from the left side.

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Charles: Yes, the customised focus knob is very useful not just for portrait but also for close-up and Macro photography. Where can we see you work?

Alex: I’ve just exhibited for 2 months at Stadsgehoorzaal in Kampen, where I also presented and explained my work to other photographers. It was a very pleasant experience, I received a lot of compliments and it was a great feeling to inspire other photographers.

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

For me, a portrait is not just a portrait. I focus on creating a unique and powerful image of my clients, particularly for those not wishing to be in front of the camera. Many of my clients feel they have not previously had a good photograph of themselves, they fit into my philosophy that “Beauty is in the character for those who look”.

© alexvreeman.nl

© alexvreeman.nl

 

Many thanks to Alex, more of his work can be seen here; http://www.alexvreeman.nl
For more information and to arrange a demonstration please contact Cambo UK on M:07863 116150 or send us an email request; cambouk@gmail.com