Kaj ter Borgh (1977) Alkmaar

Photography as Painting with Light

My name is Kaj ter Borgh, and I am a photographer specializing in still life photography. During my studies at the academy, I gradually became more and more fascinated by still life. What started as a studio assignment developed into a form of photography that, for me, means much more than simply creating a beautiful image.

I became inspired by the still life paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries. Artists such as Pieter Claesz were able to tell stories about life, death and the passage of time through light, composition, colour, form and symbolism. This way of looking at the world continues to inspire me today.

For me, photography is painting with light.

Although photography has changed enormously, from analogue film to today's digital techniques, its foundations remain the same. Light, composition, shape, texture, colour and symbolism come together to create an image that tells a story.

Life, Death and Rebirth

Life, death, memory and rebirth are recurring themes throughout my work. For my graduation project, I created a series of four still lifes based on these themes: a natural cycle of creation, life, decay and renewal.

In my work, I search for beauty within this cycle. From seed to fruit, from blossom to decay, from life to death and ultimately back to new life. The seasons are an important source of inspiration: spring, summer, autumn and winter — followed once again by spring.

Everything comes to an end, but every ending can also be the beginning of something new.

That is why I often work with natural materials and objects such as flowers, seeds, fruit, fungi, mushrooms, eggs, skulls and other forms found in nature. Water, ice, snow, warmth and cold also play a role. I deliberately look for contrasts: white and black, light and darkness, growth and decay, life and death.

The Beauty of the Transient

Creating a still life is a study for me. Before a photograph is made, I often spend a great deal of time collecting and selecting objects, making sketches and exploring shapes, textures and combinations.

How does an object respond to a particular kind of light? What kind of texture emerges? How do different shapes and materials interact? And perhaps most importantly: what does this mean to me?

I don't only look at the beauty of an object, but also at its meaning.

A flower, a piece of fruit or something from nature may seem ordinary or self-evident. By looking at it consciously, we can rediscover an appreciation for the things we live with and depend on. Not everything is as self-evident as we sometimes think.

That awareness plays an important role in my work.

Nature and Humanity

I am deeply interested in the natural cycle of life and in the way humanity relates to it.

We live in a complex and sometimes absurd world. Fear, war, capitalism, climate change and our relationship with nature all influence the way we look at the future. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, showed how vulnerable and uncertain our society can be.

I am also interested in the raw and darker side of existence. My own anxious, strange or aggressive thoughts are allowed to become part of my photography. By not hiding these feelings, but giving them a place within my work, I can explore and process them.

At the same time, there is nature.

Nature follows its own rhythm and possesses its own strength. As human beings, we constantly try to control and influence it, while ultimately the natural cycle remains stronger than we are.

This tension between humanity and nature forms an important underlying element in my work.

Working Together with Nature

Flowers play an important role in my photography. My mother specializes in floral design and often creates the arrangements and styling for my work. We collaborate closely, and the combination of her knowledge of floral art and my approach to photography creates unique and intriguing images.

Creating a still life becomes a collaborative process in which shape, colour, texture and light come together.

My still lifes are both personal and universal. We all experience life, loss, change and new beginnings. That is why simple objects can take on a much deeper meaning.

From Fine Art to Commercial Photography

The way I work with light, composition, shape and styling is not limited to my fine art photography. This specialization also forms the foundation of my commercial work.

I regularly work in photography studios for major fashion brands, where I use my experience with light and composition to create powerful and distinctive images.

My commercial photography is used internationally. Alongside my commissioned work, it is an important part of my own artistic development and the continued development of the Kaj ter Borgh Photography brand.

For me, there is no strict separation between art and commercial photography. The way I observe, use light and construct an image is something I bring into everything I photograph.

New Projects

My curiosity about nature and humanity's impact on it continually leads me towards new subjects.

One of my upcoming projects will focus on waste. I want to work with discarded materials found on beaches in Spain and the Netherlands. By presenting these materials as carefully constructed still lifes, I want to challenge the way we normally look at waste.

Something that is usually thrown away and barely noticed is given a new stage.

Once again, this brings me back to the question: what do we consider valuable, and why?

Photography as a Personal Philosophy

Ultimately, my still lifes are a way of reflecting on life.

Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? What do we leave behind? And how do we relate to the nature of which we are a part?

Life, death, memory and rebirth are not separate themes for me, but parts of one continuous natural cycle.

I try to make that cycle visible through light, composition, objects and symbolism.

My photography does not always need to provide a clear answer. I want an image to evoke something. To make you look a little longer. To discover beauty in something that may be transient, raw or even uncomfortable.

For me, photography is a way of pausing and reflecting on life.

Fine Art Photography

My still lifes are printed in large formats and finished with a high-quality, luxurious acrylic finish. Each work is produced in a limited edition of six and is available through my website.

My work has been exhibited at various locations, including Restaurant MOS, a dental practice in Sint Pancras and Poldermuseum De Pomp in Heerhugowaard. I also regularly participate in exhibitions at different locations.

If you are interested in one of my photographic works, I am happy to personally visit you with my work and portfolio. Together, we can explore which artwork best suits your interior and space. This is completely without obligation.

Discover my work and available fine art prints at www.kajterborgh.nl.

Podcast Kaj ter Borgh Youtube : https://youtu.be/vH8k6KyKzF0‍ ‍

Kaj ter Borgh Photography
Tel. +31 6 14 78 76 70
www.kajterborgh.nl