Mart Smit
Nature Photographer, Ecologist, Biologist
MART
His interest in nature started for Mart Smit (1991) on an early age. His father Jan Smit, also nature-photographer, taught him how to use a camera and together they often visited the fields. With all the technique he needed to know he created his own style and became successful in a few worldwide competitions as the Wildlife Photographer of The Year. Together they started the company called ‘Smit in Beeld’ to organize workshops, presentations and to sell their images.
When Mart became 16 years old he started to follow the study named ‘Eco and Wildlife’ to learn more about the natural subjects he would like to photograph. This continued in his next study ‘applied Biology’. In this way he is able to give his images more content.
“Definitely not every picture has to be conservative ‘good sharp’ or ‘big in the frame’ so they are recognizable, but they have to be at least biologically true”.
The pictures should represent the atmosphere or story he witnessed or wants to tell. Most of the times Mart is photographing in the close to home like the beach or the dunes, but a few times a year he goes abroad with his father for exclusive photo-trips. Most often somewhere in Scandinavia to search for the quietness, emptiness, roughness and wilderness of these countries.
The photographic results of these trips are mostly used for presentations and articles. Together they also organize courses and workshops in The Netherlands and abroad. The workshops are divided over different photography levels and disciplines. Mart loves to share his passion with others.
“It works like a big inspiration to be in the field with several others with the same enthusiasm for nature. It also helps to get another vision on your own photography by looking at others”.
Mart prefers to work in projects.
“When you focus on something, you will get more affinity with an area or subject and then it’s easier to get a complete set of pictures with a story”.
With his projects, Mart wants to create more awareness about natural beauties and their threats.
