Over the hill (2013) Painting by Annette Van Casteren

Graduated as a graphic designer at the Academy of Arts (ArteZ, Holland. 1993), photography is still in the blood. The passion for photography started long ago when I was a little girl. In the darkroom of my father I saw for the first time an image of myself appearing on photo paper, that was such a magical moment! The magic never disappeared, not even when the pixel arrived. Digital photography opened up many possibilities, in combination with the graphic work, but also the digital editing of images to abstraction.

After years of working digitally, the longing for the old craft turned up. Nostalgia for the magic, photographing on film. With quests for old techniques and new developments. Back to analogue photography, or as it is so beautifully called in French: photographie argentique.
Back to the roots, black and white, where it all started. Taking out the color of a photo, for me the essence of the picture appears: lines, rhythm, contrast ... that's where I feel comfortable.

Instead of using chemical, toxic products, more and more often I develop the films in caffenol, a self-brewed developer based on coffee. Completely ecological.

In the darkroom, I print the photos in the old-fashioned - analog - way, an old craft that I love. That produces prints, each one made with time, care and attention and therefore unique. On old photo paper, as long as available, which gives exceptional and sometimes unexpected results. Digital processing is also a good option. Digitizing negatives and further processing in the computer offers all the possibilities of modern photo editing.

• Nationality: NETHERLANDS
• Date of birth : 1958
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Dutch Artists