Patrick van Dam | Creative

SPACE COWBOYS Back in the days men had the right stuff. Space explorers who showed no fear. Dare devils with nerves of steel.
Strapped up in their pressure suits on a rocket filled with highly flammable fuel.
These space cowboys were catapulted into orbit and they took humanity to the moon and back.
Uncertain about the results of their mission knowing other brave attempts had failed.  
Driving around on the extensive grounds of Kennedy Space Center you’ll sense that an unforgettable chapter in history was written here.
 I wonder if men will ever set foot on the moon again. But until that day we can always look up and appreciate their courageous achievements. 2013 Photography

WHAT THE FOG I can only see a vague silhouette of something that appears to be a building.
A blurred image that plays a game with my eyes. Now you see me, now you don't.
It's a mysterious phenomenon to watch this misty cloud hovering over the city, swallowing its buildings one by one.
And just as fast as the fog appeared, it vanishes again.
Within minutes the city comes back to life, all structures safe and sound. 2013 Photography

THE WHITE HOUSE I've passed the white house a million times.
Never have I ignored it.
It seems to call on me.
Its long chalk-white walls are interrupted only by green stained windows.
The walls look thick and protective. Its anonymous appearance gives it an even stronger identity.
During winter times the white house blends in with its natural surroundings. It becomes an invisible fortress and makes my attraction to it even stronger.
The leafless trees seem to be the only ones knowing what goes on inside. 2013 Photography

SARAH She's not your typical Playmate. She won't flaunt her femininity. Not the push-up-bra-and-high-heels kind of girl.  Still she's amazingly sexy.
Even in faded sweatpants, an old t-shirt and no make-up. 
Enjoying her private time, listening to some music while she gazes out the window.
 Daylight reflects on her satin skin and caresses her subtle, natural curves.  She seems to be lost in thought continuously; her green eyes will tell you a story but they won't tell all. 
There's more to Sarah than just a pretty face. Much more. 
A penny for her thoughts.

Featured in Playboy Magazine (USA) - June 2013 2013 Photography

LOST IN TRANSACTION: GREEK PROPERTIES When a country is in an economic crisis it so often results in images of despair and grief. It rarely occurs that beauty is seen or captured during these challenging times.

In this case however, beauty is definitely visible. An almost surreal beauty, appearing to be directed by mother nature.

This photo series will take its audience to different Greek islands where the development and sales of villa's and hotels have been postponed because of the economic crisis. These bone-like, concrete structures are far from being completed. Some have already waited years for financial aid. Which most likely will not happen anytime soon.

The projects were developed on the most wonderful and unique locations. On hillsides with breathtaking sea views or on mountains surrounded by olive trees, enclosed with privacy and serenity.

The architectural lines combined with the ash-grey concrete structures are an attractive contrast against the rough, red-coloured rocks, the warm yellow high grass and the olive green bushes and trees. This almost abstract scenery shows a unique synergy between architecture and nature. It creates a new and intriguing landscape in which failure, poverty and hopelessness are easily forgotten.

Featured on CNN Photos - April 2013
http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com 2013 Photography, Photojournalism

PRESS PAUSE I'm standing in the middle of the road. An empty road.
Somebody pressed pause.
It feels free but uneasy at the same time, not knowing how long I can stand here.
Slowly the massive clouds pass by. Seemingly being carried by the streetlights' silhouettes.
They are a pleasant break in this horizontal landscape.
I enjoy the silent and spacious man-made array of lines.
The beauty of everyday things. 2013 Photography

BEAUTY Everybody has their own definition of beauty.
They say it's on the inside,
but that's not always visible.
Luckily there's plenty of beauty
on the outside too.
For us to see and capture. 2013 Photography

DEPARTURE I'm fascinated by the atmosphere at airports. A crazy mixture between rush hour and mellow paces.
Stressed-out people in a hurry to catch their plane. Bored people waiting for their delayed flight.
I'm curious where they come from and what their next destination will be. Traveling from time zone to time zone.
I like to watch them as they stroll by pulling their carry-on luggage.
Staring out the window, watching airplanes take off, it always amazes me how these aluminum giants appear weightless.
My mind drifts away and I think about exciting new places to discover.
I hear my name being called.
I'm late again. 2013 Photography

SILENCE The sound of silence can’t be heard, it can only be seen.
Every now and then you get to a place which is so overwhelming, everything around you seems to fade.  It all falls silent.
No people talking, no music playing, no cars driving by and no phones ringing. 
Just you, the view and your thoughts. I cherish these moments.
 Silence really is golden. 2013 Photography

BOOK: PLAYBOY BEHIND THE SCENES The awarded photo book "Playboy Behind The Scenes" gives a unique look into the mysterious world of Playboy Magazine through personal and intimate snapshots of tangible moments during Playmate and celebrity photo shoots. Over 150 pictures of unexpected, undirected and natural responses; humor, disillusionment, absurdism and vulnerability in an erotic setting.

Mr. Hugh M. Hefner, editor-in-chief of Playboy Magazine, wrote the foreword of the book.
"In these compelling images, Patrick has captured the soul of the Playboy shoot and offered a true celebration of, and homage to, the people who make these beautiful things happen. Vividly here is the intimacy, the fun, and the dedication it takes to create the very best in contemporary erotica. And along the way, true to his calling, he gives the reader a peek behind the curtain of the Playboy lifestyle."

The book was nominated for the Photography Masters Cup 2013, received an "Honorable Mention" at the International Photo Awards 2012 and was voted "Best Photo Book" in Communication Arts' Photo Annual 2012.

Hardcover
224pp
185 x 235mm
Published 2011
ISBN 9789085748885 2013 Art Direction, Editorial Design, Photography

CITY ESCAPE Escaping city life for a weekend in the woods allows you to really empty to your head.
Getting back in touch with yourself by being close to nature, absorbing all its beauty.
Wander around, listen and inhale.
Fill your lungs with clean air and let your body soak up new energy.
A rejuvenating experience even in bad weather. 
Having just the basics around you doesn't make for a lesser quality of life.
It makes it better. 2013 Photography

A GREAT CATCH Available light is the most important ingredient for my photography.
It's playful and unpredictable.
No day is alike.
It's all about catching the right light, at the right time.
Making the ordinary extraordinary. 2013 Photography

HOPE Beirut, Lebanon, 2003.
The bullet holes are all around. They're the hard evidence of this city's suffering, that came to an end 13 years ago.
Towering above the city, the extensively damaged Hilton Hotel is purposely left untouched to remind people of harsh times.
It surely motivates people not to give up.
The sound of machine guns has been replaced by the sound of construction drills. Some may not even notice the difference.
They catch a cable cart to visit Mount Harissa and enjoy the peace and quiet. 
The peaceful feeling doesn’t last for long; in 2006 the violence is back with full force.
Leaving the people with only one thing: hope. 2013 Photography

STRUCTURES Whether it's an office building,
a hotel or a private house;
I love architecture.
Specific architecture. 
Concrete, stone, wood and glass combined together as one. It has always fascinated me.  All with their own unique surface that comes to life when looked at from different angles. 
No friction or complexity. Balanced symmetry and simple shapes. Natural colors that blend in with each other and with their surroundings.
 I want to follow each and every line. Looking for clues and trying to find out what the architect had in mind. 
Modern architecture may be sterile or even dull to some but it lasts a lifetime as long as you add the right ingredients to make it personal. 2013 Photography

RAIN Most people would prefer sun over rain anytime. 
And to a certain point I agree. Sun provides light, warmth and energy.
 But just like sun, rain too is needed. Providing water and therefor life.
 Rain has a beauty of its own. 
A pitch-black cloud carrying tons of water floating towards you can be a fascinating sight.
 Threatening even, when you’re at sea and don't know how hard it will hit you.
 A relieve when you took cover just in time to watch the clouds drift by as they pursue their next victim. 2013 Photography

SOLID WATER An almost prehistoric scene;
an icy landscape untouched
by mankind.
Abandoned, cold, powerful and untamable with a mind of its own.
It breathes, moves and is different every day. It’s alive.
While the pressure increases, compressing the ice, it slowly turns blue due to the lack of oxygen.
I watch the ice melt and I realize it's slowly dying. 2013 Photography

DRIVE Get in, turn up the music and drive. Destination unknown.
We’re not in a hurry. Just follow the straight grey lanes.
The road markings are our guidelines.
Crossing through villages,
cities and states.
We stop, fill up the tank and continue.
Feel the freedom of the
concrete roadway.
No mile is the same.
Different than the last and the next.
No roadmap needed. We go wherever our eyes take us.
The horizon is our destination. 2013 Photography

PASCALE'S PASSION Pascale is a 39 year old prostitute from Amsterdam.
She's the leading character in a book called "Pascale" written by Corinne Koole.
It's a story about Pascale's life and work and the friendship that emerged between her and the writer.

When I met her I was amazed by her youthful appearance after so many harsh years. She takes good care of herself.
Pascale has a passion for playing the piano and reading literature when she's not working.

It felt awkward being in her bedroom. Many men had been there before me. From disabled to lawyers.

Pascale has recently retired from her job. She didn't want to put her new relation at stake.

Featured in GQ Magazine (Turkey) - June 2012 2013 Photography

AIR FORCE Like so many, when I was a kid I wanted to become a fighter pilot.
I could see myself buckled up in the hi-tech cockpit, wearing a fancy helmet with the visor down, pulling g's up in the skies.
It was the time when "Maverick" played by Tom Cruise showed all his fancy moves in "Top Gun", an instant classic.
Cool men wearing their Ray-Ban's as they prepare for their next mission.
Multi-million dollar jets taxiing on the flight line, the smell of jet fuel and the incredible rumble when they take off.
Airpower at an all-time high. 2013 Photography

SURREAL SURROUNDINGS It must be the most surreal landscape I've ever seen.
Just a three hours flight away from my hometown and I find myself in an unknown world.
A pitch black, magical landscape as far as the eye can see.
The vast emptiness is only interrupted by great piles of rock and a black road to nowhere.
The earths’ crust is torn open at some places and then covered by green moss.
It’s the winter season and all color seems to have retracted. The only color accents are the road signs and the yellow grass.
My imagination is playing tricks on me and I find myself humming to the tunes of "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind".
I haven't seen any alien life forms just yet. So far so good. 2013 Photography