Dazzling photography by Ruud Baan

Photography is something I don’t claim to know much about, however when I stumbled across Ruud Baan’s work for Nike something about it just caught my eye.  The images consisted of different figures, mostly soaring in mid air, with their bodies contorted into strange shapes, hurtling over the high jump or flying over a hurdle.  I suppose what struck me was the perspective from which they were taken and how this added a dramatic aspect to the overall composition, mostly taken from below so legs and bodies look distorted against a massive, cloud-ridden sky.

Upon further investigation I discovered that Dutch photographer Ruud Baan’s website boasts a portfolio full of incredible work, from fashion to editorial and advertising, with clients such as Adidas, Sony, Coca-Cola, Marriott Hotel as well as Nike and many others.  The high energy and action captured in his photographs links his work together with a common theme, often with the subject caught in mid air in motion in some sort of pose.  His use of lighting, colour and digital effects is such a way that accentuates the action shot further to add a stunning and dramatic edge. 

My favourites are the stunning series of underwater shots for Het Nationale Ballet.  For me it is his use of lighting to highlight entry into the water against the darkness behind, this coupled with the sharp body positions that gives the pieces such a resonance.  The spotlight into the darkness effect gives the feel of an eerie almost martyr-like suffering, but this is juxtaposed with an overall sensation of movement and life.   Baan produces quite a strange visual; this strong and graceful kinetic sensation in the slow and heavy medium of water, reminds me slightly of a mosquito trapped in amber, frozen in time.   

This underwater series really seems to have a powerful edge to it that dazzles and shines, an edge that continues throughout his portfolio.  As a result of his style and technique, his pictures really seem to pop out in a sense that you get thrown head first into the experience of the photograph.  Take a peek at www.ruudbaan.com.