My Way

My first steps in photography began at the age of 18 following my choice to study at the Liege fine arts institute from 1996 to 1999. At that time, I produced a report concerning my background: agriculture. In fact, all my grandparents were farmers and some of my uncles still are. The report “Hansez” are photos that I made on one of their farms. I followed their activities throughout the four seasons. Afterwards, I did two one-year internships one at Isopress press agency and one at "Le Soir "newspaper as a press photographer in Brussels from 2001 to 2002.
Following these experiences, at the end of 2002 I launched my career as a part time freelance photographer and I progressed to full time status in 2004.

Concurrently, I have a passion for climbing. I began this sport indoors in Verviers at the age of twelve, and was soon taking part in competitions. In 2003, I was still ranked among the Belgian top ten, thanks to my best result (2^nd in the Belgian Cup). At this time, I decided to concentrate only on cliff climbing: athletic path, discovery of new rocks and opening up of new paths. I continued with the discovery of traditional climbing at adventure courses and on mountains (see the article “Jordan, interior climbing”).

A few examples: Mountains: Mont Blanc - les Drus - Aiguille du moine; Rock climbing: thirty or so paths in 8 of which 3 in 8b.

It is thanks to an injury that photography and climbing came together, because it’s at that point that, deciding to make the most of my free days, I had the idea of constructing a triangle for taking photos. It allowed me to place myself a metre and a half from the rock face, which gives me room in relation to the climber and consequently better perspective.

Thanks to photography, I found a different approach to climbing. I have mainly covered the work of Nicolas Favresse (Estado critico 9a, first up the Apat in Yosemite, Tom and Jerry at the Verdon, etc.) and of Belgian climbers. My successes include several covers for magazines in France, Germany and Italy.

Currently, one of my greatest pleasures is to travel and photograph nature.

My clients :

Climbing:

Limits, Klettern, On the edge, Grimper, Escalar, Pareti, Rock &Ice, Climbing

General:

Agence photonews, Le Soir, Plus Magazine, Ma santé, Osiris news, vivio press, berpress, Ulg, le 15ème jour, Creacom, PPP sprl, Cobelvian, Armony concept