Vice versa
Meet Maxim Piessen, Macro Photographer
Grasshopper Photo: mpke.eu)
Exclusive interview with Maxim Piessen, a 16 year old Belgian macro photographer who received a fee waiver to attend the BugShot 2011 insect photography workshop in the United States. Maxim is paying for his own transportation. Have a look at his website: www.mpke.eu. He sells photos to cover for the expenses associated with attending the BugShot 2011 workshop.
myAmerica: Who are you, and where are you from?
I'm Maxim Piessen from Belgium.
myAmerica: You are only 16 years old. What made you decide to send your portfolio and a motivation letter to the top photographers organizing this prestigious workshop in the US?
Someone told me they are going to organize a workshop based on insect photography. He told me the workshop was expensive, but there were three fee waivers for students older than 15. So I decided to participate.
myAmerica: How did you react when you found out you were selected?
I remember I was sitting by the computer with a friend of mine before we went to a party. I had checked my mail every day, but I didn't expect an answer. But then, I saw an e-mail from Alex Wild, I opened it, and I read this:
Dear Maxim,
We have completed reviewing student applications for the fee waivers to attend the BugShot 2011 insect photography workshop. Our final decisions were not reached easily, as we received many more applications than available spaces and the applications were generally excellent.
We are pleased to offer you one of the available fee waivers. We felt that your application stood out for the exceptional quality of your portfolio. We have added your name to the registration list so that your cost of admission, lodging, and food will be covered.
You will need to arrange your own transportation to the event, which begins on the evening of Friday, September 2nd, and concludes around 1pm on Monday, September 5. You should receive a general introductory email shortly with more details.
If you will be unable to attend BugShot, please let us know as soon as possible as we have a waiting list of potential waiver recipients.
Sincerely,
Alex Wild
John Abbott
Thomas Shahan
So I freaked out and went to the party.
myAmerica: Do you see this workshop as a special opportunity to learn new skills and network with fellow aficionados?
Yes, I think this is the best way to share our experiences with each other. The three instructors are very skilled, and they know lots of techniques they can teach us. And it's always nice to meet new people who have the same passion as you.
myAmerica: Do you know how the workshop will be organized?
They will mail the whole schedule later on. But I have looked on the BugShot website, and we will learn a lot of things during these four days!
myAmerica: Will you be the youngest participant in the workshop, or do all participants belong to the same age category?
You can participate at the age of 15. I'm 16. When you don't have a fee waiver, you pay a lot for the workshop, and I don't think many 15 years old have that much money. There are only three fee waivers, so there is little chance that there are participants younger than me.
myAmerica: Will this be the first time you visit the US?
Yes, this will be the first time. I’ve only traveled two times so far, but I’ve never been in America. So, it will be a nice adventure for me.
myAmerica: Insects and spiders play an important part in your photographic work. How did you get interested in insect photography?
When I was a little boy, I grabbed all the insects I could so I could observe them. Later on I bought a terrarium to observe their behavior. I've kept many tropical insects, and they fascinate me a lot! I wanted to share my 'terrarium experience' on the internet, so I needed photos. That's where it all started.
myAmerica: What do you see as the next steps in your development as a photographer?
Firstly, I want to keep learning, because a human is never full-grown.
I want to travel to forests where I can observe and photograph the weirdest creatures. And my dream is to photograph for National Geographic Magazine, because I think that's the highest level of photography you can reach.
myAmerica: What else would you like to do in life?
Firstly, I want to finish high school next year, and then I want to go to university. However, I'm not going to study photography as many of you might expect. I want to study something involving science or math instead.
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