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Micro-Photographer
Wim van Egmond primarily works as an independent artist but since his work brings together both art and science his images are often used as scientific illustrations. Because he practises several different photographic techniques he is sometimes asked to do specialized commissioned work. For many years he collaborated in the development of the unique museum for microbes, Micropia in Amsterdam for which he helped making content, images, films and a visitor friendly microscope.

His main interests is portraying microscopic organisms. Since microorganisms are such unknown subjects the microscopic world comes with an abstraction, built-in, so to speak. When he started working as an artist he had to transform reality in order to create abstract images. Nowadays he works as a pure realist but the images look more abstract than ever.

One of his great heroes is Anthoni van Leeuwenhoek, the discoverer of the micro world. Wim lives at the exact spot where that happened and is currently doing a research on this find. His work is somewhat related to the Victorian traditions and the work of the 19th century naturalists but he combines the old skills with modern techniques. There is a lot of craftsmanship needed for the practise of microscopy and Wim is an expert in training microorganisms and making sure they behave as good models. His web pages, like the on-line Micropolitan Museum have inspired many people to start looking through a microscope. Wim is a multiple winner of the Nikon Small World competition.

Regarding the artistic aspects of his work, his images have a certain tranquility, the compositions are carefully balanced. This resembles the accuracy of a scientific approach. But there is often a hint of absurdism in his work and he sometimes presents it in an alternative context, in theater or musea. His most recent projects involve time lapses and movies of microbes and fungi.

Website:www.micropolitan.org