Michael Van Der Brugg
michael (at) vanderbrugg.com

I was born in Bruges on October the 15th, 1962. I went to secondary school at the Sint-Andreaslyceum in Bruges. I graduated in organisational psychology at the Ghent University in June 1985.

I became interested in photography when I was twelve years old. I began taking pictures with an on camera that used to belong to my grandfather. I don't remember a lot about the camera other than it was a Kodak manufactured in the 1920's. With this camera I took a lot of black and white pictures and with the help of my father I would develop the film myself in a homemade darkroom. Unfortunately I no longer have any of these prints. The quality was not very good to begin with, and over the years and a couple of moves they have been either lost or deteriorated with age.

As I grew older I started using a 35 mm camera that I borrowed from my father. This was a fully automatic camera where I learn how to use all of the settings to take pictures. My dad taught me not only how to use the camera, but the basics of photography. I bought my own camera when I was 18 years old and a freshman in college. A Minolta Maxium 3000 35 mm camera.

I began travelling in 1995, starting with a round-the-world trip that took me to ten countries on three continents, and gave me a taste of life on the road. On that trip I developed a love of photography, and returned home eager to learn more about the art. Travelling had opened my eyes; I discovered that the closer you look, the more you see. Nature is a wondrous thing that many of us take for granted.

My mother came from Prague in Czechoslovakia. Maybe there were some secret roots behind I felt in love with Prague at first sight. I went back every year. Finally I decided to stay in Prague permanently in 2002. My heart beats in the same rhythm as the heart of Prague. This is why I could not stay outside.