NYC Sunset

À propos de Armand Dijcks

Dutch photographer and videographer Armand Dijcks blurs the boundaries of visual storytelling. By combining traditional photography with movement, he creates a visual hybrid: an animated still photo. In his work, Dijcks loves to play… En savoir plus

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INFORMATIONS SUR LE BAGROUND

Dutch photographer and videographer Armand Dijcks blurs the boundaries of visual storytelling. By combining traditional photography with movement, he creates a visual hybrid: an animated still photo.

In his work, Dijcks loves to play with time. Photographs freeze a moment, but Dijcks uses video montages and computer generated effects to produce pieces that convey movement – despite being still. He describes his work as “living moments caught in time.”

Dijcks often presents his work on oversized, high-definition screens to give the viewer a highly immersive experience. We sink into his work, losing track of reality. The artificial dream world defies logic, and yet we never doubt the authenticity of what we are seeing.

New York City Time-Lapse

Dijcks has spent time teaching workshops in New York City, where he found perfect locations for his time-lapse technique. Shooting from a pier in New Jersey, he captured the stunning Manhattan skyline. This spot, he says, gives the skyscrapers a very unique symmetry and balance. To find better angles and show the sheer immensity of the island, he also shot from Brooklyn Bridge Park, placing the famous bridge prominently. But he was meticulous about more than just the locations for his time-lapse pieces; he also selected very specifics points in time.

The numerous photographs produced during one of Dijcks’ time-lapse sessions are the beginning of a long and laborious editing process. A fraction of a degree difference can make the horizon appear to bend, so he corrects the alignment by hand to achieve the desired effect. Sometimes, he has to correct every individual photo. Perfect results require a great deal of time and effort. Originally, the time-lapse pieces were conceived to be cinemagraphs presented on digital screens. As lenticulars, however, it is now possible to enjoy these works of art without any electronics.

NFT in a Box

Pour capturer Manhattan dans le rougeâtre éclat du crépuscule, Armand Dijcks se rend à Jersey City et embrasse du regard la skyline de la rive ouest de l’Hudson. Les façades des gratte-ciel réverbèrent les dernières lueurs du jour dans des reflets métalliques. Au-dessus d’elles, le ciel diurne s’assombrit dans des tons orange-bleu. Tout dans la scène respire le calme et la tranquillité, seul le fleuve semble se mouvoir. Finement modelées par un courant contraire, les vagues vont et viennent en douceur. Sombre et ondoyant, le cours d’eau cadence l’ambiance du soir. Seuls deux oiseaux traversent horizontalement l’image au-dessus de la ligne d’horizon. La composition est résolument tournée vers la contemplation, surtout ces éléments mouvants qui accentuent la vue et en soulignent l’intemporalité avec vivacité et authenticité.

Dans une deuxième image animée, une vue agrandie du Financial District passe en accéléré du jour à la nuit. Ces derniers s’illuminent comme si les étoiles se levaient dans les bâtiments et non dans le ciel. Celui-ci forme d’ailleurs un contraste sombre dans ce jeu de lumière subtil et géométrique qui divague au-dessus du fleuve, avant que la lumière du jour ne balaie à nouveau la nuit de l’image. Alors s’estompe le décor architectural étoilé pour laisser place au visage métallique des gratte-ciel. Le jour s’écoule comme déferlerait une vague, immédiatement suivie de la nuit d’après. Telle une inversion du bon mot, ce n’est pas le jour qui, dans la New York d’Armand Dicjks, jamais ne dort, mais la nuit.

Stephan Reisner (trad. E.de Montgolfier)

VITA

Armand Dijcks was born in 1970 in Sittard, Netherlands: After studying Architecture and Real Estate Management at the Technical University of Delft, he began working as a real estate consultant. He explains his interest in architecture as a fondness for the combination of design and technology. Since 2012, he and his company, Armand Dijcks Visuals, have been pioneers in the field of time-lapse photography, creating artworks for clients around the world. Working with other celebrated photographers, he also develops tutorial programs and leads workshops.