Machiel Botman was born in 1955 in Vogelenzang, The Netherlands. A key figure in Dutch photography, Botman has always photographed as a way to understand life. Self-taught, Botman works instinctively, photographing in black and white, creating images that are as much about himself as who, what and where he photographs. Ever since he made his first photograph at the age of 12, photography has always been a very intimate experience for Botman. He photographs the people and places in his life that affect him. From the portraits of his friends and relatives to the pictures of strangers he meets to the gestural images of the landscapes he passes through, Botman’s images evoke a world of interconnectedness without relying on overly poetic sentiment.