Photocredits: Seppe de Ceuster
`
Simon Vandepitte is a 24-year-old award-winning photographer based in Ghent, Belgium. He started taking photography seriously around the age of 16, and soon and soon recognition for his work followed.
Growing up in Kalmthout, Belgium, nature was close to his doorstep. The Kalmthoutse heide was the perfect place to experiment with different photography techniques. Simon started to study Biology in Ghent in 2018, and therefore, the focus of his photography changed. More and more, Simon tried to find beauty in ugly places in the city.
At the same time, Simon developed a fascination for wilderness and dramatic landscapes. He traveled alone to Shetland and hiked solo through the Aosta Valley. These trips provided him insight into what wilderness is, and whether it even exists. From 2021 to 2022, Simon studied for one academic year in Oulu, Finland, and traveled several times to Sapmi (also known as Lapland) in search of wild landscapes. More and more, Simon realised wilderness does not exist, and that it is a concept invented by people to escape from everyday life. We, humans, are part of nature.
Simon received his Master's degree in Biology in 2023. Since then, Simon has been looking for ways to combine photography, creativity, and science, hoping to inform and convince people of the importance of a healthy ecosystem around them.
Awards
2022
Lowland photographer of the year - Runner-up Abstract, Composition and shapes category
2019
Festival Nature Namur - Winner Bourse des jeunes
Lowland photographer of the year - Runner-up Insects category
2018
Natuurpunt Argus - Winner Youth category
Groene camera - Runner-up Black and white category
Aves Emotion d'ailes - Finalist Black and white category
2017
Groene camera - Finalist Youth category
Aves Emotion d'ailes - Finalist Youth category
Lowland photographer of the year - Finalist Youth category
Groene camera 2017 - Finalist Youth category
Aves Emotion d'ailes 2017 - Finalist Youth category Lowland photographer of the year 2017 - Finalist Youth category
Natuurpunt Argus 2018 - Winner Youth category
Groene camera 2018 - Runner-up Black and white category
Aves Emotion d'ailes 2018 - Finalist Black and white category, Festival Nature Namur 2019 - Winner Bourse des jeunes
Festival Nature Namur 2019 - Winner Bourse des jeunes
Lowland photographer of the year 2019 - Runner-up Insects category
Lowland photographer of the year 2022 - Runner-up Abstract, Composition and shapes category
Poster Natuurpunt butterfly count
Photo of the month, Natuurpunt magazine edition Autumn
Talk at Lowland Photofestival together with Rick van der Kraats
Coverphoto Landschap magazine nr.3
Expo Bourse des Jeunes Nature Namur
Expo Lowland Photofestival - Adrien Devillé
Article Natuurfotografie magazine about the Kalmthoutse Heide nr3
Talk about Belgian nature and creative photography, Natuurpunt Gent
Publications, expo's and talks
2023
Talk about Belgian nature and creative photography, Natuurpunt Gent
Talk about nature and wildlife in the North, Natuurpunt Noorderkempen
2022
Talk about dotterels and Lapland birdlife, Natuurpunt Noorderkempen birding group
Online talk about dotterels and lapland birdlife, Oulu birding group
2021
Article Natuurfotografie magazine about the Kalmthoutse Heide nr3
Short interview Natuurfotografie magazine nr 4
2019
Expo Bourse des Jeunes Nature Namur
Coverphoto Landschap magazine nr.3
Expo Lowland Photofestival
2018
Talk at Lowland Photofestival about experimental photography together with Rick van der Kraats
Poster Natuurpunt butterfly count
Photo of the month, Natuurpunt magazine edition Autumn