Monique Delaet - Discovering the intimacy of flowers

by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 4^th of December 2023

Monique Delaet's macro work is enchanting and full of poetry. Flowers are her passion. She likes to enter their heart and soul and share her discoveries with the viewers. She quotes: 'my images originate from my gut feeling'. Come along to share this magical journey through Monique's work and to discover more about this fine lady artist.

'three'

My name is Monique Delaet. I live in a small rural village in the North, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Having been a teacher in primary school for over 40 years in total, I taught children with a mental disability during the last 20 years of my career. All that time, my work was my hobby.
Then came the moment of retirement, and that was the moment my photographic journey started. I bought a Canon EOS 50D with a few ‘kit’ lenses (wide angle, light tele…) and I followed a short photography course, which was more of a ‘get to know your camera’ training.
I’ve followed several modules on ‘Post-processing your images in Adobe Photoshop’ organised by an institute for adult education. Nowadays, I’ve switched and use Serif’s Affinity Photo. From time to time, I also participate in workshops such as macro photography, multiple exposure and working with a Helios lens (44 M 58mm f/2).

I realised quite fast that macro photography had my preference above the rest. So I bought a Canon EF100mm f/2.8 L IS USM macro lens.
Flowers are my passion and, hence, my favourite subject. I started by exploring my own garden, and then the gardens of my neighbours or friends, the wild flowers in the meadows or the roadside. Whenever I came across lovely gardens during my walks, I was not afraid to ask the residents’ permission to shoot some photographs.

'queen of darkness'

'wild flowers'

Photography is a way of life for me and I dedicate quite a lot of time to it.
When I’m not out on a walk with my camera, I’m busy at home processing photos on my Mac. I was not entirely satisfied with the pure, almost scientific representation that one can achieve with a macro lens and always was looking for ‘something more’. Going inside the heart of a flower and exposing that beauty which is invisible to other people, is what makes me happy. That’s what I want to show and share.

'summer delight'

'coneflower'

Because I usually wish to achieve a shallow Depth of Field (DoF), it’s all about the ratio between the small area that is in focus versus the much larger out-of-focus area that should fill the image. My images originate from my gut feeling. I’ll always try to make a sufficient number of photos, so that I can make my choice at home and select those that I want to further develop. I love using textures and working with layers and layer masks.

'la vie en rose'

'into the light'

At some point in time, I started to create ‘still life’ images.
This requires quite some preparation, the use of props, making and modifying a specific set-up, selecting the proper lens, lighting and camera angle.

'honesty'

'?'

I truly hope that the people viewing my images get that good feeling, just like I do, because the passion I try to put in my photos is my top priority. Obviously the photographs must be technically sound, but looking at an image is more than just registering it.

'oasis in red'

I'm using a light-pad every now and then, but I still have to refine this technique.

'spring is coming'

I’ve learnt so much by looking at images made by other photographers, wondering how they were created, and then starting to experiment myself.
I don't really have a favourite picture, but to me, this one is the most beautiful I’ve ever made. It’s also the first one to which I applied a texture.

'ballerina'

It took me several years before I started posting on 1X because all images were so exquisite and out of reach. But, encouraged by a few friend photographers I jumped into the deep, which I didn't regret for a second. The images I can admire on 1X are wonderful and so inspiring.
I’m an absolute fan of Jacky Parker, Gilbert Claes, Hilda van der Lee and Ludmila Shumilova.

I still have lots of plans for my photographic journey. I really would like to make portraits, especially from children. I also need to learn more about using a light-pad, and am constantly in search of new techniques for processing my photos.