Introduction
They will likely be extinct in the next 100 years: red headed children. Only one percent of the human population carries this unique red head gene.
For years now those children take my breath away; the orange/red hair, their pale skin with clusters of freckles and their bright light eyes. At times they even seem to be translucent. When they look into my eyes I'm staggered. Sometimes I even feel intimidated. Their fragile and sensitive appearance is often accompanied by their very powerful and strong willed character. I experienced it myself and this surprising combination makes them even more exclusive to me.
I know by saying this all out loud, a lot of them feel offended. They don't want to be examined as special, different or exotic. And they don't want to be generalized, stereo-typed or even fetishized. They are a group with a history of bullying, discrimination and abuse, all because of their looks. So I understand their skepticism towards me.
In my photos I create scenery where their strong looks come to life and capture the moment where you can feel their power. I desperately want to show that red hair is admirable and desirable, instead of a reason to be treated differently. I want to celebrate their beauty!
For this (ongoing) series 'Elusive Beauty' I photographed children in the Netherlands and in the U.S. and I'm planning to visit more countries to photograph them.
