Page 114 - The Book For Men Spring/Summer 2024

Walks of Life
Photographer Pie Aerts is on a worldwide mission to capture the spirit of humanity By Cormac Newman
PIE AERTS LIVES THE SORT OF LIFE MOST CAN ONLY DREAM OF. ORIGINALLY FROM THE NETHERLANDS,
the documentary and wildlife photographer’s extensive portfolio is a snapshot of an extraordinary career, one that has seen him travel, time after time, around the globe. From abandoned farmsteads in Patagonia and the lush forests of Rwanda to snow-covered Siberian encampments, Aerts has seen — and captured — some of the world’s most sensational sights.
But he is also intrigued and inspired by those who populate these places, and his work sits in a sweet spot “where people and place have a shared narrative.” In other words, the subjects and the scenery are inextricably linked — and their personalities, actions, and interactions afford newfound depth to every image.
“I always take on a hopeful approach to that situation: coexistence over conflict and hope over tragedy or hope over despair,” Aerts tells The Book For Men. “I’m finding stories that don’t necessarily scream for attention, but have very personal, small, intimate angles that represent a bigger narrative. I always call it ‘whispering stories over screaming stories.’ In essence, it’s always focusing on the positive side — the fabric between human beings and the origin of where they come from, and a hopeful approach to issues of our times.”
114 BFM / SS24 FEATURE / WALKS OF LIFE