Photography is about observing, but here it's about listening. It's not about the quiet whisper of a cowboy in the USA or hearing the rhythmic dancing of a boxer in a gym in Havana.

He is a Dutch art photographer from Friesland who graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 1994. His work lies at the intersection of documentary photography, portraiture, and autonomous art photography. He has worked on both commissioned projects, such as those for fashion, theatre and culture, and free projects, which have taken him to the United States, Cuba, Japan and South America. Bleeker's photography is characterised by: authenticity over perfection. He seeks out people, places and situations with a distinctive character. His subjects are often cowboys, boxers, actors, craftsmen, models and people from isolated or traditional communities.

  A cinematographic appearance. His photos are carefully constructed, making expressive use of light and shadow. They often look dramatic and timeless. 

Storytelling: He doesn't just want to record what he sees; he also wants to convey the atmosphere and emotional impact of a subject. His images are therefore more interpretations than mere registrations.  This is Henk's working method. Bleeker's approach is naturally highly personal. It starts with observation and establishing contact with the subject, and then, as I call it, the improvisation begins. When I go out to take photos for a story, I think about how it will go. What will I find? Will this work? All the doubts and uncertainty, all the choices – any serious photographer will be familiar with these. I work both on location and in my well-equipped studio on the outskirts of Friesland, where I often create powerful commissioned portraits. When working on location, I look for environments that contribute to the story. I grew up with film in the analogue era of photography. These days, I work digitally, striving to give the final print the look and feel of a darkroom print.