The Mechelen-based press photographer David Legrève recently released his first book. ‘Weldra Opening’ is his personal interpretation of the past corona year, a unique time document that captures the entire situation in a stunning visual way. And we had the honour of printing this photo book.
“A week after the first lockdown, I started this project,” says David Legrève. “The crisis broke out on 13 March, which obviously had an impact on my daily work. At first, I was afraid to come into contact with other people. I didn’t want to get infected, let alone infect others. I took my photos quickly and rushed home. Until I began to realise that the entire situation was visually very compelling. Typical assignments, like photographing a wedding anniversary or a new shop opening, suddenly took on a completely different dimension. I wanted to document those visible changes. After initially closing my eyes out of fear, I suddenly discovered another world.”
If you visit Het Predikheren in Mechelen today, you can admire a selection of the images. Until 21 February, fourteen photos are on display in the city library as a preview of the 100-page book. From elderly couples celebrating anniversaries behind glass to online birthday parties and the disinfection of St. Rumbold’s Cathedral. One of the most striking photos is perhaps that of a sleeping dog in a deserted shop window.
“This is the key image of the series,” he explains. “That peacefully sleeping dog evokes a sense of calm, stillness and beauty. At the same time, there’s an underlying tension — is the animal still alive or not? That darker undertone reflects the surreal nature of the crisis. Yet it was this very image that freed me from my fear. Suddenly, I was ready to take more time for my photos.”
And then we had the honour of printing David’s photo book! This was done in collaboration with the photographer and graphic designer Tina De Souter, who guided the entire process from composition to printing.
“I’m very happy with the result — and actually with the whole collaboration,” smiles Legrève. “The speed and focus with which our questions were answered were a big plus. The book truly reflects what I wanted to convey. The cover is made of a rough, natural cardboard with the opening image die-cut into it. We also chose an open spine, where you can see the glue and binding — which ties in beautifully with the cover image: an unfinished shop window with the words ‘weldra opening’ (‘opening soon’) written on it. The combination of that raw, grey image and the unpolished look of the book perfectly captures the atmosphere I wanted to express.”
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