In 2008 Philippe Clement decided to take the plunge and become a full-time photographer. Prior to that he mixed being a semi-professional shooter with his full-time work as a rock-climbing instructor and co-owner of a climbing hall in Belgium. The timing of his decision came with challenges. The worldwide financial crisis hit that same year and the stock photography market was becoming more and more competitive.
Four mountain climbers silhouetted against Torre dei Scarperi / Schwabenalpenkopf, Sexten Dolomites, Parco Naturale Tre Cime, South Tyrol, Italy. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra 
Tre Cime di Lavaredo / Drei Zinnen, three distinctive mountain peaks in the Sexten Dolomites seen from WW1 cave shelter, South Tyrol, Italy. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra 
16th century timber framed house fronts in narrow street of the old town in the city Vannes, Morbihan, Brittany, France. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra 
Close-up portrait of beech marten / stone marten / house marten (Martes foina) foraging. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra 
Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) in breeding plumage flapping wings on sea cliff top in seabird colony, Scotland, UK. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra 
Lightning bolts striking over oil refinery at industrial estate during heavy thunderstorm at night, conceptual picture for global warming due to carbon dioxide emissions. Photo: Philippe Clement/Arterra
Philippe soon changed course, and the Arterra Picture Library was born. He had realized he could offer a lot more worldwide content if he partnered with a few high-quality, specialist photographers. In addition to his own contributions to Arterra’s archive, Philippe edited all the images and added and enhanced the metadata (an art in itself) behind each photo. This ensured a consistency across the Arterra portfolio that photo editors and researchers certainly appreciate.
Arterra soon began to attract a following. Shortly after setting up the website www.arterra.be, Arterra’s tightly edited rights-managed collection earned the archive several partnerships with leading photo agencies and distributors. Even at the advanced stage in the stock photo industry, large agencies remain on the lookout for “boutique” libraries covering a wide variety of subjects.
Now, too old to continue in the rock-climbing scene, Philippe lives his second dream job, spending his time between cruising through Europe while shooting nature, and (especially in the cold, dark winter months) in front of the computer, editing images and providing licensing partners with new content for their picture buyers.
Philippe no longer flies overseas on photo shoots because those trips are no longer profitable. Instead, he roams along the Normandy coast, across the Scottish Highlands or in the Dolomite mountains in his little Renault Kangoo microcamper in which the photographer sleeps and cooks to cut travel costs. It has become a very special nomadic way of life and Philippe loves every minute of it, though it demands a great deal of discipline and constant innovation to keep up with an ever-changing market.
American pika (Ochotona princeps) native to alpine regions of Canada and western US, with mouthful of vegetation in rocky terrain. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra 
Hvitserkur, 15 m high basalt sea stack along eastern shore of the Vatnsnes peninsula, northwest Iceland. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra 
Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) with erected crest feathers in flight over meadow with caught grub prey in beak. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra 
Ringed little owl (Athene noctua) landing with caught mouse prey in beak on old, weathered fence post along meadow. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra 
Bird ringer placing back ringed Barn Owl (Tyto alba) owlet banded with metal ring in nestbox in church tower. Photo by: Johan De Meester/Arterra 
Poppies growing on sandbags at the Dodengang / Boyau de la Mort / Trench of Death, First World War One trenches along the river IJzer, Diksmuide, Belgium. Photo by: Johan De Meester/Arterra 
French gendarmes and antique cars during the Embouteillage de la Route Nationale 7, happening for oldtimers from the fifties and sixties at Lapalisse, Auvergne, France. Photo by: Johan De Meester/Arterra 
European pine marten (Martes martes) emerging from gap and standing upright in the snow in winter. Photo by: Johan De Meester/Arterra 
Yurts in traditional Kyrgyz yurt camp during snow storm at Song Kul / Song Kol in the Tian Shan Mountains, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. Photo by: Marica van der Meer/Arterra 
Dallol sulfur springs / hot springs in the Danakil Depression discharge brine and acidic liquid in green acid ponds, Afar Region, Ethiopia, Africa. Photo by: Marica van der Meer/Arterra 
Orthodox priest inside Abreha We Atsbeha rock-hewn church decorated with medieval wall paintings near Wukro, Misraqawi Zone, Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Photo by: Marica van der Meer/Arterra 
17th–19th century shops and residences in the main street of the city Pingyao, Jinzhong, Shanxi / Shansi Province, China. Photo by: Marica van der Meer/Arterra
Arterra’s structure allows Philippe to enjoy complete freedom and his schedule depends on the weather and the seasons. Apart from his own work, Arterra’s archive includes, among others, the work of Sven-Erik Arndt, a specialist in European wildlife photography; professional globetrotter, writer, and worldwide travel images provider Marica van der Meer; and Johan De Meester, co-author of many books about nature and European heritage. Arterra’s work appears regularly in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Bird Watching Magazine and other magazines, books, calendars and major newspapers in mainly the UK and US.
For more information about Arterra’s archive, please visit them at www.arterra.be
To license any of these images please contact UIG at: info@universalimagesgroup.com
Beautiful photos!