Photographer's mission: Capturing Belgium's image and a freed man's smile

Vlad VDK, the photographer for Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, navigates a world of high-stakes diplomacy, tasked with capturing moments that project Belgium's image globally. His work takes him to state visits, economic missions, and encounters with world leaders like Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

“

My role is to make Belgium shine.

"My role is to make Belgium shine," VDK explains. He documents everything from official receptions of foreign dignitaries, such as Japan's emperor, to the more personal aspects of diplomatic life, including photographing colleagues and ambassadors.

One of VDK's most emotionally charged assignments was documenting the release of Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian national detained in Iran. Rushed from a mission in Senegal to Oman, VDK's objective was simple yet profound: capture the first image of Vandecasteele as a free man. Battling limited light and time within the aircraft, VDK strategically positioned Vandecasteele near the door to utilize natural light, aiming for a portrait that conveyed freedom and reassurance.

“

I offered him a certain familiarity by calling him Olivier and asking how he was doing. He indicated that he was happy to have his picture taken and he smiled. But you can see that this smile hurts him, because he hasn't done it for a long time.

"I offered him a certain familiarity by calling him Olivier and asking how he was doing," VDK recalls. Despite the evident pain of his ordeal, Vandecasteele managed a smile. VDK's photograph, capturing him standing and looking outward, became a powerful visual narrative of his liberation, a moment he described as summarizing his freedom.

“

This photo summarizes his freedom.