31-AUG-2008
I do not do portraits or group portraits that often, but was asked to by these girls. Despite the harsh midday light the result is quite pleasing, more so because they look very relaxed and spontaneous. I did some shadow/highlighting as PP, softening some of the hard edges of the shadows on their faces.
05-JUN-2007
Swing Bob (hon. mention in Pbase competition)
I enjoyed a few rides with my sons in this speed monster during the day. Getting back there in the evening with a tripod did pay off. I could do without the railings of course, but this was the best viewpoint. Perhaps IŽll try to get closer and use a wide lens next time.
04-JUL-2008
La Grande Parade by Compagnie Off
This image captures the complete metamorfosis of a rather mundane city street into a dreamy but spectacular scene. I like the way the figures seem real and unreal at the same time. To take the shot I had to get really near, which was difficult, because this was a parade, and everything was constantly moving, so I had to walk backward while taking the shots. That was akward but fun to do and this image is a good reward for the effort.
30-DEC-2008
l`Arc en Ciel (2006)
This is a building that is rather mundane on cloudy days. But on sunny days it comes to life when the sun is in the west. For this picture I chose to have the sun not in the middle but way down (another way of saying I arrived a bit late). Architect:IM Architecten Deventer
10-FEB-2008
Modern society
I find the way people behave in space very interesting. One of my early textbooks at university had an opening chapter called "On the beach" about people looking for open space or clustering. This image is a good illustration. The impression of dispersion of people across space is enhanced here by the dark line and the wedge of sea water that create compartments. Apart from this all, it was a perfect day at the beach very early in the season. I did not know the place very well and was very pleased to find a watchtower to takes pictures from.
10-JAN-2009
We only scratch the surface
Unfortunately in the last two decades good winters have become scarce. But 2009 started of very well providing the skate crazy Dutch abundant open air skating options. On this particularly fine day we also had beautiful frost on the trees and scrubs. This shot was taken when touring with my sons and a friend through the Alblasserwaard. This is an area that is not very popular throughout the year, except when its many canals and waters are frozen over. Open air skating is very addictive. It is healthy and very relaxing: no signs, no traffic lights, no speed limits, no billboards or neon lights. You pass small villages and just go with the wind, against the sun or the other way round on roads paved by nature. On and on and on and on...
27-MAR-2007
alienation (3rd place in S&T contest)
This image for me depicts the neverending uselessness of office work. People moving paper from A to B, going in meaningless directions or locked into boxes and departments that obstructs real communication. Well, sort of.... This photo was made in the "Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid" that is housed in a beautiful and very special building, holding the archive of public broadcasting organisations of the Netherlands up to 60 feet below ground level. This is a view looking down into that archive section of the building. It also houses a media museum and experience centre and is open to the public.
09-MAY-2008
spotted
I am fascinated by order and chaos, spatial rythms, hierarchies and fractals. This scene matches that fascination. It caught my eye mainly because of the dark spots and the light soil. From a distance it seemed that these were the shadows of the trees, only to realise later that they were dispersed piles of timber. I also like this because it has the feeling of being in a hot air balloon, hovering over the landscape, just as Yann Arthus Bertrand, whom I very much admire, has done for his many books. I do not have a balloon but share his fascination with oblique aerial views of the face of our earth.
05-JUL-2008
La Grande Parade by Compagnie Off
The reds are way over the top here of course, creating a strange kind of monochrome effect. Interestingly, these colours are just as they were in reality. This was shot during an evening parade lighted occasionally by intensely red ground fireworks. The woman has a pleasant kind of stare and the bits of bright yellow add some interest. This parade was a great photo occasion (there are more images from this shoot in this gallery).
03-MAY-2005
What are they all doing?
This is one of my early personal favourites. It whas shot during my first and still only visit to Venice, a treasure trove of photo opportunities. We were actually walking in the other direction, me lagging behind the rest of the family. On one of the small bridges I looked back and and quickly fired my point-and-shoot. Back home I found that I liked the photo very much because of its near monochrome quality but even more so becuase of the variety of human activity and poses, and of course because of the very good memories that get aroused.
04-MAY-2005
hommage to Gursky alternative
I made this edit on on earlier version of this picture (at
http://www.pbase.com/hiero/image/68132826) after that one was shortlisted for the 65th Pbase show and tell competition but critiqued for its convergent lines. It was shot from the Venice Campanile on Piazza San Marco. It was still early in the morning (I wanted a clear view from the tower) and the restaurants and cafes had just put their tables on the square. Everyone was working or busy sightseeing except this man.
28-AUG-2005
Eye contact
My youngest son has this natural style. He's not your regular model that can produce a laugh at command, but does have this special look. I was surprised to find that the face was still well lit, despite the very light background. Probably it was the sunlight that was reflected by my white T-shirt as I was laying on the grass and looking up towards my son.