Author Archives: Robert van Waarden

Swingdom – An Old Frame and Swing Dancers

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A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to create a series of portraits at the Swingdom dance event in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Here are some of the results.

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National Geographic Traveler – Landmark Trust

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National Geographic Traveler: Landmark Trust

In 2010 I had the pleasure of photographing the Landmark Trust Sites in England and Wales for the National Geographic Traveler. Together with Maartje de Gruyter we spent a week journeying through the countrysides of the old country and photographing and documenting these incredible buildings that have been saved by the Landmark Trust. This was published in National Geographic Traveler. Slideshow of the images below.

 

 

 

 

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Portraits Without Faces

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When I was recently in Latvia I was invited to visit the studio of Atis Jakobsons. While admiring his work, a conversation started fuelled by a portrait he had just created. This striking image, of a woman’s curving back, generated a discussion between Atis, Phil Toledano and the rest of us in the room about the visual power of an image without a face. Words like mystery, depth and intrigue were thrown around and it inspired me to create the series below.

What do you think about these portraits? What message do they impart, which one do you react to most strongly, why? Please leave your comments below.

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Seeking: Individuals using Vliegtickets.nl and compensating their C02

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Dear Friends,

I am asking for your help in locating individuals that have used the CO2 compensation option at Vliegtickets.nl.

Why am I looking for these people? I am working on a new project that focuses on the concept of Landscape by examining how society is reconstructing landscapes to offset our activities. The focus of this project will be on the contrast between individuals that have financially contributed to landscape reconstruction and the new landscapes that have been created. When one compensates their CO2 credits with Vliegtickets.nl, the money is used to plant forests in the Netherlands!

If you or someone you know has clicked this box. Email me! 

 

 

 

 

 

Bijlmer Blooms – Art Project in Amsterdam

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Art project by Teresa Borasino in Biljmer, Amsterdam. (Robert van Waarden)

Last week I had the opportunity to work with Amsterdam artist Teresa Borasino on her Bijlmer Blooms project in Amsterdam.She and her colleagues were busy  for several days hanging flowers on an old abandoned building in the Bijlmer neighbourhood of Amsterdam. Visit her website for some of the photos.

From Teresa

Bijlmer Blooms

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On Friday, 19 October Bijlmer Blooms was completed. It will only bloom until Thursday, 25 October.
Large amounts of flower boxes hang on the balconies of the last original ‘honeycomb’ building in the Bijlmer, Kleiburg.
Bijlmer, a neighbourhood in Amsterdam Zuidoost was built in the 60’s as a model housing estate. Currently, Bijlmer is going through a large urban renewal, many of the high-rise buildings laid out in a hexagonal grid (most known as the ‘honeycomb’ buildings) have been renovated or torn down. Kleiburg is the last original building that has not gone through renovation yet. The building is empty and completely decayed.Its renovation awaits in 2013.
Bijlmer Blooms is a participatory project. Many neighbours have contributed to the project by filling, hanging or watering the flower boxes. It is a tribute to the original and the current Bijlmer.
This project is commissioned by Centrum Beeldende Kunst Zuidoost.


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The Power of We in Photography

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This post is part of the International Blog Action Day. 

‘We’ isn’t all that common in the photography world. Creative professionals, our worth and ego thrives on the acknowledgement of ‘I’. Sure, photographers have always worked with partners; make-up, creative designers, set designers, stylists, account managers, etc. These partnerships are essential to business. But, if photographers are to remain relevant in this democratized world of photography we must look beyond service relationships and at how ‘We’ can help us grow.

Some great ideas are generated alone but it is through collaboration that the best ideas are perfected. ‘We’ means bouncing ideas back and forth, ‘We’ means more then one mind, and ‘We’ often just means more fun. This excites me.  This world has many issues and if photographers want to inspire meaningful change, it is essential that ‘We’ is harnessed.  Luckily, the same tools that led to the democratization of photography; internet, digital cameras, affordability,  have also enabled connectivity and collaboration.

When we start to voice our dreams and our desire to collaborate, we discover that the sum is greater then the parts. Francis Hodgson, photography critic for the Financial Times, said at the recent Noorderlicht Masterclass, ‘If you don’t have anything to say, then shut up!’ The reality is that even if you have something to say, it is only with ‘We’ that you will make an impact.

(Robert van Waarden)

I am lucky enough to be putting this into practice with Shiva Rimal. We have been collaborating on the Climate Oxide project for over a year. When I presented the idea to Shiva, I had no clue how far our collaboration would take it. This Friday we will open the doors on our exhibit in Amsterdam and proudly display how ‘We’ made our message stronger.

Photography is a very individual profession, hours disappear shooting on our own. Many of us, myself included, thrive on that freedom and loneliness. As much as these are important, the power of ‘We’ will start to play a bigger role in this photographer’s life.

Press Release – Climate Oxide

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Title: Climate Oxide
Datum: 9 oktober 2012

Climate Oxide is a new visual art project, opening in Amsterdam on Friday, 19 October at the Kunstkerk, Prinseneiland, that uses photography, steel, and rust to interpret the corrosion of our environment.

A Nepali Buddhist temple powered by solar energy, the devastating impacts of tar sands mining in Canada, or the Delta works of Zeeland; the images and rust employed in Climate Oxide visually depict how a tarnished world could look like if we don’t change our ways. The exhibition is meant to raise awareness and to offer a cross-experience between art and activism.

Canadian born artist Robert van Waarden and Nepali born Shiva Rimal both share Dutch nationality. Drawing upon experiences from their individual backgrounds they provide a personalised perspective of global climate issues for their audience.

The technique of combining rust and photography can be seen in this ‘making of’ video.

Exhibit Opening: Friday 19 October, 20:00
Where: Kunstkerk, Prinseneiland 89, 1013 LM, Amsterdam
Exhibit Dates: Friday, 19 October to Sunday, 28 October
Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10:00 to 18:00 (closed Mondays)

Special event: Sunday, 28 October from 14:00 to 17:00.
A panel of invited guests will share their thoughts on design, photography and the environment. Guests include; David Harry from Het Beste Idee van Nederland and the International Innovation Company, Mark Smit from the sustainability policy development team at the Hogeschool Rotterdam, and Iris Cheng, climate campaigner from Greenpeace International.

Robert and Shiva are available for interviews or comments:

For more information about the Artists:
www.vanwaardenphoto.com
www.shivarimal.com