About bakers and the frog
You asked me to share more about my work as a freelance photographer and designer. A few days ago, I told you about the development of a logo and a color palette. Today a story about flexibility. Mental flexibility. Because that is necessary in my work. Take yesterday. We made an appointment to photograph a bakery. Things went a little differently, our appointment had been forgotten and there turned out to be a different baking schedule than we were told beforehand, but we met with a great baker (thank you Denise!) who was willing to think along with us. After more than 4 hours of driving we could have reacted disappointed, but together with the bakers we made it a wonderful afternoon. And after we braved downpours and went looking for a cafe, there was 'De Kwaakvos' ('the frog'), a cozy no-nonsense cafe with again very nice staff. A Belgian adventure with beautiful bread and inspiring bakers, a park full of dripping hydrangeas, a warm welcome in De Kwaakvos where we took notes for our story to be written later. And yes, that is a working day!
Some flowers, steadfast and proud, still bloom as if holding onto the last remnants of summer's warmth. Others, their petals fading, bow gracefully, surrendering to the change. Yet, there is no sorrow in this slow fading; only beauty, only the richness of colors more vibrant than ever, as though nature has saved its most glorious palette for these final moments.
Today, I lowered my perspective as close to the earth as I could get, and what unfolded before me was nothing short of magic: a miniature chard forest, painted in pinks and greens, shimmering beneath the autumn light.
‘Kabinet wil uitgeprocedeerde Afrikaanse asielzoekers naar Oeganda sturen’, las ik net op de NOS app. ‘We hebben een lange relatie met Oeganda en het is een gastvrij land. En asielminister Faber gaat de mogelijkheden verder uitpluizen’, aldus Minister Klever van Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingshulp.
Ik heb een kleine kanttekening, mevrouw Klever en mevrouw Faber: De rechten van homoseksuelen in Oeganda zijn een uiterst zorgwekkend mensenrechtenvraagstuk. Oeganda staat wereldwijd bekend om zijn restrictieve en repressieve wetgeving ten aanzien van LGBTQ+-rechten, en homoseksualiteit wordt in het land als strafbaar beschouwd.
I had the pleasure of designing the foundation of Saskia’s website, and she’s personalized it beautifully to reflect her unique approach and expertise. Curious to explore her services or see the new site? You can visit it here.
I'm thrilled to announce that my photograph of praying women in the sacred waters of the Ganga in Varanasi has been selected as a winner in the Life Framer competition! It's an honor to have this moment recognized, and I’m grateful to the judges for acknowledging my work.
We are thrilled to announce that our photo/art book ‘The First Ingredient’ has finally been printed! This labor of love, nearly eight years in the making, is a testament to the dedication and passion of everyone involved in this unique photo project celebrating bakers worldwide.
HERONS' DANCE • [sound on] There’s no better way to start a grey Monday morning than watching the herons' dance in front of our house. The sun gently peeks through a light mist, casting a golden glow that gives them a fairy-tale-like appearance. Nature’s magic at its finest.
I believe it's crucial to be transparent about the nature of these images. They are AI-generated representations, not actual photographs of real individuals. This distinction is important to maintain the integrity of the campaign and respect for the people it aims to support. I've taken great care to ensure that the AI-generated images are culturally sensitive. My goal is to create respectful representations that highlight the humanity and dignity of Afghan women.
Isn't it fascinating how our world has changed? In an era where digital illusions have become the norm, we often find ourselves entangled in a game of ‘real or fake’? Our eyes, once trusted witnesses to reality, have transformed into the first skeptics. With every stunning photo shared online, the question inevitably arises: ‘Is this AI-generated?’