Conservatorium: Big Band concert
A Quest for Change - Overview
During Clean2Antarctica’s Quest for Change I have been sailing with a group of individuals whose common goal is quite easy to relate with: initiate change.
I have been documenting their, and my own, changes in our perspective of life.
Because making your world as small as a ship, influences everyone's behavior in some way. See my perspective.
Shot with Sony A7rIII, paired mostly with the Sony 24-70 G master
www.Clean2Antarctica.com
A Quest for Change - portraits
As part of our documentary for Clean2Antarctica I joined a group of talented youngsters on a Quest for Change.
Stuck on a boat for four weeks, they were challenged to come up with solutions for environmental struggles that companies face in this era. How can they become circular? What are the opportunities?
During the past four weeks these bright minds challenged themselves and the world around them.
This is the portrait part, all shot on the last day on sea. Shot with Sony A7RIII and Sony 85mm G, all natural light.
Commercial work: Stern Car solutions
Shot for Stern, their new project “Working with Stern”.
All models are people that actually work for Stern, to give it a more natural feel.
Shot with Sony A7RIII and Sony 24-70G. Lighting with the Broncolor Siros L 800w series.
Haarlem Jazz '18 - Event photography
I have been the main photographer for the event Haarlem Jazz for quite some time now. From the start it has been an honor to be able to do this big event, in my hometown.
Being an event photographer, taking photos of an event, still remains one of the most special things to do in this profession. Because it shows exactly where the photographers looks at, what draws their interests, and what thrives their emotional state at that particular moment.
When seeing past the regular photos of artist almost all event photographers know how to do well, you start to see individuality. Which angles are being chosen for overviews? What kind of people are selected to showcase the emotional mood of the event? What particular moments of those people are chosen?
The fun thing is, every photographer puts a little of himself in every photo he or she takes. Fact. But. Event photography is one of the few work related photography types that actually makes it really visible for the outside world.
At every (public) event photographers attend there are so many things happening around him or her. SO MANY. What you choose to capture as a photographer defines you as a person. It's not as plain and simple that if you only take photos of smiling and happy people (which you probably should, for almost every client) you are the happiest person alive. It takes some time to unravel the why's and how's of the moment you choose. But it's a fascinating thing. Photography. A mirror of your inner self.
Take a little look at my mirror :)
Lebanon strawling
Factory men - Black & White series
I did an assignment for Warp Industries, they offer amazing solutions for VR trainings. During one of my assignments for Warp, I visited a factory where they forge steel. Working men have always fascinated me, during my work for Warp I took some free shots.
Trailer documentary "Longing"
Here it is! The trailer of my documentary called "Longing". Later this year I will post the full video.
Director: Edo Landwehr
Producer: Yara El Moussaoui
Story: Edo Landwehr & Zita Luiten
We are currently entering the eight year of the Syrian conflict, with no clear end in sight. The documentary film “Longing” tells the story of a group of young active people with the dream to build peace in Syria. A story of a project named after the people who participate, ‘Active Voices’, that shows the strengths, vulnerabilities and power of Syrians and the people who work with them. It follows the stories of Syrians in Europe and the Middle East and unravels the difficulties they face on a daily basis. There is an emerging gap between Syrians due to the fact they have spread all over the world and are experiencing different contexts. There is also the challenge, for Syrians who moved abroad, to build a new life in their host community. This documentary shows this two-sided challenge from the perspective of the active voices themselves. Listen to their voices, hear their stories and feel their power. They’re longing for peace, but more than that, they are longing for hope. Hope to build a better Syria in the future. Together.
Iceland with Clean2Antarctica
Also published on National Geographic's homepage:
Weddings of '17
A day with Rondé
The band Rondé is a rising star in the dutch music scene, they just started their clubtour in the Netherlands last week. I was present at their first performance in the Tolhuistuin, also known as Paradiso-north.
I decided to start when the band arrived at Paradiso, not just when their performance started. I wanted to show a little bit more then just the regular showphotos. Right before we started dinner, I also had the chance to take some portrait photos.
My first billboard
My first billboard was shown in an important business sector of Amsterdam, near the A10. It was shot for an organisation called Toogethr. A nice initiative to promote sharing rides to get to work.
Everything is shot with the Sony A7Rii, with broncolor light.
New lens: Carl Zeiss batis 18mm f2.8
I have been looking for a prime lens in the wide range for some time now. . I have always used a 16-35 for all the wide work I needed to do, mostly landscapes, architectual work and interior design. This has been the case since I started shooting, with Canon, 6 years ago.
Last couple of years, whenever I shoot events (weddings and other events involving people) I have been using a 35mm lens (When I used canon I had sigma f/1.4, with Sony I use the RX1RII). Last year I felt the urge to add more drama to my shots, go wider, and I started using my 16-35 for event work as well. Considering the fact I am a prime lens geek, this was kinda off, so I started looking for alternatives. I have considered multiple options, like the CarlZeiss 24mm, and the SamYang 14 and 24mm. I was not convinced. Then I found the CarlZeiss Batis 18mm, f/2.8. WOW.
Immediately, convinced. If you're looking for a wide lens in the area of 14mm - 24mm, for Sony E-mount, this is the one you want. This lens is off the chart, in every way. It's fast, CRAZY sharp and beautifully coloured. This lens gives you the feeling you are using something special. And if you love you're loving your prime lenses even remotely similar to how much I do, you're going to fall in love with this lens, as much as I do. If you're looking for something special, the relatively high price is very worth it.
Looking forward to shooting the first events with this lens, will post more when available.
International women's day
On International Women’s Day #IWD2017, we celebrate not only the visible women leaders, but also the less visible voices of empowerment. Meet Manal from Idlib, Syria.
This powerwoman lives in a refugee camp in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, with her husband, daughters and grandchildren.
For 5 years, she’s been living here.
Every day, is a fight.
She and her family have to pay about $100 US dollar a month to live in a tent, in a camp with an open sewer system.
Every month, they battle to have a roof over their heads, and food in their mouths.
Every day, she fights for her family.
Every day, she is a powerwoman.
Meet her powerful daughter:
This powerwoman lives in a camp in Bekaa Valley, with her parents and her children. At the age of only 22, she has a four month old son Moustafa, living in a tent with her extended family. Her fight for a better future for herself, but mostly her children, is a daily fight. She is finishing her BA in Philosophy, because she believes that her education will change her baby’s entire life. An educated woman, can create a lifeline of development.
Every day, she fights for her children’s future.
Every day, she is a powerwoman.
Text © Zita Luiten
A child's dream
Together with Zita I visited these Syrian children in Shatila refugee camp in Beirut. The camp was originally set up for 3000 Palestinians, but it now houses over 25000 refugees, many of them Syrians. This poor camp with it’s dismantled apartments is basically outside of Lebanese police control, and is completely run by gangs.
Many of these traumatized Syrian child refugees turn to gangs at a young age and leave schools. BeFriendMe is an initiative that utilizes classical music, yoga and creativity to channel their traumas into something a bit more positive, and to keep them away from criminality.
Besides the traumas they have encountered and continue to encounter, these kids and their parents don’t have any legal documentation. Through Lebanese regulations, this keeps them from having any job, and it means children can’t get their school diploma. They can still go to a school after school hours, but they can’t participate in any exams, let alone get an official diploma.
In a situation that seems to have little future, we wondered what these kids dream of. What they want to become in the future. And we found out… They still dream big. Check it out for yourself.
Ayham Chokhadar – 10 years
Architect
Aya Khatab – 11 years
Surgeon
Walaa Amin – 9 years
Bollywood Movie Director
Mohammed Atal – 13 years
Watchmaker
Mohammed Khatab – 9 years
Defend his country
Raghad – 4 years
Don’t know
Emad Abdul – 9 years
Hairstylis
Natek Attar – 11 years
Teacher
Shahed Ghlef - 9 years
Doctor
Hassan Hadad – 7 years
Catch fish & open a fish market
Houda Ahdad – 5 years
Teacher (Miss)
Hamsab Azmeh – 9 years
Doctor
Rahma Azmeh – 8 years
Doctor
Hiba Haldat – 11 years
Heart Doctor
Weddings of '16: D&A in Spain
One of the more beautiful places we visited this year was definitely the wedding of Dave & Astrid in the south of Spain. Not necessarily because it was just Spain, but because of the location in Spain. We visited a hostel near the south coast, close to Malaga. Everything was heartbreakingly beautiful.
Weddings of '16: S&T
Whilst the "wedding season" is over it is time for reflection, feedback, summaries, analysis and more of those things. One of the weddings I enjoyed the most in the past year was the wedding of Suzanne & Theis. A beautiful couple wanting to spend a little more time than average on their shoot. Luckily our shooting location and weather were AWESOME.
Enjoy!
Second shooter: Froukje Wilming
Fishermen
The life of a fisherman is something that always have seemed iconic to me. Being on open water all day, short nights, only a few of the same people around you everyday. And then the smell of fish, 24/7. This lifestyle has always appealed to me. Not necessarily that I would like to be a fisherman myself, I don't eat fish and can't really stand the smell of it, but the lifestyle appeals to me in a romantic way.
When Tape offered me the chance to be part of a commercial shooting of a shrimp fishing company in the north of Fryslan, called Solt, there was no time to hesitate. This is something I really want to do. With a couple of other guys we got the chance to be part of the life of the fishermen for two full days.
And wow, the experience it was. We were extremely lucky with the combination of weather. We had an amazing sun with some dramatic skies in the background on the first day. The second day started with an amazing sunrise.
TEDx: WhiteHallWomen 2016
Commercial work: Taco Mundo
Shot for Taco Mundo Netherlands.
