New blog !!!

I have started working on my new photo project "What the world has never seen".


On the performing of this photo project a special blog is published with background information, anecdotes, the progress, events, adventures, facts, information, etc

Check out:

http://www.whattheworldhasneverseen.wordpress.com

Success for the project “The most beautiful people in the world”

Since the publication of the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” two weeks ago, over 400 copies have been distributed to persons all over the world.
They had been going to the website http://www.themostbeautifulpeople.org to obtain their free copy or to purchase the superb “DeLuxe Edition”.
This is an overwhelming start and now the expectation is justified that the whole edition might be gone soon.

Persons that received the book spontaneously send e-mails to share their excitement.

“Wonderful and inspiring”.

“Beautiful and moving at the same time. My heart opens fully”

“It is great to see among all the negative reporting we see in the press something that focuses on the beauty of the people”

“I’ve seen already many pages from your wonderful book but I save the rest to absorb eevry day
some positivity.”

“Thanks for this extraordinary project: you made the world a lot more beautiful”

“Hans loves it as much as I do. you must be very excited and proud of your work, it is truly unique!

“The book was in 2day's mail. Really fantastic!!”

“I just received the book and it is splendid !! A beautiful book.
Still much more than I expected”.

“This renewed attention to what us makes human beings, I see as the hope for the 21st century. We have to regain our identity and dignity from the influence of commercialism and the fast media.
By among others honest acting and statements.”

“I received the book. Very beautiful. I am very impressed.”

But also other responses came in to do with the specific marketing strategy behind the distribution of the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
Anyone can go to the website of the project and request a free copy.
Only a small fee needs to be paid for shipping and handling.
But there is also a “DeLuxe Edition” available.
This a person buys and with the proceeds the free copies are financed.
A democratic system for a non-profit project appealing to our solidarity and compassion.

Several people appreciate this way of making a book worldwide available, so that even if you are in a situation of economic hardship, a copy is available thanks to the generosity of more well to do friends.

Therefore, several people ordered more than one copy of the “DeLuxe Edition”.
To give the beautiful book that is signed and in a luxury box with a high quality original print as a present to family and friends.
And to make more free copies possible to lower income people .

One person even decided to make a donation to the project “The most beautiful people in the world” .
And a wonderful girl wrote she could not afford the “DeLuxe Edition” but would pay the shipping and handling costs for one book twice.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In case you haven't got a copy yet, go to:

http://www.themostbeautifulpeople.org





.

Chasing fog in London

These days is an exhibition of the photo project “Camden Interiors” in the Swiss Cottage Gallery in London, UK.

Now, a newspaper called “The Hampstead and Highgate Express” has published a story on the photo project “Camden Interiors” written by talented journalist Lucia Psenakova.

As an extra service to the fervent and loyal blog readers this story is published on this blog today.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Camden Interiors will take you back 38 years

Back in the 60s when Michel Szulc-Krzyzanowski was a student highly fascinated by photography, he promised himself to never work for anybody else. He started creating his own independent pieces of photography soon after graduating in 1970.
It was only two years later when he received an interesting invitation from Camden Arts Centre to take part in the project called ´Photography into Art´. This was his chance to work towards changing the unflattering status of photography into an independent form of art. Until then photography was thought to be an applied art form and wasn´t taken very seriously, but Michel´s work from 1972 made a clear statement and put photographs into the same category as paintings and sculptures.
Soon after coming to London, the work on three different projects commenced. One of the projects named “Camden Interiors” featured the photographs of people living in Camden as well as the captions of their own self made creation, in this case - the living room.
Michel reflects: “The photo project ´Camden Interiors´ was a personal idea and proposed to the female Director of the Camden Arts Centre. She wanted, originally, to show work that was already made - sequences on the beaches of an island in the Netherlands. But it was unacceptable to function as an artist photographer like all the other artists at the time - to make art and show it later in a museum.“
Michel felt that museums were like “an ivory tower” and that it shouldn´t be that way, so his instant urge was to create the exhibition that would involve people and something that they created on their own.
“There was this strong need to want to connect as many people as possible to the museum,“ he says. Michel was convinced that people would be curious and want to see how their neighbours live.


After being faced with rejection, Michel and his assistant found 50 people willing to be photographed in their living rooms. Pictures that clearly reflect people´s style, background and financial situation, were mostly taken in front of the TV sets – since, according to the artist, TV was becoming a dominant factor in their lives.
When asked whether he can recall any memories from the 1972 project, he says: “Hardly anything is remembered from trying to find 50 locations of which the occupants agreed to have a picture taken. The job was done together with a young woman and it was very nice to work with her. But in the memory not one visit to any of the living rooms is remembered. Hey, it was 38 years ago.“
Now ´Camden Interiors´ from 1972 is back to make an impact on a new generation of audience. Swiss Cottage Gallery presents the exhibition, with 35 photographs of living rooms and their residents in Camden.
The public can see the displays of photographs any day from 22 October to 19 December 2010 and this time around, the exhibition doesn´t only play on our social curiosity, but also carries a deep historical message.
Looking at Michel´s work from a perspective of a today´s Londoner, his work ´Camden Interiors´ brings a unique insight into people´s lives 38 years ago.
Even though Michel went on to create other highly acclaimed pieces of photography, his humbleness as an artist is obvious. When complimented on his work, he politely answers: “I appreciate it tremendously when people are gripped by my work.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When in London between October 22 and December 19, 2010, go and see this exhibition of the “Camden Interiors” in the Swiss Cottage Gallery on 88 Avenue Road.



.

Order now !

The photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” is ready !
Order your copy now from:

http://www.themostbeautifulpeople.org





.

Opening doors

In 1972, there was an invitation from a museum in London, UK, the Camden Arts Center, to participate in an exhibition called “Photography into Art”.
At the time photography was seen as an applied art form.
Like fashion and ceramics.
Work made to serve another purpose not decided by the photographer.

But even as a student the thought had come up never to work for anybody else but only to do the fantastic ideas that came up constantly in the own mind.
Using photography as a tool as artists use painting and sculpting.

This has been a major development in photography and it happened in the early 70’s of last century.
Artists who transformed photography from an applied art form into an independent art form.

The clever curators of the Camden Arts Center in London, UK were one of the first to notice this development and therefore organized the exhibition “Photography into Art” in 1972.
A very good title, “Photography into Art”, because it explained that photography had been upgraded by artists to become a serious art form.

A catalog was published with this exhibition “Photography into Art”.
A large book and if it is in your library it is an asset of great value now.

When the proposal came to participate in this exhibition “Photography into Art”, it was refused to show existing work.
Instead, the request was made to go to Camden, London and make work especially for the exhibition.
Somehow there was money for this and soon weeks were spent in London doing three different photo projects.

One of them was called “Camden Interiors”.
The plan was to try to get as many persons living in Camden to this exhibition “Photography into Art”.
Not only the elite but the common man and woman and children as well.
To change the museum from being the ivory tower it very much was in the early 70’s into a public place interesting for anybody.
The trick was to show and promote something in the museum the people had created themselves to make those the objects of the exhibition.
Obviously, the self made object was their living room.
An environment the result of the private taste, history and creativity.
Another reason to chose for this particular expression of personal taste was the knowledge that always there is curiosity to want to see how exactly the neighbors live.

It was a laborious job to find 50 persons who were accepting to let the photographer and his charming assistant in and to be photographed in the living room standing next to the TV set.
It took two weeks of knocking on doors, using never failing enthusiasm and never accepting disappointment.
The assistant was truly great for this job.

The persons that accepted to be photographed and to be in the exhibition received a document.
With this they could come to the show in the Camden Arts Center and receive a free copy of their image.
Another way to promote to come to the museum.

Meanwhile the Camden Arts Center had informed their press contacts about this unique photo project.
Result was that the newspaper The Times did a story and the BBC radio as well.
This had the fantastic effect that many people from Camden and elsewhere in London came to see the exhibition to check how other people were actually living.

“Camden Interiors”, a series of 50 black and white pictures, was purchased by the Camden Archives shortly after the exhibition.
And guess what, again they are doing a show of these images!
Why?
Aidan Flood, the curator:

“Your photographs, apart from being beautiful, have acquired an added dimension as historical documents showing fashion, furnishings, and living styles from an era that has passed but which will resonate with many of the viewers”.

Voila.
When in London between October 22 and December 19, 2010, go and see this exhibition of the “Camden Interiors” in the Swiss Cottage Gallery on 88 Avenue Road.


.



.

a warm reunion

One of the many photo projects performed in the last forty years was documenting one particular woman.
Henny.
Starting when she was 16 years old and working in a biscuit factory in 1977.
Photographing all the different aspects of her life and publishing this in a photo book.

Henny in 1976

Next, every five years, again she and her family was documented and the results published in photo books.
In total five photo books have been made on Henny covering over 25 years of her life.

The last book was published in 2001 and as of then Henny had no appetite anymore to be documented for everybody to see.
The reason was that in the last book she had revealed dramatic things about her childhood and this had resulted in serious repercussions from her family.

Because of this situation contact between Henny and the photographer became sporadic.
Phone numbers and e-mail addresses changed and for several years there was no contact.

But yesterday the decision was made to go and see her.

Henny lives in a small town in the south of the Netherlands that can only be reached by public bus or private car.

There is no door bell and in the front garden is a huge tractor tire.
It was about 3.30 pm and Henny’s youngest daughter Charlotte, now 15, opened the door.
She didn’t recognize the photographer.
She called her mother who was in bed and when Henny came to the door she was full of emotions of joy and surprise.
Because they had heard that their friend and photographer had died.
While now he was alive and well knocking on their door.

The reunion was wonderful, warm and as if no years had passed.
Immediately intimate, loving and totally open.

Henny and her family - sept. 23, 2010

As always, many things had been happening in the life of Henny.
Dramatic and surprising events.

Personally, an emotional and fascinating experience to hear her tell her story of the last nine years.
But professionally, everything screaming inside to make a new book about Henny.
So interesting the things happening in her life.
And so strong, emotional, unique and overwhelming.

Of course this was discussed.
To make a new book about her and her family and the extraordinary life they have.
Although initially there was opposition, little by little a slight interest could be noticed.
A book published on the life is also a way to be different.
To have the personal moment of fame and glory.
To stand out.
To be someone.

The idea for a new book is born and the relationship is revived.
It has become an option again.
If this will happen, Henny will be one of the first persons whose life is documented covering almost 35 years.



.

No Piña Coladas yet.

These days the final stages of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” are happening.
It is intense, busy and hectic.
Like a climax.
And because the project “The most beautiful people in the world” is in the final stages a field is opening for a new project.
So there is now the climaxing of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” and the excitement of a new project.
Two forceful feelings side by side.
Making it a glorious time.

Is there already an idea for a new project?
A follow up to the project “The most beautiful people in the world”?
Many fervent and loyal blog readers may want to know.

For a long time it was believed that the project “The most beautiful people in the world” was going to be the “magnum opus”* of the 40+ year career.
That nothing could be done in the future that would be as strong and as successful as the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
That it was the top and no higher peak available.

This was a kind of depressing thought.
Because what to do with the rest of the life?
To sit in a comfortable chair on the beach reminiscing how the success from the past and the piña coladas taste?
Having to realize that the job has been done.
The role has been played.
The duty done.

But then a good friend from India, Mr. Rajendar Menen, proposed to make a book together in his beautiful country.
And that proposal triggered the creativity.
As a natural phenomenon.

Within two days an idea popped up in the mind that has enormous potential.
Just like that.
Not forced or after deep thinking.
But in a natural, matter of fact way.
The ideas, that come by themselves, are always the very best.
Exactly like this one.

And similar how it has been going and still goes with the project “The most beautiful people in the world” , it is the idea, the concept, that affects in a most positive way the persons that get to know about it.
For example, after Mr. Rajendar Menen heard about the idea, immediately he saw the potential, value, importance and commercial possibilities of the plan.

And exactly the same happened with the designer of the book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” .
Mr. Teun van der Heijden.
When he heard about the plan immediately he was involved.

And this is so beautiful.
It is the plan that becomes a thing by itself and by getting more and more people involved it grows based on their involvement.
It is not the artist-photographer who works with a personal and final concept, as is the tradition.
In this case, like with the project “The most beautiful people in the world”, there is hardly any ego.
It is only the frame that is originating from the artist-photographer and with others the content comes into being.
A fascinating process.

Now, some fervent and loyal blog readers may ask what is the idea of this new project.
To avoid pirating, this question cannot be answered yet…








* Magnum opus, from the Latin meaning great work,[1] refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.

Justified positivism

Lux Photo Gallery's Lars Boering called.
He is showing now an exhibition of the sequences in his beautiful gallery in Amsterdam and is the centre and magician of the many activities that surrounds this show.

Lars explained that a person from a well known national radio program had called.
He wanted to do a live interview with the successful artist.

Of course this was possible.
An interview on the radio may result in more people coming to see the show.
Sharing the vision and the message of the images.
Hence, an artist must be professional and not shy and be available for contacts with the press.

Fortunately the interview could take place by phone.
A journey to the radio studio that is far from from the city of Amsterdam takes much time and effort that is needed for already booked activities.

The producer of the radio program made a test call in the late afternoon and asked to be stand by at 8 pm.
At this time was a meeting about how to use in an effective way the internet.
Just before 8 pm the meeting was left and in front of the building, in the warm weather and in the quiet street, the iPhone was in the hand waiting for the oil drum band to start playing.

And indeed, just after 8 pm the phone rang and suddenly questions were asked and answers were given that could be heard by thousands of people.
While quietly walking up and down in the street.

Most part of the interview was about the book that soon will be published of the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world".

Two things excited the journalist.
First of all the fact that the book will be distributed worldwide for free.
Anybody anywhere can go to the website and order a free copy to have it send to the home.
This flabbergasted the journalist.
How can this be?
Who is paying for this?
The answer is very simple: a small part of the edition of this book will be produced as a "De Luxe"-edition and sold to collectors and fans.
This pays for the whole book effort.

But then the second reason for the excitement of the journalist.
The persons that are documented for the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world" have something beautiful, happy and positive to say.
Will that not make the audience cynical, the journalist asked.
That it will be perceived as a forced message of positivism?
That it is too subjective and too optimistic?
Painting the world community as a happy one while this is not true?

Many journalists try to get good and interesting answers by provoking.
By putting the issue in an extreme opposite way as is intended.
Or to label it in a very negative way so that a defense is expected.

Rule one for the interviewee is to remain calm.
Not to get aggravated, irritated or angry.
To remain wise, composed and calm.
To take the question as an opportunity to explain what it is all really about.

People are so used to see violence, trouble and negativity in newspapers, magazines, on the radio and on TV.
They have therefore become conditioned by the media to believe that the world is one big disaster.
But it is not.
Of course there are wars, accidents and natural disasters.
But those are exceptions.
In most parts of the world life is peaceful and happy and normal.
If that is reported, one cannot say this is cynicism.
Or a false demonstration of unjustified positivism.
It is the major part of our reality.

The journalist ended by saying he believed that "The most beautiful people in the world" was a wonderful project.
And it is.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To hear the interview:
http://avonden.radio6.nl/2010/06/23/woensdag-23-juni-2e-uur/





.

A photo book for free!

It has been some time since the last pictures were made for the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world".
It was in Mumbai, India in april 2008.
That concluded visits to ten different countries worldwide.

All the images and texts were published on a website.
http://www.themostbeautifulpeople.org
Over twelve magazines worldwide published the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world" while several exhibitions were organized.

However, the main objective was to publish a photo book.
Not an exclusive photo book that would only reach a selected group of photography lovers and connoisseurs.
The idea was to publish a popular version of the book that could reach the mass audience.

For several years the photo book publisher Delpire Editions from Paris, France was committed to design and publish the photo book of the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world".
But for reasons not very clear, this commitment was annulled and a new search for a book publisher had to be initiated.

We are now in the first month of the year 2010 and still there is no photo book of the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world".
While a publisher has been found.


But these days, with the economic recession, publishing a photo book has become a complicated matter.
It is still possible but it is not a party anymore.
There are so many unpleasant and frustrating aspects to the enterprise that one should think twice and than even another time before to go that way.

These thoughts have been on the mind for some time.
Remembering that performing and completing the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world" was a most extraordinary experience.
A fabulous unification and harmonizing with people that became friends worldwide.
A photo project that had a fantastic energy and positivity.
Where things went as by itself and always in the right direction.

But once the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world" was completed concerning visiting the countries and production of the photo book started, this special energy evaporated.
Most things became complicated.
Taking time.
Resulting in stagnation and becoming like a heavy truck losing more and more speed and coming to a standstill sank in deep mud.

The challenge is of course to try to keep this positive energy once so present in the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world".
In spite of the recession, the complicated book publishers and the bad market.

This now has been found.
A completely new business model has been developed for publishing photo books.
The approach is that the photo book of the photo project "The most beautiful people in the world" will be available for free!
Soon it will be announced on the website of the photo project and people worldwide can order their copy.
Of course, shipping and handling will have to be paid, but the photo book is absolutely free!
Isn't that something?



.

Drama in return

These days persons all around the Netherlands are visited that have been photographed 22 years ago.
At the time, photo projects were performed where each time two people were compared with each other.
For example, a 21 year old girl that believed she was beautiful and a 21 year old girl that thought she was not beautiful.
Both were followed during days with a camera and documented how they lived.
The results were published in one picture story in a magazine.
Another example were two guys: one focused to make a successful career in his life and the other guy satisfied to be without a job and enjoying a life free of work.

About six months ago the idea was born to try to find these four persons to learn what happened in their lives and how they are living now.

It was not an easy job to find them, but the Queen of Dreams managed miraculously to track the four people down.

Until now three people have been visited and long conversations have been taking place with them.
It is very hard to explain why in each life of those three dramatic things have been happening.
Not one of them has had a normal life.
Each has experienced a shocking, mind blowing and incredible event.

Of course, this had not been the intention or the plan when at the time they were selected and asked to participate in the photo project.
22 years ago they were chosen and they decided to participate because it harmonized with the idea of the photo project.

There is speculation now why it is that each life is so spectacular of those three.
Has it been karma?
Or is it that the photographer has a special radar to spot extraordinary people?
Or is it just simple coincidence?

In any case, these questions are irrelevant because here are those three people that have been documented 22 years ago and who have now behind them an extraordinary life.
Opening up the possibility to do a new story.
Telling how they were, what happened and how they are now.
A story with not too many pictures but with a lot of text explaining where they came from, the turbulence they have experienced and how they landed.

Hence, voila, a new project.
More work to do.
Fabulous!



.

Find them!

In the 1980’s, in Europe, several photo projects have been performed.

Very conceptual, revealing and informational documentaries.

Most of the time, two persons were compared.

Both were followed in their daily life for a longer period of time.

And then later the images and text were merged and published in one feature in a high circulation illustrated weekly.

One photo project was about two young women of 21.

One of these two girls believed she was beautiful and attractive.

The other girl believed she was ugly and unattractive.

Consequently, one had a boyfriend and the other had not.

One would save money and when enough go with the boyfriend to a romantic restaurant and have a beautiful candlelight dinner.

The other one would go frequently to a McDonald and have a hamburger by herself sitting on a plastic chair at a formica table.

The message of the story was that you become what you think.

Suggesting that best is to think twice what conclusions to make about oneself.

Another story was about two young men of 24.

One was very ambitious.

He was having a successful career and was becoming rich.

The other didn’t want to work at all and was happy with his social security and carefree life.

Both men were in fact happy.

In their own ways.

This morning, when the new day was coming, the thought came to mind: how are those men and women of those photo reportages doing now?

What became of their lives?

Are they still alive?

They must be over 50 years old by now.

Does the woman still believe she is beautiful?

And what did this opinion do to her life in the long term?

And the woman believing she was ugly?

Did she overcome that trauma and did she manage to make something beautiful of her life anyhow?

Or did she strand in hopelessness?

What about those two guys?

Did the ambitious young man become a millionaire indeed?

And, did he become happy too?

And the passive one?

Was that satisfying in the long-term maybe?

Damned, we MUST find these people and find out.

And publish again, if they agree, the images and the texts from the 80’s now next to new images and text of their lives today.

So, immediately this morning, e-mails have been sent out to try to locate these people.

It will be so exciting to see them again and get to know what has become of their lives.

And photograph them again.

Learning if the photographer has made any improvements in the last 30 years.

.

Two in two throws

A most beautiful thing was observed yesterday.
It happened during the meeting with a book publisher who was asked for an appointment to discuss possibly publishing the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
Present were also the designer of the book, Teun van der Heijden; a good friend who is the mentor of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” and the marketing manager.

The book publisher is having a hard time like all book publishers have.
Book sales have dropped tremendously and it is hardly possible to initiate and produce new book projects.
People buy less books and banks give less credit.
A vicious circle killing the book publishers.
Therefore, one could conclude that it is now the worst time to try to publish a photo book.
But what could the photographer of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” do?
Wait some years with the images and texts for better times?
Or just try anyway?

The appointment with the book publisher was carefully prepared.
The mentor had been seeing him about the project “The most beautiful people in the world” some months ago.
The book designer is a friend of the publisher and has been talking with him about the project.
Hence, an appointment was granted.
Many candidates aspiring to publish a book do not even get an appointment.

It happened in a large room a little lower than the level of the water in the Amsterdam canal that could be seen from the window.
Creating a strange feeling of awareness and inspiring the imagination to see a picture of a meeting with everybody up to the knees into the water.

The book publisher got a briefing by the different persons about the background of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
And then the big moment.
The designer presented the publisher the dummy: the prototype of the book.

During the time the publisher saw the book, a total transformation took place in him.
That was most beautiful to observe.
And has been witnessed more often when someone sees the results of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
The book publisher was tired, sceptical and hesitant.
Not planning to start anything new nor ready to jump into anything.
But while seeing the book he changed completely.
One could see him getting fascinated, becoming positive and optimistic.
And finally loving the book.
Saying he liked it a lot and would wish to publish it worldwide.

This was the best success possible.
Confirming again the cluster theory: within one week two book deals are made now.

Next, there was a conversation that took three hours.
To publish a photo book worldwide is an adventure with many aspects.
That concerns only one thing: money.

However, now it is clear it is going to happen.





.

Holy hollowness

Now it is driving every day.
On a narrow road from the south of the peninsula called Baja California, to the north.
About 2.000 kilometres (1300 miles).

There are large trucks and trailers using this narrow road.
Buses as well.
Therefore, each time one comes into view, concentration must go up.
Because the own car must be driven as close as possible to the right side of the road.
While the hope is that the other driver will do the same.

If both come to a consensus, the passage is wild and furious, but without a collision.
The many wrecks of cars and trucks along the road illustrate that not always the agreement has been working.
Usually the small road has a very steep bank and trucks may get off moving too close to the right.
They go off and turn over.
Or the two drivers hit each other in the centre of the road, at about 90 kilometres per hour (55 mph), causing an even bigger crash.

This time it was realized that each car, truck and bus that was approaching on the narrow road, was also a meeting with a person.
Seeing a truck coming it was realized in the mind that the Fuso Szulc should be manoeuvred close to the right side of the road.
At the same time, a mind connection was made with the other driver expecting him or her to drive as close as he or she could to the opposite side of the road.
And very likely the same thinking was taking place in the mind of the other driver.

Hence, two minds connect when passing by in cars on a road.
A short instance of human contact.
Abstract, but existing nevertheless.

Therefore, one could say, that driving on a road like here in Baja California, makes one meet hundreds of people.

The day this thought developed in the mind, in Guerrero Negro a Mexican pick-up truck was spotted in front of a restaurant.
A remarkable pick-up truck because behind the windshield two cameras were mounted.
And a third camera was attached on the front bumper.
Was this some kind of police car checking stolen vehicles?
A Mexican guy was dozing in the passenger’s seat.
A knock on the window woke him up and he was asked what this was all about.
It turned out to be an art-project of a Belgium photographer.
Who soon came out of the restaurant.
His name: Wilfried.
He explained he was driving all over Mexico and had programmed the cameras to make pictures every 100 metres (330 feet).
By now he had thousands and thousands of pictures.
Naturally, the question arose what sense that was making.
Google Earth is doing the same thing in cities.
A car with cameras on the roof documenting streets to see on the Internet.
So that if one looks up a particular address, one can see an image of the house.
But to drive all over Mexico making thousands of images of just the road, isn’t that empty and absurd?
Because what is there to see?
Just roads and roads and roads and roads.
What is so interesting about that?
The idea of the photo-artist is to make an exhibition of large prints of these images in Belgium.
In some museum in Gent and the spectator is not exactly going to see a spectacle.
They will see nothing.
Great!
What a fantastic idea!
However, in a circus people would afterwards ask their money back.
But in a museum even hollowness is holy.

Now we come to the painful part of today’s posting.
This photographer Wilfried turned out to be a former student of yours truly.
About a decade ago a photographic workshop on conceptual photography was given at the Saint Lukas Institute in Brussels, Belgium.
He had been one of the students.
Wilfried remembered that and both we were surprised to meet again somewhere in Mexico.

Wilfried was invited to team up later.
For a chat and a tea.
OK, he said.
But he never showed up.
Creating more hollowness.





.

Ten pages of beauty

The writing of the daily blog is an activity in the sidelines.
When taking a break from the real activities.
It takes one hour in the morning and voilà.

The real job is of course creating new photography.
And a most important thing: the marketing of the photography.

Yesterday a new result of the principal activities came in.

A magazine that is published in the Arabic countries, like Kuwait, featured an important publication of the results of the photo project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
This is a highlight in the career.
It is an honour to be published so prominently.









These days only rarely do photo features get so many pages.
But most importantly, the happiness about the result is mostly about the possibility to express an idea and opinion through the photo project “The most beautiful people in the world” to a major part of an audience.
More so, because the publication was in an area of the world where the position of women in the society is different compared to Europe and the USA.
More openness about feelings and emotions helps to have a more balanced relationship between people.

“The most beautiful people in the world” has now been published in over 6 countries as major photo features.
And the presentation in the Arabic countries is one of the most appreciated.



.

We love... and how!

By now a whole group of images have already been published of contributors attracted to the recent photo project “How the world loves”.

Because of this rather instant success it is becoming clearer what the photo project “How the world loves” actually truly implies.
What it is really about.

One of the remarkable things, as it is turning out, of the photo project “How the world loves” is that the images are very, very powerful.
They impress a viewer strongly and even initiate tender emotions.
While the images contributed are very ordinary, amateur images.
In another context, hardly anybody would pay any attention to the images.
Except the persons shown in the images or related to them.
But this context of an international website and the framework of showing how someone loves, makes a different spotlight shine on the images.
They are almost like lifted up and becoming important and valuable not only for the ones closely related to the images, but to all the visitors of the website of the photo project “How the world loves”.

Another aspect of the photo project “How the world loves” is that as an artist photographer a whole new avenue is walked.
Traditionally, a photographer chooses a subject, makes the images and present them.
A way of operating that is like a doctrine.
The conventional way of working for a photographer.
But in the case of the photo project “How the world loves”, the photographer is not making any picture.
He only had the idea for the project and created the framework for others to showcase their images.
That is a very unusual role for a photographer to play.
Pioneering indeed.

The exciting part is that it is completely unknown where the photo project “How the world loves” will lead to.
How it will develop and what more shapes it will take.
There is at this stage not much thinking about it.
For the moment much effort is made to promote the photo project “How the world loves” and to get as many people as possible contribute their images.
If at one point a serious amount is reached, new ideas may develop how to proceed with the photo project “How the world loves”.
Possibly a traveling exhibition.
A photo book.
Or making prints of all the images contributed; to put them in a spaceship to send out to unknown civilizations to inform them who we are.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To visit the photo project "How the world loves", click on:
http://www.howtheworldloves.us

.

How does the world love?

It was an important and exciting week.
The new photo project “How the world loves” has been launched.

For 4 years much of the work was on the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
Travelling to 10 different countries and meeting so many wonderful people.
An experience of a lifetime.

“The most beautiful people in the world” is not finished yet.
There are still magazines preparing publication and serious work is taking place to have the project published as a photo book.

But the feeling was that the time was right to start the follow-up project.
“How the world loves”
A project about persons who show the world how they love.

They can do this by going to a website where they get more information about the project.
And the possibility to contribute photographs that show how they love.
These images are published on the same website where every contributor gets his or her own page.

Fervent and loyal blog readers are recommended to visit this website to discover for themselves what the photo project “How the world loves” is exactly about.
And to possibly contribute.

Another important thing is to inform family and friends about “How the world loves”.
To tell them about this initiative and the opportunity to contribute and share how we love.

Therefore, we all click now on:

www.howtheworldloves.us






.

Persistent pioneering

One of the projects at hand is the follow up to “The most beautiful people in the world”.
A new project called: “How the world loves”.

Similar to most projects performed before, it is unknown if this project is going to be successful or not.
This is inherent to the way a pioneer works in photography.
Always looking to walk undiscovered tracks to reach unseen areas.

“How the world loves” starts with the opening of a website probably next week.

Opening page of new website from the project "How the world loves"

Visitors to this website are explained what the project is about and invited to participate.
This they do by sending in pictures showing how they love.
Every contributor gets a personal page on the website of “How the world loves” for the whole world to see how the participant loves.

The idea is that people from all over the world will send in contributions.
The special issue is that nowhere on the website of “How the world loves” it is explained what is intended with the word love and its performance.
Every person can make a very personal interpretation and formulate a most specific answer to how one loves.

Is this going to work?
Is this going to be as successful as “The most beautiful people in the world”?

There are no answers yet to these questions.
And in fact there is no worry about that.
Already, being involved in the preparations of the project, a feeling of accomplishment and happiness is achieved.

In art one must try.
There are no fixed answers or solutions.
No guarantees or securities.
Entering territories never scouted before is the only way.

This is being a pioneer.
Starting a new project after another one is finished.
Never reaching a destination.
Because travelling the road is the destination.





.

What a job!

These are exciting days because of the progress made with the two photo projects on hand.

“The most beautiful people in the world” had lost most of its momentum after the French publisher Robert Delpire suddenly cancelled his involvement last July.

But with the loyal help of two friends in the Netherlands an international publisher was approached.
This has resulted in a contact now with the most famous book designer in the Netherlands.
With him a process is taken place to see if he can come to a sparkling, innovative and convincing design of “The most beautiful people in the world” as a photo book.
Once that has been achieved, book publishers can be approached again and consequently in a most convincing manner.

It is a long process to bring a photo project like “The most beautiful people in the world” to a successful and satisfying conclusion.
Without insisting and absolute believe it is never possible.

Meanwhile, adding to the reborn momentum, the magazine “Vision” in China has decided to publish a selection of “The most beautiful people in the world”.
The same for the Arab version of the magazine “Marie Claire” in Kuwait.

At the same time, the follow-up photo project of “The most beautiful people in the world” is about to go public.
It is called “How the world loves”.
Soon a website will open of the photo project “How the world loves”.
Where visitors can learn more about the photo project and become a participant and contributor.
The website offers the opportunity to send in images and text showing and explaining how someone loves.
These contributions are all published on the website of “How the world loves” almost instantly.

To make this possible a lot of website engineering is needed and this is done with a website genius called Peter Bouwmeester from the company Digital Media Art.
With him is a very creative and fruitful collaboration and this is key to an excellent result.

Loyal and fervent blog readers may ask where the photographer comes in if participants in the photo project “How the world loves” send in their own pictures.
The answer to this question is that once many people have contributed their images and texts to the website of “How the world loves”, a selection of the most remarkable participants will be made.
These persons, wherever they live, will be visited in their homes where they will be documented.

The last project resulted in most pleasant meetings with persons believing to be the most beautiful.
Now persons will be met who can show how they love.
What a job!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Great website engineering by Digital Media Art to reach at:

http://www.1website4u.com



.