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.



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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?



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Thinking and sinking or swinging and singing?

A permanent pilgrim can never stay in one place too long.
Why is this?
Because what is new becomes old over time.

Once arrived on a new location, many impressions enter the consciousness.
Most new and refreshing, stimulating and inspiring.
That effect remains only for a certain period.
It looses eventually its freshness and sinks into routine and cliché.
Until no more new impressions are available.

24 days have been spent on the rancho of the Gonzales family at Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico.
And clearly the point has been reached that the balance has found its horizontal position and is now going down into the area of routine and cliché.
The surprising and beautiful aspects of being here have grown old and have withered.
Opening the side of reality where the negatives are which are pressing and pushing to move on.

The beautiful sea is still there.
The sunshine and the warmth.
The warm seawater to swim in every morning.
The blue sky and the freedom of living in nature.
But it can't seduce anymore.

Now the many tire tracks of the quad bikes are seen on the beach making it look like an unpaved street with heavy traffic.

Now disgust has been reached for Alfredo tying up two of his dogs on very short chains to trees and then leave for a holiday with his girlfriend.
Making the dogs after four days without food and water howl and bark with total desperation.

Now sadness is felt for the Gonzales family because they are hooked to watching soap operas on TV all day.
Episodes full of false emotions and baroque drama offering sentimental garbage for the soul that is consumed by the friends like addicts.

Now opposition has grown to its maximum for having to wait immobile in one place to see the new photo book "Sequences: the ultimate selection" and to meet the "Queen of Dreams".
When moving and traveling these events will start approaching at high speed.

It is time to go when the situation one happens to be in is turning against the visitor.
Too much negativity opening up in the territory.
Where is now too much thinking and sinking.
Better to leave for swinging and singing.

Per se praise

The day starts with one hour of swimming in the warm water of the large swimming pool.
Exactly as the day had ended the day before.
It has become almost like an experiment.
How many hours a day of exercising, in this case swimming, until the body indicates that it is tired and needs rest?
An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening has no results.
Energy levels are not affected.
As of today therefore 40 minutes of running will be added to the exercise program.
See what happens.
If the limit where tiredness or exhaustion begins can be reached.

Meanwhile the first photo critic has written a piece on the new book "Sequences: the ultimate selection".


An authority in the Netherlands and beyond, Mr. Rommert Boonstra says that the sequences are one of the seven world wonders in photography.
That sequences are about nothing and everything.
That they storm heaven without leaving earth.
That they connect in a harmonious way the minimal and the eternal.
Sequences, according to Mr. Boonstra, are a monument for the good life.

They come close to the unbelievable, he writes.
And he makes a very correct assessment: sequences are not conceptual.
Because conceptual is an image illustrating a philosophical idea.
But with sequences image and idea join and unite in an exuberant way.
Mr. Boonstra's conclusion is that the sequences return to life the secrets that modern existence has desperately tried to vanish from us.

An artist can only dream to have such a criticism about the work made public.
At the same time it gives a feeling of justification: that another person manages to truly and deeply understand the work.

But does the publication of such a text by a critic have any influence on the person?
Does it make feel proud and better?
Or does it improve the self esteem?

It turns out that it is not hard at all to remain in today's reality.
To have the personality not affected by what a critic writes about the work.
Because the focus is fully on the here and now.
Like today: the journey will be made from La Paz to the rancho of the Gonzales family.
That event fulfills fully the feeling and thinking.
And is the only thing important that really matters.

A personal message for you

This morning a personal message of the photographer himself arrived in the offices of the Fuso Szulc.
We were requested to transfer it to the fervent and loyal blog readers.
Therefore the report of the visit of the CCC( the copulation center for coconuts) that took place yesterday will have to wait for publication on this blog for some other time.
This is what the photographer believes he has to tell you:

Dear fervent and loyal blog reader,

I am delighted to write you informing that next month my new photo book "Sequences: the ultimate selection" will be published.
On November 29, 2009 the first copy of this book will be presented by Voetnoot Publishers at an exhibition of vintage and new sequences in Galerie Baudelaire in Antwerp, Belgium and I will attend.
You will soon receive an invitation for this event.

"Sequences: the ultimate selection" is a large and voluminous photo book.
It is 1.2 inches high and has a size of 8 x 13 inches with a hard cover.
In this photo book of 238 pages , 125 sequences are published
That's over 500 images.
Many of the sequences in "Sequences: the ultimate selection" have never been published before: over 30 of the 125 sequences.



I am happy to inform you that Voetnoot Publishers has a special offer for "Sequences: the ultimate selection".
You can reserve and order a copy of this unique book today.
And then "Sequences: the ultimate selection" photo book will be shipped to your home free of charge.

This way you are guaranteed to have a copy of "Sequences: the ultimate selection".
My former books with sequences are all sold out.
And remember, this offer includes free shipping!

Here are the instructions how to purchase "Sequences: the ultimate selection".
Transfer an amount of € 75 (Euros) or US$ 115 to IBAN account number BE78320002174486 in the name of Stichting Voetnoot, Sint-Paulusstraat 41, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
The BIC-code/Swiftaddress of the bank is: BBRUBEBB.
Indicate on your transfer to which address you like to have the photo book shipped.
You will receive "Sequences: the ultimate selection" in early December: just in time to make it a beautiful Christmas gift.

Besides the regular photo book "Sequences: the ultimate selection", an "Art-edition"will be published in a limited edition of 150 copies.
This exclusive and deluxe photo book is numbered and signed by the artist.
It also contains an original, high quality, numbered and signed sequence.
If you are interested to purchase the "Art-edition" of "Sequences: the ultimate selection", you need to transfer an amount of € 150 (Euros) or US$ 225.
It will also be delivered to you early December at no extra shipping costs.

This special offer, free shipping on the photo book "Sequences: the ultimate selection" and on the "Art-edition", is active until December 1, 2009.

In case you have any questions, Ms. Anneke Pijnappel of Voetnoot Publishers will be happy to receive your call from the USA at 011. 32.3.227.24.05.
From other countries: international access code and next 32.3.227.24.05
Or send an e-mail to Ms. Pijnappel at: info@voetnoot-publishers.nl

Kind regards,

Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski




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What is in the sleeve?

The publisher of the new photo book “Sequences: the ultimate selection” was sending an e-mail yesterday: “Remember, we need a biography of you to publish in the 240 pages book”.

This is a kindly worded reminder of the publisher.
It had been put on the “to do”- list for the book months ago.
It was promised by the photographer to write and send it.
But it has not happened.

Did it slip from the mind?
Was it forgotten due to heavy workload?

Not at all.
It was in the conscience many times.
But it was pushed ahead.
Postponed to do this job some other time soon.
And it did not happen until now.

Why is this?
Every single day a posting is written for this blog, so what is the problem writing a biography?

Because inner resistance is felt to write the own biography.
There is no appetite for the task.
No mind to it.

The reason is simple.
There is the private person and there is the public photographer.
Two in one.
Life is lived every day from being a private person.
And sometimes it is needed to be the public photographer.

Obviously, the best and most pleasant is to be the private person.
To be the public photographer is pushing aside the real self and to play a role.
And therefore not so pleasant at all.

This phenomenon surfaces clearly when meeting people.
They can choose to either have an approach to the private person.
Or to the public photographer.
When the relationship is with the private person the contact can be of value, substance and quality.
However, when the choice is to see the person as a public photographer, the approach is from assessments made beforehand.
To become what the other person has as an image.
And then it feels like standing on the side and not being personally involved.



To write a biography for a photo book is to make a list of accomplishments and achievements that were the result of being a public photographer.
However, as a private person those particular achievements and accomplishments are of very little interest.
Compared to what have been the results of the inner growing process.

The contents of a professional biography has little to do with how the private person has become and currently is.


Nevertheless, the new photo book “Sequences: the ultimate selection” must have a professional biography.
And whether the protagonist likes it or not, the biography has to be produced.

So some kind of trick must come out of the sleeve to have an intriguing, interesting and well written biography available soon for “Sequences: the ultimate selection” .

Therefore, today, Mr. Publisher, an effort will be made by the photographer to be a magician.




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A reverence

It has been announced on this blog already: in November 2009 a new book will be published.
It is called “Sequences: the ultimate selection” and will contain a large selection of work made in the 70’s and 80’s.
A major part will be sequences never published or exhibited before.



These days the preparations are under way to open a special website where already the book “Sequences: the ultimate selection” can be purchased.

A special art-edition will be available as well.
Made in a limited edition of 25 it comes in a special cover, signed and numbered and it has a limited edition specially printed museum quality original sequence.

This will sell for € 250 plus shipping and handling.

However, it is realized that € 250 means for an American customer $ 351.
Virtually, the American pays 40 % more due to the exchange rate.
This based on the fact that an American makes $ 20 an hour working at Albertson’s and a European makes € 20 working in a Champion.

Therefore a special pricing has been designed.
Similar to the way Apple has been selling their products.
They offer their computers for let’s say $ 1500 on their American website and the same computer for € 1500 on their European websites.
Of course buyer must be based in the country where the purchase is made to avoid Europeans buying by mail in the USA.

For the book “Sequences: the ultimate selection” the pricing is 15 copies selling for € 250 and 10 copies selling for $ 250.
But those 10 copies can only be bought by Americans.

Once those 10 copies are sold out, an American can still buy a copy of the special art-edition of “Sequences: the ultimate selection”.
But it will cost € 250 = $ 351

This courtesy presented to the American collectors and lovers of sequences costs money.
The 25 copies of the special art-edition of “Sequences: the ultimate selection” can be all sold for the € 250 price no problem.
So, the current pricing in Euros and US Dollars lowers the turnover by € 728 or $ 1026

Hence: it is a gesture.
A reverence of a gentleman.



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The sweet one

One genre of music we call: “classical”.
Dating from the 1700’s and 1800’s.
Played by pianists and symphonic orchestras.
We know names of composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Verdi, Chopin and Mahler.
Not to forget Strauss and Wagner.

All these composers were able to write down the music they were hearing in their head.
On paper with a pen.
Therefore we can still listen and hear the music they wrote.

At the time, there was no way to tape the music they wrote.
No recording devices.
Like the gramophone.
Or a tape recorder.

But they had developed ways to give precise instructions how their music should be played.
With a margin of interpretation for the conductor and musician.

This is why we are in a situation that we can listen to, for example, piano music by Frederic Chopin.
But we don’t really know if Frederic Chopin agrees to the way his music is being played.

But Frederic Chopin is at the cemetery of Pere Lachaise in Paris and has no more saying anyway.

Nowadays we have a completely different situation.
Take a classical modern song like “Good vibrations” by the Beach Boys.
This music is made using all the possibilities of the recording techniques.
Therefore “Good vibrations” stands by itself.
Somebody else could perform it also, but it will never be the same.
That doesn’t matter because we have “Good vibrations” well recorded and we can hear it by radio, TV, iPod and CD.

This fact has a consequence for, let’s say, a century from now.

When we want to hear music from 100 years ago, we hear nothing.
The closest we can come is to play it ourselves based on written notes left behind.

But when people living 100 years from now, in 2109, want to hear music of our days, they can actually hear it.
And any effort on their behalves to play it themselves will always be a poor imitation.

Now, alert fervent and loyal blog readers may stand up, raise their hands and when getting the floor, say: “But this also goes for pictures and films!!!”

This is a very good remark.
We do have paintings and drawings of the time before photography and film started to document life.
But those paintings and drawings were interpretations.
No true documentation of the reality of those days.

We don’t know that much about the past.
Because it was not so well documented.

But in 100 years, not only can they hear “Good vibrations”, but also they can see in detail how we were living.
What will they think of us seeing the images of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: the slaughtering and butchering of people and animals going on these days?

Good for us that next year the photo book “The most beautiful people in the world” will be published.
So in 100 years they also see another side of us: the sweet one.








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Cool thougths in the hot desert

In the centre of the Mojave Desert, in California, USA, is the town of Baker situated.

A town that lives off the traffic passing by on the I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Lives off people that need to eat, to sleep or need to have their car fixed.
Otherwise, no other income could be generated in Baker since mining for gold and silver in the area is not profitable anymore.

Passing the town of Baker brought back memories.

It has been used in the 80’s as the starting point for making sequences not far from Baker.
In an area of the Mojave Desert known as “Devil’s Playground”.

And in the 90’s, travelling with Judith O., the Chevrolet pickup truck with a Midas camper had its time chain broken and was fixed in Baker.

Driving the I-15 passing Baker, these memories flashed through the mind.
How unique this sequence making was and the love making with Judith O. also.

Reminiscing though is not in the nature.
Memories that are too old and that are brought back to the presence occupy the space for having new experiences.
Otherwise, one may fear to become an old and passive memorizer.

Much more the mind was occupied, while driving through the Mojave Desert on I-15 passing Baker, with what had been heard on Dutch TV recently.

A man was talking about AA.
Alcoholics Anonymous.
And said he had no problems with alcohol.
But that he had problems with life.

That is a stunning statement.

The man explained that when he was drinking, he felt fine.
But when he was sober, he had constantly uneasy experiences.

Fervent and loyal blog readers who know what is drinking, may confirm this observation.
When under the influence of alcohol a “letting it all go”-feeling dominates.
Life becomes more simple.
More easy.
More flexible.
Less overwhelming.

But when sober, many issues are found on the road of life.
There is friction.
Complications.
Hurdles.

This situation may develop into a circle.
Life is good when alcohol is in the blood and life is hard when sober.
Hence, a constant desire is felt to return to being tipsy.
Where life is good.

Even alcoholics know this is not a good thing.
It ruins the health and places a person in an unrealistic and therefore lonely reality.

The issue is that life for most people is not easy.
All of us deal with the things that come on our paths.
Nobody lives in paradise.
Alcohol though is an inadequate and inefficient escape.

Much better is to handle the issues of life in a different way.
To feel good about oneself from within.
Not by influences from outside like alcohol.

One excellent way to feel good about oneself from within is to be involved in sports.
To do for example exercises.
Or to run.
To swim.
To do yoga.
To do Taichi.

Another fantastic way is to do a daily meditation.
To become through meditation more centered and balanced.
So the mind doesn’t get that upset anymore when a new issue in the life arises.

The town of Baker in the Mojave Desert: art, sex and now wisdom.




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Show the show.

When a photo book is published, usually different activities are organized.
To try to get attention for the publication.
From the people and the media.

One of the possible activities is to have a nice exhibition.
Where a selection of the images in the photo book are put on the walls.

And this will happen for the photo book “Sequences: the ultimate selection”.
In Galerie Baudelaire in Antwerp, Belgium a show will be organized of sequences that have never been published or exhibited before.

Of course an exhibition has an opening.
Invitations are send around and people come together in the exhibition space at a certain day and time.
There are drinks and snacks and often an important person or an expert gives a speech.
Always explaining what a wonderful and great art the new show is offering.

When pioneering is the nature, this kind of traditional opening of an exhibition is considered as an old fashioned, boring and unexciting event.

Why not make it a fascinating and interesting event instead?
A happening many people will be interested in?
And a coming together of people that makes more sense than just alcoholic socialising to chat with each other hardly paying any attention to the works on the wall?

Therefore a plan has been developed to make the opening of the exhibition of “Sequences: the ultimate selection” an extraordinary event.
A happening even fervent and loyal blog readers can directly participate in!

The opening will be a conversation of the exhibiting artist with a well-known poet, writer and artist.
They will talk about the medium of photography and the landscape it is in.
This conversation will be transmitted live on the Internet for everybody to see.
Video cameras will tape the conversation and the image and sound appear instantly on several websites that are linked to the event.
Meanwhile people anywhere in the world can participate in the conversation by calling with SKYPE.
On a monitor in the exhibition space the image of the person will appear and the voice can be heard.

It will be an event of about an hour.
And probably the most interesting aspect is that the opening is happening largely virtual.
Eventually the claim will be that thousands and thousands of people participated in the opening of the exhibition but most of them from behind a computer somewhere in the world.

This way of doing an opening has two important aspects.
The first is that the opening is made completely open and transparent.
Because the event is live on the Internet making it is as open as open can be.
Second important aspect is that this opening of an exhibition is completely different from any other opening.
Therefore it will attract much more attention.
From the media as well.

These days we live in a time that it is vital to show a profile and this as wide and large as possible.
The trick is to come up with an original idea that also stands out because of its quality and originality.

The opening is on November 29.
You are invited.



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A book is born

Antwerp in Belgium is one of the nicest towns in Europe.
It is beautiful, well restored, clean and very relaxed.
With excellent restaurants and bars.
A pleasure to be in this town.

And this to work on the new photo book “Sequences: the ultimate selection”.
With the “Voetnoot”-publisher Anneke Pijnappel and the designer Henrik Barents.

One major moment was the presentation of the cover of the new photo book.


No image on the cover to not emphasize any of the almost 120 sequences that are inside.
And lettering used similar to the former photo books with sequences.



Fervent and loyal blog readers may want to express their opinion about this cover.

To publish a photo book, that comes with an accompanying exhibition and book presentation in the Gallery Baudelaire in Antwerp, Belgium, needs a managing of many aspects.

The date for the event is set on November 29.
And most other aspects are decided and set in motion as well.
Easy going, as the people from Voetnoot are very experienced.
And the photographer has published over ten books in the past knowing most ins and outs thoroughly.

Today Antwerp will be left behind and a train will carry the permanent pilgrim to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
To give two days of Masterclasses to students in two different schools for photography.
First statement to the students will be: this person is not a Master.

To be in not to be.

The publication of new sequences on this blog yesterday has resulted in numerous responses of fervent and loyal blog readers.
With comments but also with e-mails.
Very encouraging in the perspective of the soon to publish photo book of the sequences.


One sequence in particular triggered a response that is very interesting.
It was this sequence:



And the response was:

I looked at the photos on your blog. They are all wonderful! But I particularly like the one of your shadow on the road...it is a departure from your beach scenes and it is an image that holds some sort of connection for me. A connection to my youth when time was spent in fields and not on beaches. Interesting how the childhood influences so much. I actually feel the feeling of loneliness from those days when I spent a lot of time by myself. I was content most of the time but there was an aloneness there as well...

Sequences seem to be almost a scientific research of the reality around us.
An investigation and inventorying of the visual phenomenons making our reality.
But sequences are also about emotions.
About how one feels when in a particular situation.

The sequence that triggered the response of the fervent and loyal blog reader was made in 1978 in Sweden.
While traveling there with the documentary filmmaker of the French television Bernard Martino.
A lifetime friend.
We had been visiting a rehabilitation clinic for drug addicts far away near the Norwegian border in the eternal singing forests of Sweden.
That had been impressive as was in fact the whole trip.
Traveling in an old Peugeot 404 from Paris to Stockholm carefree like in Dennis Hopper’s movie “Easy rider”.
Having experiences along the way that are remembered forever.

However, contrary to the characters in the movie “Easy rider”, drugs were not used.
Bernard Martino and the pioneering photographer were not into that at all.
Their consciousness and awareness were already that much open that enough impressions were obtained naturally not to need drugs on top of that.

That policy, completely natural and pure, resulted in being able to experience things from within the core of the own being.
And right there, like in the response of the fervent and loyal blog reader, existed an aloneness that had started at a very early age.
Coming to the surface as a memory but also as a possible state of being in the current life, when the old Peugeot stopped on that endless and deserted Swedish road.
Inspiring to take the camera and play with the situation.
To document and interpret the endless road and forest in a new and surprising way.
To offer the viewers later an opportunity to see and experience that road in a different way.
Like if the road and the forest are surrounding the person with a soft layer of being lost by belonging to aloneness.

The presence of absence.


To be in not to be.



Where the aloneness makes one all one.






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Premier premiere

25 days of working 12 hours each day behind the computer.
Scanning, resizing, retouching and mounting images.

And what fun it was.


All for the new photo book “Sequences: the ultimate selection” that will be published in December 2009.

In this new photo book there will be a group of sequences that has never been published before.

As a courtesy to the fervent and loyal blog readers, several of these unrevealed sequences will be published in today’s posting.
On a small size and at a low dots per inch, but nevertheless.

Enjoy and be amazed:

Golden years

In the early morning, when everybody is still deep asleep, when the first light of the day is making the birds sing, it feels it is time to rise and shine.

A warm shower including washing the now long hair.
And putting cream on a skin that is more and more drying out.

A Centrum pill is swallowed while preparing a bowl of muesli, a glass of orange juice and a pot of strong black Ceylon tea.

On the large dining table everything is placed and also the MacBook connected to a high speed Internet system.

This is a great moment of the day.
While in a beautiful house with loving family and having all the comfort imaginable, everything is there to reply e-mails, check websites and write texts in a relaxed and splendid way.

Later the wife of the cousin will come, as she is the first of the family to wake up.
To start working in the kitchen.
It is only much later that the cousin comes out of bed.
He is a guy who has a life that he can wake up when he likes.
And always, every morning, he is whistling and singing.
And wishing good morning when seeing the hard working cousin from Mexico with maximum enthusiasm.

A morning coffee is enjoyed with the Polish cousin while he has his breakfast.
Chatting and laughing: in this happy house many jokes are cracked.
And then it is time to move upstairs.
Where is the atelier to work.
An Epson scanner and the books containing all the negatives spanning over 30 years.

The job now is to scan over 500 negatives that are the sequences to be published soon in the book “Sequences: the ultimate selection”.
First the negatives must be found and this is made more easy as on the boxes in which are the books is written the date and numbers.
And in every book is a list what is on the 30 to 40 films.

It is a job for a monk.
Very meditative and needing high concentration.
To scan properly and most importantly, to save the files in a proper place.
So that later the designer of the book, Henrik Barents, can easily find them back and know the data of each sequence.

This daily program is standard for the next two weeks.
Interrupted only by family and friends visiting, dinners and lunches.

Golden years, Golden years, Golden years
Dont let me hear you say lifes taking you nowhere
Come get up
Look at that sky, lifes begun
Nights are warm and the days are young
Come get up

Last night they loved you, opening doors and pulling some strings
Come get up
In walked luck and you looked in time
Never look back, walk tall, act fine
Come get up

Some of these days, and it wont be long
Gonna drive back down where you once belonged
In the back of a dream car twenty foot long
Dont cry my sweet, dont break my heart
Doing all right, but you gotta get smart
Wish upon, wish upon, day upon day, I believe oh lord
I believe all the way
Come get up
Run for the shadows, run for the shadows, run for the shadows in these golden years

“Golden years”, David Bowie.

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Risk free womanizing

A hiccup in the planning of the book “Sequences: the ultimate selection”.
All the negatives of the sequences need to be scanned.
About 500.
However, in order to scan properly the sizes must be known of the scans to make.
This information is not available yet and therefore the immense job has not been started yet.

The negatives of the sequences are safely in the house of the cousin in Nowy Sacz, Poland.
The house famous with many fervent and loyal blog readers for its luxurious bathroom.
Where it is wonderful to stay, surrounded by loving family, but where equilibrium has to be found for not being able to scan yet.


Meanwhile deep reflection is performed for a response to yesterday’s posting.
In there a lunch was described in Amsterdam, the Netherlands with a beautiful lady with blond curly hair.
She has been sending a message saying that her lunch companion is a fervent and loyal womanizer.

Now, as many male fervent and loyal blog readers will know, when a woman tells you that you are a womanizer it all depends who exactly is saying it.
And how.
Is it said with a smile on the face?
Or is she deadly serious?
Is it a discontent and disappointed woman cheated too often or is it a woman who is in control?
Is it an accusation or is it a compliment?
Hence, is it positive or is it negative?

In this case it is absolutely positive.
It is not intended as a condemnation followed by being banned to Saint Helena.
To the contrary.
This very lady, exceptional already as she is, is entertained when charmed by certain men.
Easy for her because she is so totally balanced within herself that she will never fall over.
It is risk free for both.

This is the best for a woman and a man.
Because he can charm and she can be charmed simply and only for the enjoyment of both.



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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.





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A busy bee bhotographer

Yesterday was another remarkable moment in the life of the pioneering photographer.
The photo-book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” was presented by the designer Teun van der Heijden to the busy bee bhotographer.
This in the presence of his beautiful wife Sandra and great friend Gerrit Jan Wolffensperger.
In the beautiful restaurant of the Hotel Americain, a fabulous art deco place in the very centre of Amsterdam.

The designer and the photographer had never met.
The contact so far had been by e-mail and Skype.
But both come from the same region in the Netherlands and when one listens carefully it will be noticed that both speak with a vague reference to the regional dialect.

At one point the dummy of the photo-book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” was placed carefully on the table.
A great shock in fact.
“What have I done?”, flashed through the mind.
And the realization that more than four years of hard work had found a beautiful destination.

The photo-book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” is stunning, according to everyone present.
It is unusual as it has pages that fold out.
Not only to see the images as a series.
The folding open of the pages plays also an important role in entering the very private life of the persons documented.
This results in a high intimacy between the user of the photo book and the persons presented in it.
It is all very human, personal and close.

Now, the next step is to find a worldwide publisher.
For this there will be a meeting this afternoon.
The designer Teun van der Heijden and several other people involved will meet a publisher from the Netherlands who is in a network of international photo book publishers.
This will be a meeting to see how he responds to the new photo book.
And to learn if he has any ideas how to market it.
However, this publisher will not be the only one that will get the opportunity to see the photo-book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
Several other book publishers, including one from the USA and the UK, will be approached through contacts we have.
And the expectation is that at one point somehow and with someone a deal will be made.

Hence, at this moment in time nothing is truly happening with the photo-book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
It can be that in a short while a mega deal for worldwide publication is signed.
But it also can be that nothing comes of it.
This makes it of course extremely exciting.
Everybody involved now is trying desperately to control the expectation because it feels that what we have now has a very high chance to be globally successful.
But you never know for sure.




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A book is born.

A memorable day in Antwerp, Belgium.
A beautiful town that although centuries old is in excellent shape.
Very relaxed too compared to hectic Amsterdam.

The purpose of the visit was to have a meeting with a publisher based in Antwerp.
Voetnoot Publishers.
To discuss the plan to publish a new book with the sequences.
Conceptual photography made from 1971 to 1985 and now in most collections of major museums worldwide.

The publishers, Henrik Barents and Anneke Pijnappel, are long time friends.
Which is very important to publish a book successfully.
There is loyalty, mutual trust and shared belief and passion.

The truth is, anybody can publish a book.
But to publish a very good book, passion, expertise and love is needed.
Those ingredients are now richly available and the schedule is that the new book with sequences will hit the bookshops in December 2009.

Many steps need to be taken but all of the crew are very experienced persons.

Besides, strategies discovered and developed performing the project “The most beautiful people in the world” are applied.
Mainly this strategy is for the producers to be completely focused on the result by not working towards that goal, but to have the result come to the producers.

This may sound puzzling and erratic but that is because it is for many a rather unfamiliar concept.
Once this theory is deeply understood one will understand how much sense it makes.
Not only will it result in a successful and beautiful product, but most importantly the way to the result is beautiful and interesting.

Fervent and loyal blog readers interested in this matter may wish an example by which the theory is more clearly illustrated?
All right, we are at your service.
Usually, when a photo book is published, a link is made with a museum of high reputation.
To have the publication of the photo book coincide with a show in a museum.
If one wants this to happen, one must approach a museum and negotiate a deal.
This is always a complicated matter.
Because the museum for many aspects becomes in control.
Like the date when the photo book can be published.
That is decided by when the museum has exhibition space available.
Usually a museum plans two years ahead.
Hence, a new sequence book could be published not sooner than 2011 if it wants to be linked with a show in a museum.

Modern as we are in our strategy, we say: forget about the museum.
We say, NOW is the momentum to produce and publish the book and that is what we focus on and that is what we do.
It wants to come to us NOW and not in two years time.

Hence, in December 2009 there is a sequences book.
Still, an exhibition in a museum is possible.
But it will be the management of the museum that will have to come and ask.
We are not running after them, but it will be them running after us.
If they feel too good for this, fine with us.
The book with sequences will be there nevertheless and will reach the people even without a museum show.

Meanwhile we are relaxed and follow our own road.
Focus on the goal and make it possible for it to approach and reach us.
And this in a most pleasant and beautiful way.

Many fervent and loyal blog readers may be interested to obtain a copy of this new book with sequences.
Former publications with sequences are all sold out.
And this new one will probably see this happen soon also.

A way is being created to pre-purchase the new book with sequences.
To transfer the purchase price soon to be one of the first to be guaranteed to receive a copy in December 2009.
As soon as this option is open, a message of information will be published on this blog.
Therefore, remain stand-by.

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To see sequences, go to:
http://www.szulc.info/gallery/sequences/

To learn more about the publishing house “Voetnoot publishers”, click on:
http://www.voetnoot-publishers.nl/







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To reach you as intense as possible.

A fundamental foundation of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” is the surprise it has build-in.
When people read the title, their imagination already creates a picture of what they think they are about to see.
And in most cases people imagine and expect to see persons demonstrating and exhibiting physical beauty.
The next emotional experience they will have is one of surprise.
Seeing the images and reading the texts they find out that it is contrary to their imagination and expectation.
“The most beautiful people in the world” is not about physical beauty.
It is about what people feel in their heart.
It is about how life is lived from specific emotions.
Feelings and emotions that are positive and make the persons believe to be the most beautiful.

For the people seeing “The most beautiful people in the world” this is a nice surprise.
It is contrary to their imagination and expectation but on top of that, it is a message that makes them feel better.
A message that gives them hope and inspiration.

The designer of the photo book of “The most beautiful people in the world”, Teun van der Heijden, has used the same strategy.
To recognise expectations in readers and twist them in such a way that the experience for the readers become deeper and stronger.

The cover of the book immediately applies this method.
See for yourself:




Many readers will ask themselves what this is all about.
Think how unusual this cover is.
Realize that the cover makes several questions rise.

Why is this picture of the smiling African girl crossed?
Not in logic line with the position of the title?
How is reader supposed to hold the photo book?
Vertically to be able to read the title?
Or horizontally to be able to see properly the picture?

And what about this title: “The most beautiful person in the world”?
Does that mean that this smiling African girl is the most beautiful in the world?
That the whole book is about her?

These questions are initiated by the design of the cover.
And it is all on purpose and with deliberate planning and clear intentions.
It is a preparation for the experience the reader is going to have once the photo book is opened.
The reader, through the cover, is prepared to be flexible for what about to see.
Made clear that it will be different and unusual.

For example, after the first pages, the photo book needs to be turned 45 degrees.
To be able to see properly the images and quotes of the most beautiful people.
This changing of the position of the photo book is a vital moment in the relationship between the reader and the photo book.
If it can happen harmoniously and like a logic action to take, it will not disturb the entering of the message of the photo book.
The questions that have been coming up in the mind of the reader when seeing the cover, works now effectively in dealing harmoniously with experiencing and properly handling the photo book.

There is another huge advantage in having a cover of a photo book that is puzzling and unusual.
When it is exhibited in a bookshop, in a shop window or on the coffee table of a living room, it attracts attention.
For several reasons.
The most important one being this most attractive portrait of the African girl.
Her smile, her happiness and the colours are attracting, appealing and pleasing the eye.
Also, the title tickles the imagination: is that girl the most beautiful person in the world?
That is something many would like to find out.
Why she and how come?

When “The most beautiful people in the world” was in production in Paris with French book publisher Delpire long discussions were about the cover of the photo book.
The train of thoughts was that not one particular person could be on the cover.
Because the project was about many people in 10 different countries.
Unjustified to emphasize just one.
Eventually this solution was found.



With book designer Teun van der Heijden another route was taken.
To begin with, he got carte blanche.
He got all the freedom in the world to do whatever he liked to do.
Not an easy decision for the author of “The most beautiful people in the world”, but there was total trust in this designer that he would come up with solutions and inventions beyond the own abilities.

One of the interesting decisions Teun van der Heijden made was not to follow the Paris train of thoughts for the cover of the photo book.
To be almost recalcitrant by going against everything and choosing just one person to put on the cover.
And changing therefore the title of the project also.
Following the fundamental foundation of the photo project that what you are made to imagine and expect is contrary to what you eventually experience.
For one reason only.
To reach you as intense as possible.

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Comments on the book cover are most welcome.

The website of the book designer Teun van der Heijden, click on:
http://www.heijdenskarwei.com/

A book is born

In a photo book is always a preface.
An introduction text telling this and that about the content.

Some time ago the decision was made not to have some big shot write a text to use as a preface for the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
To ask a world famous person to write a preface is usual a method to plant a well-known flag on a slow moving boat.
The book by itself will not get maximum attention so additional publicity and interest is tried to be obtained by involving a celebrity.
It is like jumping into the trunk of someone else’s car to get somewhere.

There is this unshakable belief that the message and the content of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” is strong and pure.
That it does not need someone else.
Besides the fact that giving another person the podium of the preface would distract the audience from the images, text and the message.

So, the idea now is that the photographer himself writes an introduction to the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
He gets 500 words to say his thing.

But what is he supposed to say?
Why he did this project?
How he performed the project?
Must it be a very personal text?
Or more business like?

For the moment there is no clue.
Helpless and slightly desperate, shy and insecure, intimidated and hesitant the waiting is for this brilliant idea what and how to write.

Another fascinating aspect in making the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world” with the designer Teun van der Heijden is that he has the exclusive authority to select the persons that will be published in the book.
This is on purpose.
In a photo book only very strong pictures should be published.
All other reasons are no good reasons.
This implies that the one selecting must be 100 % objective.
Obviously the photographer who met all those most beautiful people is very subjective.
There are participants in the project who became friends.
There are participants who were found very attractive, charming and seducing.
But also persons who were not very sympathetic.

The designer Teun van der Heijden selected the 80 persons to be published in the book and his choice is perfect.
Totally acceptable and no problem to respect and appreciate.
But nevertheless..
A slight pain is felt because the karate champion of Poland, the extraordinarily beautiful, charming and wonderful Monika from Gdansk was not selected.


And what about Shipra from Mumbai?
This stunning, multitalented and exciting woman also left out?



But it is a good thing that these idiotic and too private considerations are neutralized by the designer having the only authority.

One of the next postings will present to all the fervent and loyal blog readers the cover of the photo book of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
It is a very unusual cover.
As is the whole project.

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To see all results from the project "The most beautiful people in the world", click on:
http://www.themostbeautifulpeople.org






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