At the moment I’m working on to back up my archives also to a modern system so I can work on the road. But it also gives me fascinating insight about how I started as a photographer and when I was an art student. I have to say the last years now I’m back in photography I grew a lot as a person. But now I also realise that in the early social media time era there was a toxic (gothic) modelling culture in the Netherlands.
Toxic modelling culture I started seriously in photography in 2006 platforms like MySpace where popular and America Next top model had reached Dutch television to. Platforms like Dutch Gothic Models popped up as a board to connect models and photographers. Yes it was the time before selfies. But there was a downside it was all ego based. It was all about seen and being seen. So big outfits and big ego. I have to say it affect me to. I wanted to model to but did not had the confidence and skills. As a photographer I have to say I wanted to capture the best to. But also pushed new talent to their edge. So I wasn’t always nice and not there to make friends. To be honest now I look back most just wanted to work with me to get into Noize Magazine. It was all about exposure.
How I See the future After my break I started to look different to the world. To be honest I don’t do model shoots anymore. It’s not my type of photography however never say never. I’m more into nature and concert photography. Capture the moment the story and life around me. Capture friends show my life and what I see.
As January felt as an extension of the Christmas holiday . From February time flew by. Solo performance at Midwinter Festijn. Oriental Tea time, Lecture about photography at FocOss. As march was making pictures Deine Lakaien, Goethes Erben. And after spending easter with my family I realised I made more picture this year already then last year.
But now? Now I have some air till summer just enjoy spring as the agenda after the summer start to fill up… well it’s full already. With the opera and photography I don’t have to be bored this year some fun events are coming and amazing tour at the end of the year. With the Osse Opera we are working with the Bossche Opera for a mazing show La Sonnabula in a open air theatre on June 13 2026.
And there is that one things, social media. Yeah I admit I’m a doom scroller. One side I’m done with social media. Mostly the pressure that comes with it. But why? We brand en promoot ourself as a photographer or artist for what? Well to connect? With my concert photography I work mostly in Germany and I life in the Netherlands. My nature photography I make everywhere mostly with my phone. I have a new one I review soon about (and it’s not a IPhone). I love my peace and privacy at home and the contrast of meeting people abroad. So what’s up next?
I’m going to use social media more to connect. But no pressure I will share my work old and new as I keep spitting and sorting my archives. I hope to have some time till summer for some vlogs and who follow me on socials have seen my new social media lay out. To prevent that Instagram cuts off my photo’s I made a new format which also contain credits. Well a messy blog after a messy but fun period soon more!!
This project has a story on its own. I didn’t want to do fan art or crochet anymore. I was done with it. But my husband kept asking me for years for a big blanket. So out of frustration I told him if I do it I make one of the cover of the Deine Lakaien album Dual. Even with all the obvious jokes he wanted it.
So I started it with just a simple technique. A nice project to get back in my crochet rhythm and within a year it should be finished. But the one year project turned in a two years project. It became a project about focus and motivation. And above all dedication to finish it. Sometimes I needed motivation form people around me, other parts I did on my own till I got to a point where I set a date that was fitted to me and then it should done. As my grandmother would say ”sometimes you just have to make yourself angry and just finish it.” So I broke my cycle and finished it.
For me it became a lovely “Love me to the End” set with the add pillows. If you ask if I make more? No just this once. But for me it’s a personal piece that represents love and dedication.
So its actually a “Love me to the end” blanket. I add the doll set I made before Deine Lakaien doll set for the pictures.
I’m not going to write a new year new me blog. It’s more a new year lets be me blog.
This year has been a crazy ride personally and artistic. Made dreams come to like visiting the McLaren MTC with my dad. I embraced my passion for photography. Made some music and started privet vocal lessons to boost my confidence as a person and artist. Some friendships are hard to see because you know each other from work. Long I hold my photo work and private life separated. Now I realise what they even wanted to show my during my art study: I’am my art. My photography is the way I see the world.
I prefer making pictures in Germany I became a thing for me. It’s not just crossing the border but Germany became an artistic playground for me with people that support my work. Yes I do make pictures in my home country in the Netherlands but the vibe and support is different. Mabe It just help me focus on my work. When I’m in the Netherlands I have my family, daily work, and my opera hobby. But in Germany I have my creative family an then I’m only focus on my art.
So short 2025:
Found friends back. Made new friends. Found people I met long a ago and becaome friends. Let some old friends go.
Just life live the way it suits you. Connect with those you feel comfortable with. Dare to dream and don’t be afraid to realise them.
So 2025 was start dreaming, 2026 will be living the dream!!
In 2025 I set to goals to make art again. One was a project about dualism the Sun vs the Moon. It a conceptual project that shaped during this year. It started with The Secret of the Sun and after the summer the Secret of the Moon. The instrumental part and the video are the same but there are a few difference in the lyrics to tell the story. From each perspective.
The story is about love that seem impossible but isn’t impossible at all. It’s about a shared desire that feels unable to admit.
November rushed by. Somehow my Novembers are always full of fun but it makes time fly by. I have made new pictures but still didn’t find the time to upload more of my archives. Yes slowly I pick up my camera more and more at as Kids Rally, walks in nature (more in 2026 about that) and concerts. But November to me is always busy with music making pictures at Veljanov in Bochum and I had to sing with the Osse Opera at the Osse Nacht. On social media people asked me to give some insight how I work with concert photography and why I chose certain pictures.
About 20 years ago I started concert photography as a student photographer. During my studies Documentary Photography I worked as a reporter for my own Noize Magazine. Basically my workflow never changed. While most people focused on post- production my focus is on pre-production.
My workflow
– Check the band and how they represent themselves
– Check the fanbase online but also talk with them at the venue. It tells me more about the atmosphere and how they see their favourite band.
– Respect the rules of the venue and band (mostly it’s making pictures a the first three songs).
– Try to find the setting and right angel to captures as much as possible, even when you are standing in a small corner.
– Making the pictures take those full 15 minutes of window you have. That means full in from the first second the lights go on, only to even check te light. I work In raw so it gives me some more editing room. But still it’s a quick eye between finding the shots and settings.
– When the camera is down I just try to enjoy the evening. This also helps me with my post processing.
– Post processing I try to edit as soon as possible. But I’m really selective on the pictures that make the series. Not if they’re technically good but also does it have the right atmosphere and does it fit with the image of the artist.
– And most of my editing is just some balance setting and some cropping. But I my personal way is to make the picture that I have to edit as less as possible. Capture the moment at the moment and don’t create it afterwards.
You make pictures of some artist for 18 years now doesn’t make it a easy routine?
No, basically not because every tour, location is different. For me it’s a challenge to make better pictures every time. Find the rare moments capture them. Every time the feeling is different so you need to find the right expression that tells the story of the evening of that moment. Yes, it’s easier in the post process because you know what kind of images the band/artist likes so it makes it easier so select images but on the other side you look at different details that makes me as a photographer more pickier on the images I choose.
In a split second
In a split second
The first pictures I want to write about is this split second take. I talk about the lower picture of the two. This was within a speed mode series and all the pictures where like the op picture with expression. You can say it was a lucky shot. But most colleague photographers would only pick the top picture. Just because it fits his image a good expression that could sell in a magazine. For me the top picture isn’t special just a typical one. But that little smile just shows more of the relaxed vibe of the evening.
Caught in emotion
Caught in emotion
Yes I love to capture emotion. Every song brings different emotions. This picture was made during the last song of the concert (yes I was allowed to make pictures at the last song this time). It was the song “Dirt” it’s a emotionally heavy song an to be honest it always makes me cry. For me it also a song that they should never stop playing because it’s about pain and war. These kind of emotional moment of Alexander you also see at Deine Lakaien concerts. But it’s mostly on moments when you are not allowed to make pictures or he turns away that you cannot capture the emotion.
For me this picture shows how emotional these concerts are. The visitors also experience the concert as a beautiful flow of emotions. For me this picture is the perfect balance of being in his emotional bubble, captured with respect and with his iconic signature look.
So this is a small look in my photography kitchen. Feel free to send me questions about my edits.
