admin – Pagina 3 – Helene Smits

I’m back in photography

november 15, 2024november 15, 2024admin

Well I guess I can say this is part two of my nostalgic blog (here is part one). After making pictures at Deine Lakaien in Planetarium Bochum it was now time to go back to concert venue’s again. The lighting will be completely different just like the crowd. So like the old days let’s go in the photopit!

It’s almost strange to think that it was over a decade that I have been in the photopit. But maybe it was the magic of Bochum still in my head or the nostalgic theme of the Veljanov tour that made that time hasn’t past. There where a lot of trusted faces that also makes it more comfortable to make pictures. Like Marcus Testory was also 2008 when I have had him in front of my camera for a report “a day with Chamber.”

While the concert in Oberhausen felt like just old school with the type of hall and the dancing people. Berlin felt really special to me. Being there thinking of the cd presentation of Porta Macedonia 16 years ago. The interview with Alexander at Summer Darkness festival in Utrecht 15 years. Celebrating 25 years Secrets of the Silver Tongue and this all on the day that 35 years ago the Berlin wall fell.

Berlin was a evening not just being nostalgic but also one of breaking my own walls that I build up. Walls that I build up to hide my grief and lost vision on where the heart takes you. It was like a coming home again. I guess just to pet my ego maybe I felt the “Anton Corbijn” of the evening and Alexander Veljanov is for me like what’s Bono for Anton Corbijn. That one person in front of you camera that somehow works like magic and always let’s you be on your best.

We will see what the future brings.

Photoseries:
Pictures of Oberhausen 2024
Pictures of Berlin 2024

Leave behind what needs to be left behind
Embrace the sun and touch the sky
Sometimes when we think it’s the end
It’s just the beginning

Helene Smits

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Peter Edel Kulturzentrum Berlin (DE) 7-11-2024

november 15, 2024november 15, 2024admin

What a great time to be back in Berlin. The first and last time I made concert pictures in Berlin was 2008. It was a 26h visit to Berlin including drive. That was to the cd presentation of Veljanov Porta Macedonia album. So now after to lang ago back to Berlin and nog with was an upgraded trip of 60h or in short words nice weekend away. The atmosphere was great and Die Kammer was a great party again to warm up the venue. The evening was a nice celibration of Veljanov Secrets of the Silver Tongue. This nostalgic tour and specially Berlin really brought me back to 2008.

Veljanov

Die Kammer

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Kulttempel Oberhausen (DE) 7-11-2024

november 13, 2024november 15, 2024admin

After 14 years it I have had the honor er make pictures again of a Veljanov concert. And it was the first tour after so manny years. But still it was time hasn’t past and the atmoshpere was great. Die Kammer was also a perfect combination to warm up the venue.

Veljanov

Die Kammer

The Walk

oktober 23, 2024januari 11, 2025admin

Series of my walks at Landerij van Tosse. Pictures mostly made by IPhone.

11-01-2025 walking in the fog (IPhone)

05-01-2025 walking in the snow (IPhone)

17-11-2024 walking after the rain (IPhone)

23-10-2024 walking in the fog (IPhone)

What the memes

oktober 17, 2024juli 26, 2025admin

For social media I like to share my thoughts with my photography but also with with quotes and brain fogs. So here you can find them.

Brain fog

——

Inspiration

Quotes and lyrics that inspire my photography and art.

Why I choose documentary photography

oktober 15, 2024oktober 15, 2024admin

As a child I was always singing and dancing. As my mother always tells me that’s the moment when I’m always shining. So my love for music sparked my interest in tour documentaries and photographers like Anton Corbijn. This because I never see myself as a good singer or dancer. But the magic of music always got my attention. Also the art of fantasy movies and puppeteers. So I decided to study Multimedia Design to become a director.

During my study’s I had a teacher who had lived the rockstar life in the times of Top of the pops. So he was a big inspiration for me (even I’m not that wild). During my study I found out that I could express myself better with photography. All the freedom and I could work on my own. With a friend from the graphic design study we started Noize Magazine an E-zine (which was revolutionary at that time) with our passion for music, art, fashion and all gothic lifestyle. After we stopped Noize Magazine in the end of 2011. After that I was still studying Documentary Photography at the Art Academy of Sint Joost (NL). And my boyfriend (now husband) had his music promotion company so I still made pictures. But in 2014 after I lost my daughter I stopped making art and (documentary) photography.

Deine Lakaien
In 2007 when we were preparing for Noize Magazine I was that Deine Lakaien would come to the Netherlands. Even it was there 20 years tour I just discovered them during a visit to Berlin where I ended up at their concert with the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt. I got a photopass and against the note “no backstage access” I ended up meeting them backstage. For four years I have made pictures at several Deine Lakaien and Vejlanov concert and it was always a magical moment and almost a coming home. But as I stopped in 2014 I pushed away everything I loved. But corona times in 2020 brought nostalgic on the table and with endless scrolling time on social media they popped up. So slowly I started to follow them again. And with a warm welcome in Osnabruck 2021 (with all corona measurements) and a welcome home in Koln 2022. It was like all those years gone never existed.
In 2024 I started to sort out my old photography work. And the thought of making pictures again at the Veljanov concert just like “the old days”. So last Saturday I ended up making pictures at the Seiss Planetarium Bochum. After 14 years I was making pictures again. It was like it was 2007 again small venue a magical venue and a perfect balance of listing and capturing the moment. But now with a upgrade set and it was like my break of photography was never there.

But now still making a tour documentary I again on my bucket list. Well mabe one day? I will see what will come on my path. And now I’m thinking I’m slightly doing that with at the Osse Opera where I’m singing.

Klik here to go the full Deine Lakaien photoseries

Sometimes the only thing that has changed is time
Helene Smits

Deine Lakaien – Zeiss Planetarium Bochum 12-10-2024

oktober 12, 2024oktober 15, 2024admin

A magical evening in a small outerspace dream setting. The concert was in a small magical setting. One almost impossible to capture on film. But it tried and if you get the chance to go then go. Just to let yourself drift away underneath the stars.

Also thank you to Gerold Smits for helping with the editing.
Pictures copyright Helene Smits

UrbanOx park 14-09-2024 (NL)

september 14, 2024admin

Kids testing the UrbanOx skatepark in Oss (NL).

No deadlines just do what makes you spark

september 9, 2024oktober 15, 2024admin

I’m writing this blog in a nostalgic mood. This year I decided to live by the concept “Only do what makes you happy”! So here I’m in my mid-thirties sounding like some much older. When I was a student I loved the hunt for success and the trill of deadlines. But now after a rush up the last ten years it feels like my brain aged twenty years. But isn’t that the whole thing. When we are in the calm and solid waters of our life we start on our inner work.

Look at myself I have a decent job where I’m not even allowed to rush! Yes this sound against all logics of a creative person. But two years ago I started to work in healthcare where I do creative activities with special needs people. So I do only fun things the whole day I make art, music, go on walk. That’s a 180 life change after years of working with tight deadlines and later my own company which gave a lot of stress (specially during corona years). So after a year to settle in the changes I found out that I have free time!! Something I felt like I never had that much. So what to do with it?

Well just find out what makes you happy?
For my it was a Mari Kondo like way of letting things go. Because what does give you a spark in life?

I stared to drop things and let go some contacts (sorry) and picked up contact with some old friends. I stared to build this website to sort out my old work, and it made me feel nostalgic. I made me realise that I miss the thrill of making pictures and work with music. So I decided to stay at the opera develop myself as a singer just for fun. Because it makes me happy. Now I have a chance to make pictures again, lets see if it makes me just as happy as the old days. And crochet??…. Well only when I’m in the mood and makes me happy.

What makes you spark?

From alto prinses to goth queen

augustus 13, 2024admin

So still being in my nostalgic mood and overthinking my life I write this blog. On Gothcommunity.eu fb group some started a post of their goth look thru the years. In 2002 I went for the first time to a gothic shop it was in Den Bosch a small store filled with witchy and fantasy stuff with the smell of incense filled the room. The lady in the store wore a big dress with a corset like a dark princess. Mesmerized by the magic in the store I felt in love with this dark but feminine style. But there was I standing a brave insecure 14 year old girl who dressed up more as a tomboy.

Later that year I went to my first fantasy festival an bought my first “gothic” shirt and proudly wore it he next day to school. So there it was from now I was the gothic of the glass. Every penny is start to spent in dark princess like cloths and mixed and matched them. But still deep inside I was still that insecure girl that just looked like a princess of darkness exploring the world.

I started to study multimedia and set up a gothic e-zine with a friend. Going to concerts, festivals and even gothic gala’s. Exploring styles and watch trends. So working with models and having amazing creative artist in frond of my camera I always felt underdressed. I never considered myself create with make up and hair, and yes I learned some tricks true time. But still I felt like a reporter that just went for her goals and for the rest a shy wallflower like a Lady Whistledown.

2024 Helene with Sabine Lutzenberger (Helium Vola / Per-Sonat)

But time has passed got married in steampunk style and just like the goth scene in the Netherlands I disappeared to. Went up in the mass and started a family. But still there was something missing in my life. Did I let to much go in the darkest day’s In my life? Yes there was a time where the beauty of life and the most darkest part where a tin line.
So corona that time when we were almost forced to confront ourselves in where we stand in life. I started to redefine my passions and with all the scrolling on the socials I found old contacts. On the rare moments in 2021 we could travel again we could meet old friends and a small spark lighted my gothic heart. In 2022 I lost my store well I got a job opportunity that changed my life. I could be creative and free again and room for travel and self-development came in my life. More and more I got drawn to the old days where I felt happy and free.

So yes I’m gothic on my own way. Not one with big hair and big eyeliner. But my own elegant me! And now I can even say I’m an elderly goth and don’t care if I’m not the next topmodel. But I love to inspire new generations on my own way to even make the shy wallflower feel seen.

And still I don’t know where my path takes me but even the coolest goth has the brightest spark inside there heart. And mine shines brighter than ever!

So yes I say I’m a gothic queen!!