MeRy.nl • Image Finder • Artstudio23.com

2012-01-17T18:13:00.001+01:00

2012-01-02T17:50:00.000+01:00

Need some advice?

2012-01-02T17:34:00.002+01:00

Eleven photographers and industry luminaries offer advice for photographers in the upcoming year. Source: John Lund

I hire fun people. It has to be fun. If it’s not fun, I can’t do it. I do get nervous and that’s not fun. The work usually suffers for it though, so if I feel the nerves coming on I over prepare. Then, it all works out OK.
Annabelle Breakey Interview (Photographer)

The popular advice tells us to choose one thing and to do it well and to do it for the rest of your career. Come on folks. Most of you came into this business wanting to make pictures of a wide variety of subjects. Yet photographers choose to do this OR that. I believe it is time to do this AND that AND that AND… To manifest love by encompassing and manifesting your many passions.
Ian Summers Interview (Creative Consultant)

“Doom and gloom” have been words used to describe our industry for the longest times. And every creative field echoes the same sentiment. We have been and still are a huge financial industry in all areas of photography and we will continue. I believe that photography, as an art form, will never die. As technology advances in our industry, new opportunities are being created. More people enjoy photography and more institutions display photography. As for all creative fields, it is a difficult road, but we should be optimistic that we are in such a great profession. Our artists should remain enthusiastic and optimistic because they are doing what they love, which to is the essence of life
Jerry Tavin Interview (Founder, Young Photographers Alliance)

After all these years, the most precious thing we own is the potential that at any moment something incredible might happen. It’s the potential that drives the bus. Thomas Edison said everything he ever found he found while he was looking for something else. Stay alert. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.
Walter Hodges Interview (Photographer)

There are a lot of shooters cranking out quantity and sites are increasingly seeking to get out from under this inundation of content. It is not good for customers, or agencies, to be hosed down with endless images of a high-production but low-creativity nature. And while ‘more unique images’ appeals to the creative in me, if your few gems are hard to find or positioned out-of-place then they will not sell and you will starve. So you need to know your market and get better exposure than the competition.
Lewis Blackwell Interview (Director of Strategy, Image Source)

To me, there is no better way to get ideas on style, body language and trends than to sit at the mall and people watch. Authenticity is king at your local mall! You can observe the body language of people using their hand held devices, what people are wearing and how they are wearing it. Are you doing a shoot involving teens? - hang out by the food court. Are you having trouble picking wardrobe? - hang out by the banana republic. Are you doing a baby boomer fitness shoot? - go early and check out the mall walkers. Are you doing a mother / child shoot?- hang out by baby gap.
Jim Doherty Interview, (Senior Art Director, Blend Images)

The thing that makes the best stock photos in my mind is a connection between the subject and viewer, easy read, and clear concept. People aren’t just smiling in front of the camera but they are living in front of the camera and the photographer is just documenting that. It is not as easy as it sounds though. A stock photographer needs to be able to look at the scene they are shooting and ask themselves “What is the point? What is the Moment to capture in this set up?”
Siri Berting Interview (Photographer)

Keep your photos fresh, if you don’t have assignment work, work on personal projects.
Jessica Mirolla Interview (Freelance Art Buyer)

I had burned out of managing disinterested parties on photo shoots for production outlays that were taking longer than I felt was wise to break even. I found that I could not cut costs further and still forecast an adequate income; nor could I maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle as I squeezed the expenses whilst raising my crews’ stress to unnecessary levels. I chose to stop, take profit on my royalties, and change what I was doing.
Shannof Fagan Interview (Photographer)

It is very hard to speculate where tomorrows stock industry will be showing it's strongest returns so staying involved and on top of our research for all the models of stock is a daily investment of our time.
Jonathan Ross Interview (Photographer, Founder of Spaces Images)

I believe we, in the future, will see buyers getting bored by the microstock look. And this will probably make personal branding more important, if not necessary, if you want to succeed in the industry.
Yuri Arcurs Interview (Photographer)

2012: New office @ House for Image Culture:

2012-01-01T14:30:00.038+01:00

HAPPY 2012! New office address per 1.1.12: MeRy/Artstudio23 • Huis voor Beeldcultuur • Reigerstraat 16 • 4811 XB Breda, the Netherlands --> feel free to send me mail! :)

Wishing you love, happiness & health in 2012, (hope you) LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE.

My office December 2011, 1st floor, left window (w. the lights on) @ Huis voor Beelcultuur (House for Image Culture).
Left: Tapperijke (famous Breda pub)

1870-1875, the pub was a normal house still, Huis voor Beeldcultuur is de 4th building from the right, with tympanum.

1960's, 3rd building from the right

1979 - Local newspaper de Stem ('the Voice') was printed in the now modern square (grey) building

1984 - after renovations it's now the Gemeentelijk Informatiecentrum (Communal Information Centre)

Photographer wanted?

2011-12-14T17:19:00.032+01:00

I am looking for jobs in UK, US, Canada & Australia write to info@mery.nl and let me find THE BEST IMAGEs for you. With 15+ years of experience, I am now looking for freelance jobs in London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne to expand my horizon.

MeRy.com will show you more of my work, as does Flickr and my Facebook page.

Pay: negotiable.

Are you looking for European style photography, new way of styling or graphic design? Specialty: portraits & buildings. Better said: Portraits of architecture, not the cold, advertising photos but warm photos of buildings were people work, live, love.
My people's portraits are with next to no Photoshop, as I am educated to bring out the best in people without using fake looking techniques.
PURE. Amiso & Jermaine - 0% Photoshop:
Nominee Colorawards 2011 "Traces Of Silence" - shot with analog cross processed E6 film:

Ofcourse you can also book me for weddings, events, fashion, business profile pictures and portfolio shoots! My photos CAN and WILL make a difference.

I See

2011-12-13T00:11:00.025+01:00

'Professional photographer, 1900'

After my last bit of recent study I now know:
The Photographer Is Dead.

Everyone can take a photo,
but...not everyone sees the image. I see, so I exist - as a former photographer. "TAFKAP" - that's me - The Artist Formerly Known As Photographer. We are now Image Maker. Image Seeker. Image Finder. Image Hunter?

Searching & finding images is the new photography. Though I've always been an Image Finder, for over 15 years now. As it's the first thing a former photographer needs: a talent to see, to spot things and capture them.

I Am A Viewer.

I am different to all others using a camera because I see, I see, what you can't (see).
"Ik zie, ik zie, wat jij niet ziet" Dutch saying, children's game.

Former professional photographers are Image Finders now. We must show the world what we do best: SEE.

WorldPressPhoto > WorldImageFinders?! WorldImageHunting...
Image Hunter = former photojournalist.

Image Seekers versus Image Finders.
Everyone with a camera is an image seeker, but not everyone is a image finder.
'Iedereen Fotografeert' [everyone's a photographer]

11.11.11 Trash The Dress photobook out now!

2011-12-07T22:33:00.005+01:00

11.11.11 Trash The Dress! by Melanie Rijkers/Artstudio23.com | Blurb

Order your copy now and have it delivered 20-22 December! Perfect Christmas gift?! E-books only 2,99 euro :)

Trash The Dress photography is a wellknown phenomenon in the US since the late 90's. "Trash the dress" is the art of destruction or deconstruction of a brides wedding dress to create a new artwork that the bride would be proud to display on their wall. [Wikipedia]

'Drown the Gown', 'Running of the Brides' and 'Rock The Frock' are similar names for this fine art photography, mixed with beauty, fashion and glamour photography.

In the Netherlands Artstudio23.com created the first group event in 2008. 09.09.09 was the first event known worldwide, with 99+ women wearing their wedding dress once more. 10.10.10, 11.11.11 + 12.12.12 followed :)

Photos for free

2011-11-27T16:34:00.032+01:00

Study of internet + copyrights - I need to do some research. As a professional photographer I am about to become extinct. [as "everyone is a photographer"] For some reason, my idol of the 80s & 90s declared "The Internet Is Dead". So what's up with that Prince tell me!

Once I was one of the fans who would go to his concerts a day early, so we were sure to stand front row. Man, I know all lyrics by heart of the albums untill ...erh...what year, let me Google this... untill de album Come in 1994. (I admit I do like Musicology & 3121 of the later years, but the rest...OMG ;)

Anyway, didn't read that he announced 'The Internet Is Dead' [2010] untill a few weeks ago. But it still makes me curious. Why does he say that? I noticed his official website was shut down some time ago, which surprised me, as he was one of the pioneers to sell his songs online. A few questions pop up:
- weren't his songs selling anymore?
(I think it's rather a case of "he doesn't have to work (for money) anymore" so why should he bother idd ;)
- is Prince getting too old (for this sh*t)?

Especially the last question is intriguing. He looks in his mid 30's still, but Prince was born in 1958...so 50+ years of age now. This article points out the numbers of records sold by Gaga & Prince. [which in Gaga's case are also digital files/downloads] 'Ofcourse Gaga is hot now, but will she be in another 30 years'.

I am still thinking about the internet is dead thing. Is it? I'd love to know. As for us photographers, we suffer from the same. Prince has been fighting the internet for over a decade now, as he doesn't want his stuff, photos nor songs to be put online by anyone else but him. Though @ concerts you're now allowed to bring your camera(phone) in, he keeps telling people 'why bother to record' experiencing the real thing without a camera in front of your eyes should be the real thing when coming to his concerts. [he did so in a recent Belgium concert]

Still, it's easy for him to say!
The music industry (which he dislikes a lot) is all about selling and earning big money still. Maybe he indeed is too old, and shouldn't he be going on about this, but just relax and compose and perform live whenever he feels like it...
on the other hand...in all media business, like newspapers, magazines, photography and video, we [artists] suffer. Photographers suffer from free images, to be used, printed or altered by...anyone, at any time. So it seems.

Original artists suffer the most. Older fellow photographers (age 40 and up) are specialists...but...people aren't hiring specialists anymore. Due to the crisis people hire younger, cheaper, all-round photographers, of generation 'Z'. This generation wants to share. Share, share, share - without giving. They take, and don't want to pay for anything you can find online. "It's there to share" seems to be their thought.

Hm.
Now what can I do with this, being an 'oldie' in the photography business? Ok, am not done yet, not AT ALL, but fellow photographers: it's not like it used to be anymore! At all. We, trained the analog way in the 90's, need to shift our minds to a higher gear.
Haven't found the answer yet, but will share it when I do.

Prince: 'I'm a musician. And I am music' --> I am a photographer. And I am photos'

Global Women's Summit LA 2011 - day one

2011-11-07T14:02:00.018+01:00

Paula Fellingham opens the Los Angeles Summit, Entrepreneur Workshop 28 October 2011.

Kelly Breaux teaches us how to hoola hoop :)

Ineke Hurkmans wants us to Jump!

Want to see more photos of the first day of this wonderfull summit? Check out the sets on Flickr or Facebook 1 + Facebook 2. Enjoy!

"Global Women's Summits are part of a powerful global movement to celebrate and educate the women of the world. Our motto for these historic events is "Enlighten Women's Minds and Empower Women's Hearts … for a Better World."

Beginning June 11, 2011, and finishing October 29, 2011, the Women's Information Network will host Global Women's Summits in 12 countries.

At Global Women's Summits superb speakers and entertainers will address the personal, business, family, and community/national issues that are profoundly important to women in each country.

Women will be educated and empowered. They will have the opportunity to receive solutions for their lives, share their ideas, and really connect with one another heart-to-heart.

Global Women's Summits will help women, worldwide, learn how to:

Become strong leaders in their communities and nations
Believe in themselves and in their gifts and talents
Radiate joy and confidence as they build personal power
Set and reach high-achievable goals
Be wise with their finances
Overcome many of the obstacles in their lives
Reach out and help other women

Join the global women's movement as they participate with powerful women's organizations like The Women's Information Network, Women Celebrating Life, Global Women's Summits, and others
Lovely aunt Lena (aka Anne-Louise Sterry :)

Facing The Future

2011-11-07T13:40:00.006+01:00

PhotoQ interviewed nine photographers on how they respond to the tension between lowering income in the profession, and exploding interest in photography (more museums, galleries, magazines, web, phones, tablets). They were participating in the Day of Photography (in Dutch: Dag van de Fotografie) at the Amsterdam venue of Pakhuis De Zwijger on October 21st, 2011, as organised by the agency Hollandse Hoogte. More than 600 people visited interviews, presentations, discussions and other events.

Watch and listen to Peter Van Agtmael, Peter Stigter, Newsha Tavakolian, Inge van Iersel, Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski, Hellen van Meene, Ed Kashi, Joost van den Broek and Donald Weber.

All 9 photographers still think positive, feel positive, and point out the quality of (their) work. But will it be enough!? Future will tell.

Everybody is a photographer now...so... Photography (as we know it) Is Dead?! R.I.P.

MDG5 - my goal

2011-10-23T17:10:00.008+02:00

A warm hello to you all,
I am looking for your attention please. My name is Melanie Rijkers and I work as a fine art photographer in Breda. The second half of my career (in total over 15 years now) I’ve been involved in more than one ‘social subject’, by creating portraits and documentaries for all beautiful people in this ugly world.
It started with looking up my old schoolmates from last grade of elementary school.

After 20 years we had our first reunion, and half of them didn’t show up. ‘Why?’ I asked myself. Curious after the absent people I decided to visit them. I made portraits of them too, and they shared their lifestories with me. Fascinating. The picked-on girl turned out to be stronger then I thougt. But another picked-on girl was so affraid she didn’t dare to come to the reunion and face her bullies. And the bullies? They couldn’t even remember her.

This really startled me, what people do, or don’t do. But later the scared picked-on girl wrote me a letter saying she was glad she posed for me. This was also something she was scared of doing, but in the end, aŌer seeing the results, it made her stronger. And this is what I do ever since.

Creating artwork that changes people, their self-image. Photography CAN be therapy.
Red-On-Red was therapy to natural redheads, another group of ‘tourmented’ people.
They are so beautiful! Women who sent me an e-mail saying that after seeing the photo
they were finally “proud of herself and her red hair”.

Red-On-Red by MeRy/Melanie Rijkers www.MeRy.nl/rood | Blurb

PURE. Young mothers, age 16 to 22, in our country -with one of the lowest teenage pregnancy rates in the world- are not accepted. In the Netherlands, where all seems to be possible, choosing to have a baby at a young age isn’t accepted. If you’re a mother 24 years old (or younger) people ask if having that baby is a mistake, an accident. Why? Why do we judge people for choosing LIFE.

The exhibition 'PUUR. Trotse tienermoeders' and photobook were a huge succes, proud young mothers, posing nude, pregnant or with their baby. Amazing pictures, as there wasn’t any photo editing at all, all portraits are 100% Photoshop-free. In this day of age, with all Barbie look-alikes in the magazines, these young women showed themselves. Naked. PURE.

Life = pure. Pure = life.

One of my recent projects for LIFE was to get as many pregnant women in one photo
as we could. In a co-operation with the city of Breda and Simavi we gathered 113 ‘bolle buiken’ (big bellies) to kick-off the world mothers estafette for Simavi last September. Goal was to collect as many signatures with our petition for the 5th Millenium Goal: reducing the rate of deaths of pregnant and newborn mothers in the 3rd world.

These signatures were handed over to the minister, who was attending the UN summit in 2010 in New York. United Nations have set more Millenium Development Goals, which should be reached in 2015. STOP Maternal mortality is the 5th goal.

STOP Maternal mortality by MeRy.com | Blurb

The first unique photo event in Breda with all pregnant women was a huge succes. I’d like to continue this in another city or even...country. I know there will be another Simavi estafette this year, but I like to do more. Go to New York City and create a similar photo event there, to draw as much attention as we can, as the 5th Millenium Goal is the one with the worst numbers still. Why is that? Why, in these modern days, women still have to suffer, and in the worst case, die, because of the lack of proper medical equipment or medical knowledge?

Women, mothers, are giving us the future. Children are our future.

Do you support our cause? Please let us know via info@mery.nl If I can find the financial means to travel up there (expenses paid only) we can create another photo event and share our concerns with the world.

Please support this goal - I'd like to do a similar event in New York City, but won't be able to do so without your support:

IBAN: NL41ABNA0607286849 BIC: ABNANL2A - Melanie Rijkers - Artstudio23 Breda

Will be attending the Global Women's Summit in L.A. If you want to meet me, just let me know! Will be there 27 Oct - 1 Nov 2011.

Life without limitations

2011-08-26T16:58:00.007+02:00

Ossur UK by Photographs by MeRy.com | Blurb

commissioned photography for Össur UK. Following model Jim around in Dartmoor National Park with all different kinds of prostetic (sport) limbs.

Trash The Dress Canada

2011-08-25T16:34:00.003+02:00

great video of our event 14 August 2011!

HONORABLE MENTION WINNER OF PX3

2011-08-09T14:39:00.009+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HONORABLE MENTION WINNER OF PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris

Melanie Rijkers of Netherlands was Awarded in the PX3 2011 Competition. De fotoserie Trash The Dress 09.09.09 won één van de 5 honorable mentions in de categorie press/stories professional.

Px3pressrelease2011 persbericht Prix de la Photographie Paris.

A.s. zondag zal ik in Canada, Niagara Falls, de leading photographer zijn van the 1st annual 'Running of the Brides' event, supporting Wellspring.ca (cancer support). Kim & Kathy van Elope Niagara willen op ludieke wijze aandacht vragen voor de unieke trouwlokatie Niagara Falls. Niagarathisweek.com

Meer over 14 augustus event: Running Brides Canada press release of kijk op www.TrashTheDress.nl

NiagaraThisWeek Article: Eat your heart out, Pamplona

Domino Day with all your equipment...

2011-08-08T15:25:00.005+02:00

wow...those guys were very, very bored?!? Is it coz they are... Canadian?! ;))

NiagaraThisWeek Article: Eat your heart out, Pamplona

2011-07-22T21:36:00.004+02:00

NiagaraThisWeek Article: Eat your heart out, Pamplona

Article about the 'Running of the Brides' event August 14, to support Wellspring.ca.
Still looking for more participants, do you want to fun-run?! In a weddingdress??? You don't have to be an actual bride, just show up in a dress and join us for a great photography event at the Niagara falls!

PURE. Proud young mothers (16-23 years old) part two

2011-07-19T15:22:00.008+02:00

PURE • PUUR by www.MeRy.com • Melanie Rijkers | Blurb

PUUR. Trotse tienermoeders - PURE. Proud young mothers
When a young woman (16 to 23 years old) decides to have her baby, chooses LIFE, who are we to judge and disapprove of her choice?

In the Netherlands being a 'teenmom' is the real last taboo. With teenage pregnancy numbers almost the lowest of the world, they're rejected and prejudiced. 34 Young proud mothers show themselve in this pure photobook, and tell us their story.
164 p. full colour, 45 euro ex. shipping.

Wordle of this blog, June '11

2011-06-30T12:34:00.003+02:00

Wordle: my Twitter, June '11

2011-06-30T12:28:00.005+02:00

funny! My first wordle, of my Twitteraccount :) De en van are Dutch, meaning 'the' and 'of'.

Vote for me | See.Me

2011-06-14T22:38:00.003+02:00

Melanie Rijkers | See.Me Portfolio 2011

Trash The Dress down under

2011-06-01T12:16:00.010+02:00

Trash The Dress Down Under by Melanie Rijkers/MeRy.com | Blurb

Trash The Dress down under!

To me Trash The Dress is the reprise of wedding photography. Why only wear that beautiful dress just once?

Being a fine art photographer I always want to do things different, and after stumbling upon the American Trash The Dress concept online, I asked 99 brides to pose for me in 2009. (09.09.09)
Together with my husband Hans I created the first mass Trash The Dress event ever, and made the news worldwide.

We first did a try out with 8 brides 08.08.08 using 'boring' dates differently. 10.10.10 we did another Dutch event in the old fort of Geertruidenberg. The 11.11.11 event will take place in Zeewolde: Centerparcs.nl/trashthedress

Receiving invitations from all over the world to do more Trash The Dress photography, I went Down Under February 2011. August 14 I will be one of the photographers of the first annual 'Running of the Brides' event at Niagara Falls, Canada, supporting breast cancer research.

12.12.12 is the last special date. Hopefully we can do a multiple Trash The Dress event on more than one continent. We are now looking for models, (you don't have to wear your own gown, you can also buy a secondhand weddingdress and participate) muas, hairdressers and wedding/event planners to co-ordinate this all.

A major sponsor for these events is very welcome too,
please send an e-mail to: info@mery.nl
TrashTheDress.nl MeRy/Melanie Rijkers & Hans van Nunen

MeRy.com
Artstudio23.com

Impossible Project, complete behind the scenes film by DFpro

2011-06-01T11:33:00.005+02:00

made by Digifotopro, Impossible Project behind the scenes.

It's very cool to see how the lonely repair guy talks about the experience he has (36 years with Polaroid, 27 as a repair guy) and now does ALL repairs from around the world! It's also cool to see how the chemical paste is developed, the films are processed etc. What a job!

Wish we lived closer to Enschede, which is in the North-East of Holland. There's a shop now, so you can buy films @ the factory. But still for us Dutchies or European people it's far more expensive than when you live far away in US... the products are much cheaper in $$ than in euros...but I the website won't let me pay in $$...
#FAIL

Another fail: the new films can't be developed in open air. This feature is very important to me, I hope they'll create new films soon, as watching the image come up is pure magic to me and this process shouldn't be lost...

Official website: Impossible Project

eye-opener

2011-05-19T11:42:00.005+02:00

blik•opener by © Artstudio23.com Melanie Rijkers/MeRy | Blurb

Blikopener = eyeopener. About being healthy and then...you are handicaped, by accident or illness. What society does, and how you need to cope with life after. 10 Clients of Noutenhof's activitycentre told their story, shared photos and had their portraits taken.

"All of a sudden nothing is obvious anymore, it felt as if all knowledge was deleted, I didn't even know that water came out of the tap."

Impossible Project, factory Enschede, trailer

2011-05-17T17:10:00.001+02:00

take a look behind the scenes of the Impossible Project factory in Enschede, the Netherlands. Once the very last working instant film (Polaroid) factory, now producer of new instant films... ♥ 'em!

Short film by Mees (11)

2011-04-23T21:35:00.001+02:00

Son Mees (11) filmed this at the playground of Bosbad Hoeven, with a little help of brother Pim (8). Enjoy the 'middelpuntvliedende kracht' of the sand falling down in the wheel.

Grand Theatre Breda

2011-04-14T15:47:00.018+02:00

Grand Theatre Breda 2007 by © MeRy/Artstudio23 Melanie Rijkers | Blurb

Grand Theatre in Breda was closed in 2007...I then made this lovely portrait (and now this photobook) of the abandoned cinema. 28 April 2011 there will be a re-opening 'old style' check grandtheatrebreda.nl ...you can now wine & dine there, but no more cinema...

Check out all urbex photos from 2007 in this Flickr album.

JUMP! for your business

2011-04-14T15:33:00.008+02:00

"JUMP for your business" was the opening stunt for the Business Breda meetings 13 & 14 April 2011.
More photos of this business event in my Flickr album.

Business Point Breda 13 & 14 April

2011-04-05T12:11:00.004+02:00

Business Point Breda 2011 zal plaatsvinden op woensdag 13 en donderdag 14 april 2011 in The Greenery Breda. Op een beursoppervlak van 5000 m², met voldoende gratis parkeergelegenheid en een goede bereikbaarheid, zullen ondernemers hun producten en diensten in een eigen stand aanbieden.
Ik ben er beide dagen als de fotograaf/beeldend kunstenaar die "Jump for your business" bedacht heeft i.s.m. organisator Edwin Mariouw Smit, we springen om 17.00 uur, wie durft!?!

Story Telling: Red-On-Red finalist Gala Awards

2011-04-05T00:55:00.006+02:00

Red-On-Red finalist @ the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards

"1,020 series were received for the first screening, and of those 178 passed to the second screening. One winner, 4 runner ups and 29 honorable mentions were awarded, while another 100 series ...were finalists in the second round and will al so be featured in the book Storyteller. Sample of the images of those series are displayed below next to the names of the awardees and finalists. In this occasion we received the series from 44 countries. The first screening has been done by the Artistic and Editorial Team of WPGA while the second round was juried by Julio Hardy, managing director of the WPGA."

More natural redhead beauties via http://www.mery.nl/rood

11.11.11 Trash The Dress event, book now

2011-03-06T19:55:00.010+01:00

Sign up now for Trash The Dress 2011, 11 November in Zeewolde, the Netherlands. Photographers and brides wanted, it'll be a whole weekend of photo fun and "wedding" photography!
Grooms, friends and also unmarried women with secondhand (E-bay) dresses welcome! Be a model for a day and get beautiful photos in return.
We e.g. do shoots in the tropical swimmingpool 'Aquamundo', so go of the slides wearing your wedding dress and drown the gown!! :))

Australia 2011

2011-02-28T23:46:00.012+01:00

Just back from an amazing trip to Oz. I was invited to witness a Giant Trash The Dress event in Adelaide, SA. I just couldn't refuse, being the one who started the mass Trash The Dress photoshoots in 08.08.08 :)))
This time it wasn't such a big crowd as on September 9, 2009 (we had 99+ brides! :) but Kelly from SaySo Weddings did a great job. Hairdressers, mua's, the whole lot was there @ the Stramford Hotel. To me a good example of how to organise an event, though I am more into the photography of it than being the host. The Trash The Dress photos will be uploaded in a later stage, but part 1 of my travels down under is already online! Enjoy my trip to Kangaroo Island and the Great Ocean Road.
I travelled with Adventure Tours Australia and I highly recommend them. Already in 1998 me and my husband did a great tour to Kakadu National park with them. I just love the Australian bush, coastline and animal life. All so very special, I could easily go there and stay! Unfortunately Australia is pretty unafordable now, with the AUD. being up to 200% of what it was worth in '98 AND prices of e.g. a bed in a hostel (dorm) now is 30 instead of the 12-15 Australian dollar in 1998. Also food, even in supermarkets, is very expensive, 'Australian made' or not, it's also 4x our Dutch prices. E.g. a bottle of 600 ml coke, supermarketprice: 4,50 AUD = 3,50 EUR = 0,79/1 EUR in Holland. (!!!)
Still I loved being there, and I had such fun seeing my family again. John, my cousin-twice-removed, still lives in Melbourne and they were happy to have me, so I had a great time seeing them all and meeting the new extras (boyfriends) of the girls. I remember Willem as a little baby, born in 1993, (just when I was there!) and the girls 3 and 5/6 years old...man, time flies..!

Vote for me plz!

2011-02-16T16:57:00.006+01:00

Vote for me/Stem op mij as I'd like to be the ambassador for United Nations/Simavi's 5th Millenium Goal. If I win Nationale Postcode Loterij will help me go to women's clinics to do a documentary about maternal mortality.

NOS Headlines - mass Trash The Dress 2009

2011-01-18T14:47:00.000+01:00

the very best reportage of the mass Trash The Dress event we held 09.09.09 Over 99 brides trashed their dress in the Northsea, Scheveningen, the Netherlands. Thanx NOS!

new book: the Best in Breda 40+ local photographers

2011-01-15T15:23:00.006+01:00

the Best in Breda|het Beste in Breda 40+ photographers | 20+ locations @Bredaphoto festival | 2010 by Artstudio23.com | Blurb

Over 40 Breda photographers showed their work at the BiB, Best in Breda weekend during Bredaphoto Festival 2010. This book'll give you an idea of what those photographers showed, on 20+ locations. Check http://tiny.cc/bredaphoto for more details of this weekend 23 en 24 October 2010.

Wanted: my former wedding couples

2011-01-09T13:14:00.003+01:00

MeRy zoekt oud-bruidsparen | Het Stadsblad Breda | dé Weekkrant online article in paper about my search for wedding couples to send me their favorite photo of the reportage I made 1996-2010.

ice factory in Breda

2010-12-13T11:12:00.004+01:00

our kids Mees (11) & Pim (8) made an ice factory, as winter started early this year, 2 December 2010

New location!

2010-12-12T00:36:00.003+01:00

Artstudio23, Speelhuislaan 173-B, Breda, the Netherlands. First floor, unit A101 of the Backer & Rueb (old) factory. Love our new location, and I'd like to share this white picture as we had early snow in EU all around.

Melanie Rijkers - 3rd Ward Open Call

2010-12-07T00:47:00.003+01:00

Melanie Rijkers - 3rd Ward Open Call o yeah, I'd like to win this 3-month New York City residency! vote for me plz :)

clients sent me...

2010-12-01T23:37:00.021+01:00

My latest pieces of art: two big sized photos on di-bond, really a beautiful set of family photos. A whole different kind of children's portraits!

Me working on the photo of the invitation to participate in the record "get as many pregnant women in one photo" to draw attention to MDG5 of the UN; Millenium Development Goal no. 5 is to Reduce the number deaths of pregnant women and newborn mothers in 3rd world countries. STOP Maternal mortality!

This was the endresult, 4 September 2010:

Try out of our very first mass Trash The Dress with 8 brides in a fountain 08-08-'08!

One of the brides participating 09-09-'09 & 10-10-'10 was Vivian from Jolanda. Can you see the photographer in this one?

Another project of mine, Red-On-Red: FineArt in Fijnaart, the Netherlands: me taking Red-On-Red photos part two. First series was done @ the redheadday in Breda in 2007.

is this a...weddingpicture??? YES

Last but not least: PURE. Proud teenmothers in Chinese:

Welcome little Bobbie

2010-11-26T00:54:00.006+01:00

Mijn favoriete verloskundige/klant/model kreeg laatst haar 5e (!) kindje, dochter Bobbie! En dit is het fan-tas-tische geboortekaartje! :)

My favorite übercool midwife recently delivered her own 5th (!) baby, little girl Bobbie. Enjoy this little treasure, welcome in this world sweet baby! (mum Dominique was belly painted topmodel of the Simavi series with 119 big bellies photo record for the 5th Millenium Development Goal #MDG5 estafette for UN :)

pinhole

2010-11-19T14:27:00.005+01:00

Belcrum harbour; experiment with pinhole technique...love it!
Am gonna do some more soon, love portraits like these:

Trash The Dress photobook OUT NOW

2010-11-12T20:36:00.003+01:00

Trash The Dres...

By © Artstudio23.com

Book Preview

close-up

2010-11-08T00:02:00.003+01:00

Love my Satio phonecam! [Sony Ericsson] ...these close-ups make me wish it was still summer...

Open studio route Bredaphoto

2010-10-22T11:17:00.003+02:00

This weekend last weekend of Bredaphoto festival in Breda, with me being one of the local photographers present at the Best in Breda (#BiB via Twitter). Open studio route: over 40 photographers will present themselves @ 20 locations in Breda. You can meet me @ the bookcafé Publieke Werken, St. Annastraat 12, Breda, noon-5pm this Saturday & Sunday 23/24 October 2010.

The Order Electrus

2010-10-20T19:21:00.001+02:00

great film by Floris Kaayk - The Order Electrus - are they real or not?!? :) Enjoy!

10-10-'10 photo party!!!

2010-10-13T18:54:00.001+02:00

10-10-10 Trash The Dress Party from Huwelijksreportage on Vimeo.

preview of the dvd made by John Links :)))

De vijf beloftes - the 5 promises of Paul Huf Award 2010

2010-10-06T19:05:00.017+02:00

October 4, 2010 de Grote Paul ("Big Paul") Awards with winner Stephan Vanfleteren. This youtube video was filmed by Corrine Krugers' hubby, nice to see this little clip of our moment!

Paul Huf was a famous Dutch photographer, who died 9 years ago. He was known for his strong and powerful (and classic) advertiorial and commercial photography, had an eye for details (Grolsch) and lifted advertising & images to a higher level, in the Netherlands he was a great example to many photographers.
Jan van Buuren, his friend from way back, 78 years old, great-great-grandfather too, organises this event each year. A few of the Grote Paul's previous winners were Anton Corbijn & Rineke Dijkstra. Hope one day I'll be among those happy few :))

Vincent Mentzel presents: Suzanne Muller, Pim Ras, Corrine Kruger, Melanie Rijkers and Bianca van der Werf © Anton Poptie

Trash The Dress previous

2010-10-05T19:29:00.009+02:00

08-08-08, 8 brides pose for me standing in a pond in Breda, the Netherlands - wanted to do a testshoot to try this concept with more than one bride.

More 'behind the scenes' photos by Leo Bestman, one of the husbands of bride Mandy who participated in my first mass
Trash The Dress event.

Now we're getting ready for the big 100 on 10-10-'10!

STOP Maternal mortality

2010-09-19T12:55:00.018+02:00

STOP Maternal mortality by MeRy.com |

UN website: With only five years left untill the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to attend a summit in New York on 20-22 September 2010 to accelerate progress towards the MDGs.

We, people of the city of Breda, the Netherlands, organised a big gathering 4 September 2010 to support MDG no. 5: to reduce Maternal Mortality. Over 100 pregnant women came to help public health organisation Simavi kick off the Worldmothers Estafette.

Fine art photographer MeRy (Melanie Rijkers) created the record of biggest group 'bolle buiken' (big bellies) in one photo, and the Estafette to get people to sign a petition was launched successfully.
www.MeRy.com for more of MeRy's photo & art work

Redhead day

2010-09-11T13:45:00.014+02:00

5 September 2010: over 3500 natural redheads (gingers) invaded Breda! (the Netherlands, NOT Scotland)

Artist Bart Rouwenhorst only paints redheaded women and when he had his first exhibition of these paitings in 2005, 150 redheads showed up in Asten, the Netherlands. Now, 5 September 2010, he says over 3500 natural redheads invaded our city Breda, the Netherlands. (some reporters said it's Scotland, but nope, in NL there's also a lot of beautiful redheads!)

I already helped out a lot when he had the first gathering in 2007, also created my series Red-On-Red, on the spot, at the Roodharigendag. In 2008 we were able to create Medusa. And recently I fnished infraRED which was honorable mention at the IPA [International Photography Awards] 3 times!

Making of my often used promotion photo for the redheadday 2007 :) 11 gordeous women lay their hair on Bart Rouwehorst like a blanket.

Want to see more of my redhead portraits? Check out MeRy.nl/rood

On the move

2010-09-11T13:39:00.002+02:00

Last few times we can watch beautiful sunsets (reflection in de window)...as we are moving to another location!

We are moving to the Backer & Rueb (old factory) building, Speelhuislaan 173 B, unitA101 in Breda, the Netherlands. Will post some awsome photos of the location soon, and wish the new renters good luck in our light and spacious studio!

Nominee @ Masters Cup

2010-08-29T20:02:00.024+02:00

4th Photography Masters Cup:

Tantetje (Auntie) - portrait of the house of Tantetje - cat. Still Life - also available as photobook Tantetje's Traces Of Silence
Beds, abandoned waterpark, Kos, Greece - cat. Still Life

3rd Photography Masters Cup:

Womountains, pregnant lady - cat. Nude
Doorbells, Black Madonna, the Hague - building by architect Carlos Weeber - cat. Abstract
Parking, Black Madonna, the Hague - building by architect Carlos Weeber - cat. Architecture

1st Photography Masters Cup:

Clock, Musee Orsay, Paris - France - cat. Architecture
Mirror, small street in Barcelona, Spain - cat. Architecture

My nominated photos @ the International Color Awards so far

Looking for big bellies

2010-08-23T15:06:00.015+02:00

4 September 2010 I am gonna be the photographer of the first biggest group photo of pregnant bellies ever. Simavi & the 5th Milleniumgoal ask for our attention and we want people to sign the petition against mother's & baby's deaths.
The estafette will urge people to sign the petition and will tour tru NL for 4 weeks, starting in my hometown Breda. 52% of the people in the Netherlands already lives in a Millenium Town :) We need your help to get the worldleader's attention and reduce the deaths of pregnant women and newborn babies worldwide. You can also volunteer to join the groupphoto!

Dying for treatment by photographer Marco Vernaschi breaks my heart... *Warning* this link contains shocking images

Impossible Project

2010-08-23T14:54:00.003+02:00

Impossible Project 's first flush new monchrome instant films seem to fade away...

but I am hoping the new and improved film will hold! Will show more Polaroid photos soon, love the old sepiatone and am still looking forward to the new colour film.

The Ghost of the village Best

2010-08-05T23:10:00.001+02:00

Look at this film by Mees (11) and Sander (14) -- The Ghost of Best -- Quite impressive! Directing & acting kids, they really thought about the story and how to shoot the images. RESPECT

Breda Photo Festival

2010-07-19T00:21:00.010+02:00

In Breda, my hometown, this year will be another Breda Photo Festival in Sept/Oct. Each time, next to really awsome exhibitions with worldfamous photographers, there's also an 'open studio route'. This time I am the organisor of it, and renamed it the Best in Breda weekend. Follow #BiB on Twitter! :)

The list of participating photographers is now complete, and I am very proud of it. Hopefully we'll be able to show you more soon, as from now all catalogues, brochures and more will be printed.

I also made a map in Google, with all locations, websites of the photographers and a photo of their work. ...Have fun browsing!

Open Studio Route Breda Photo in 2008 Sahin Sisic made portraits on the spot in Halte Vlaszak (VAK) Breda Photo big size photos in open air @ Chasséveld 2008

Winterstudio

2010-07-16T12:42:00.003+02:00

video of Artstudio23.com in winter...

Worldcup

2010-07-06T20:12:00.012+02:00

"Dutch" M&Ms, only red, white, blue & orange...orange bag too...madness, total madnes at the moment here in NL!

we are crazy! ...it's almost carnival here...this is a video of 'mad' orange photos, from the city Groningen (North Netherland)

in a few minutes the semi final against Urugay starts...hope we win! (but I predicted from the start...Germany will win the cup) Fingers crossed..!

about my teenage mother portraits

2010-07-01T10:48:00.010+02:00

about my photobook PURE. young mothers, two items with me and my models (Dutch tv)

you can buy the book here

The book and exhibition were presented in the Melkweg gallery in Amsterdam April 1, 2009.

infreRED new photobook with beautiful portaits of 'gingers'

2010-06-28T21:42:00.006+02:00

infra RED

By MeRy.com

Book Preview

infraRED. Beautiful natural redheads posed for my 3rd photobook.

Natural redheads always fascinate me. They are about to be extinct some day in the future. I want to capture their beauty before they are.
Experiment: I used the infrared technique and eliminated all colour. Asking myself: will wreckles vanish? How pale will their skin get? What happens to 'red' in infra-red?

The first part of the book are the portraits in infraRED, turn the book upside down and compare the colour photos, same sequence.

More about my redhead art.

FIFA & the Dutch Dress of Bavaria beer

2010-06-16T12:50:00.019+02:00

Photo of Dutch babes in forbidden orange dresses is still showing on official FIFA website

More news @ Omroep Brabant (Dutch) about the arrests & forbidden dresses (design by Bavaria beer) worn by Dutch, beautiful blond women @ the first match of the Netherlands @ the Worldcup 2010.

It started with a ban of the Dutch babes wearing the short, orange dresses to the stadium, as Budweiser is one of the official sponsors and Bavaria beer isn't. RESPECT to the advertising agency: it worked!!! Now everybody knows about the small Dutch beer brand LOL. (well, small, Bavaria isn't anymore but compared to Heineken it is) Heineken: eat your heart out! ;)

dressed as Danish supporters they entered the stadium...

Trash The Dress 10-10-'10

2010-06-04T00:05:00.016+02:00

Mass Trash The Dress.

This year photographer Hans van Nunen and I will organise another mass Trash The Dress in the Netherlands. Last year, 09-09-'09 was a huge success, with our brides trashing their dresses in the Northsea, they were news worldwide :)

The Arjan van Dijkgroep will host this event on their beautiful location Fort St. Gertrudis in Geertruidenberg, NL. Party time 1-6 pm, there will be several shoots, including a high-tea-buffet and... champagne!

More information in this (Dutch) pressrelease. Fellow-photographers welcome, as are partners, friends and non-dressed-up people.

If you want to go to a PHOTO PARTY, this is it!

Selfportrait Polaroid 779 film

2010-05-26T21:55:00.014+02:00

Selfportrait, 26 May 2010, Artstudio23 Breda, the Netherlands.

Testing my new (old) film, there's no Polaroid 600 film available anymore, only expired (outdated) old stuff, but still...I like it!
LIVE FOR THE MOMENT, as once Polaroid said :)

Hugh 'House' Laurie in Polaroid commercial LMAO

NB! The Impossible Project produces new sepia film as we speak, in the Netherlands, Enschede, in the old Polaroid factory :))

beautiful Turkey

2010-05-17T14:38:00.012+02:00

Empty beach @ Marmaris, Turkey

We had a marvelous holiday in Marmaris, Turkey this springbreak, and even though we've lost over 70 Dutch in the planecrash, I am still happy we flew out to the sun. In the Netherlands it was only 6-10 degrees Celcius, over 10 degrees below average for this time of year, so I am freezing at the moment. We left Turkey with 39 C...and came back to 8...
Turkey is a beautiful country, the people are very nice and modern and their leader to democracy Atatürk did a good job so far. Ofcourse Turkey is still very oriental, but what's wrong with that!? In NL and other European countries they still won't accept Turkey to the EU, but...is ths something they'd really want or need??

I loved the people, the land, the atmosphere and loved it being (a little) different then ours. That's what it makes such a nice country, the modern thoughts in an oriental package...lovely!
Love the colourfull neon lights everywhere in the town. Marmaris is fairly new, with modern shops and a new boardwalk and everything.

The 'evil eye' actually is a good eye, to protect you from jealousy. It's thought to be Medusa 's eye and when Christianity came to Turkey (Islamic religion came 500 years later) it's also meant to be the eye of the fish-symbol, which is the letters of God, his Son, the holy Spirit.

Tripoli planecrash, 1 Dutch boy survives

2010-05-13T14:54:00.023+02:00

© EPA - Tail of the plane that crashed in Tripoli, Libia

Yesterday me and my family arrived in NL again after a short holiday in beautiful (and hot!! 39C) Turkey, to find out that there was a big planecrash in Tripoli, Libia. (ليبيا Lībiyyā) 70 Dutch were killed, and of the 104 passengers & crew, only one little boy survived.

This little boy lives in Tilburg, NL - not far from my hometown. He had Maybreak too, and just like us, he and his family went for a holiday. They went to South-Africa, to go on safari, and never returned. His brother (11) en parents were killed in the crash.
Dutch 'Miracle Boy' Ruben, 9 years old, in Libean hospital © NOS

OMG. The thought one of our two sons would be him, left alone in this world, having pain in a strange hospital with journalists crowding around his bed. It's an AWFUL & horrible thought which gives me the creeps. And I think it's horrid that the press is present at his sickbed. LEAVE THE KID ALONE. His uncle & aunt will be joining him soon I hope, it must be a horrible trip, flying to Libia, knowing all other are dead but him.
I hope God has a reason for keeping him alive, as he will suffer a lot of grieve and pain in the future next to being happy to be alive...

The worldpress is going crazy for him, and I think that's just as awful. What's wrong with the world?!? NOS our (Dutch) national broadcasting network goes crazy too, though the Tilburger and more Dutch people are preparing to help the remaining family with their loss. Still it's a weird thought, that a little boy like this will become a symbol without wanting it. He only wanted a holiday with his family, see the lions in the African desert I presume, and now...he probably wishes they never went.

When looking at our own two boys my heart freezes thinking of them all alone, after a crash, being the sole survivor. Miracle boy?
Miserable boy would be better, the poor thing.

© EPA

4 & 5 May

2010-05-04T14:18:00.031+02:00

Scheveningen, 5 May 1995, Liberationday - invasion of the beach

Today, May 4, the Netherlands were occupied by the German army for the last day 65 years ago. On May 5 1945 we finally were liberated all, by the American, English, Polish & Canadian army.
Via Twitter there's a call for a "Twittersilence" tonight at 20.00h (8pm) as we remember the dead with two minutes of silence every year on May 4, 8pm. As if we nowadays can't sit still for two minutes...are we really that bad that we need a call? Do we really want to Tweet every minute of the day? Also, 8pm our time isn't 8pm your time when you are in a different timezone.

More about our Liberationday on Wiki.

Still it's a weird day, May 5. We don't have a bankholiday (why not?) as we do on April 30, when it's Queen's day "Koninginnedag". We celebrate our Queen Beatrix' birthday too with a bankholiday for everyone.

May 5 seems to be a day of (pop)festivals and beer mostly, just like Koninginnedag. On May 5 1995 me and Hans were strolling along Scheveningen beach, with D-day-like invasions of soldiers, bomb explosions and a parade of veterans. Next to the impressive landing on the beach, I was stunned by the disrespect of the watching people. Yuk...almost a naked bum, hairy naked backs etc...
We must never forget the war, not only WorldWar II but also the more recent violence all around the world.

Vanished productions present: Breda 1942-1943

Pilot. Send to "The One Minutes" for the "Where history begins / Schatten van Brabant" theme. One day soon we hope to be able to make a full lenght film of all empty houses, as there are 25 houses in my hometown Breda that were abandoned in the war. (our One Minute film only features 6) We must never forget!
...The Jews who lived in it never came back, as they almost all died in the camps like "Auschwitz" & "Westerbork" .

Mothersnight

2010-04-19T11:43:00.012+02:00

May 8 it's the "Mothersnight" in the Netherlands (May 9 is our national Mothersday).

11 pregnant ladies posed for me last week, Simavi can use these lovely images of their pregnant bellies for their campaign against the high rates of mothers dying when pregnant or giving birth worldwide. It's Milleniumgoal no. 5, and it's the goal with the worst results so far.
In Breda, my hometown, there will be an event at the old cityhall, and worldwide the UN hopes to draw attention to this problem too. For some reason women aren't considered equal to men, but as the giver of life wo hould be charished and loved, not put down and thrown away when (men) consider them useless, like when they only deliver babygirls and not -boys.
It's irritating the hell out of me. I am a mother myself and can't understand the way some (men) are thinking. And for me it's hard to see e.g. the photos of Marco Vernaschi Dying for Treatment. When I look at them, my heart breaks and I want to leave NL and rush there and go help myself.
Two women waiting to give birth in the pre-birth room. The whole hospital is in desperate hygiene conditions and suffers from lack of facilities. In same cases, the lack of goodwill of the Guinean Government is the cause of such conditions. There are 700 hospital beds and a new surgery room ready to be sent to Guinea Bissau, but as the Guinean Government insisted to charge custom taxes, the material will be sent somewhere else.
We must stop this madness. The children are the world!
Support Simavi with their struggle. Or check www.Moedernacht.nl (Dutch) for more information.

Metropolis

2010-03-29T11:33:00.022+02:00

Wow...never thought a film from 1927 would be so impressive.
Fritz Lang directed Metropolis, a film-noir about a futuristic city with skyscrapers, traffic jams & videophone way before all this was happening or possible. Love the story too, though it's not the Avatar from the 20's (as it's called often) but more like the Titanic, dramatic lovestory with the flooding of the undercity and rescueing the children from the workers below. The uppercity (the happy few) lives it's own seperate life, but due to the son of the city founder, their worlds meet in the end. (and collaps)
Surely a masterpiece, and loads of Lang's photographic points of views, tricks & ways were an example for modern directors.

The movie was originally about 2.45 hours, and soon after it's release shortened. A lot of the removed scenes were forgotten, disappeared and never recovered so the Metropolis I saw when studying at the St. Joost Academy was just a shortened version on videotape. In 2001 however, they discovered a lot of the missing scens in some moist basement somewere in South-America, and filmmakers restored the film to it's original lenght, using the original script and now only a few scenes are missing.
Those missing scenes are described and mounted into the film, so as a viewer we really experienced Fritz Lang's film, not the studio's one, a real director's cut idd :)
I took our eldest son of almost 11 years old to the 3rd viewing (worldwide) of this restored version, as it was Film Festival in Breda last week. There was a pianist playing live and 2,5 hours b&w silent movie didn't really bore him. Only in the beginning it was a bit too slow for him (when mostly Lang is introducing the caracters) but for the rest...I think he'll remember this for the rest of his life. He also was the one pointing out it was like the Titanic, as the son of the city founder tries to rescue the children of the undercity and they are stuck when they run into a closed gate when trying to escape the rising water.
And when going back outside again he said 'he really had to adapt to all the colours' again :) Ans it's not even summer yet, so outside the Mustsee theater it was mostly grey with hardly any sun, just clouds.
Maria is the one who makes the son wonder about the underworld below his city, and what I also found intrigueing was the fact that there were nipples visible sometimes (playfull, jumping lil ladies) and when Maria (above) is turned into the robot she also shakes her hips like Shakira :) and wears hardly any cloths or a bra. The roaring 20's idd! It's good to see how the actresses looked, au naturel bodies and weird 20's make-up. I reckon they are all German as Lang was German too. After worldwarII the centre of the world changed though, and with all artists fled to US we, Europe, lost our leading role in e.g. art.

I think this movie is idd pure art, sometimes a litle too much preaching (7 sins) but over all: very good.
The mad professor, who invented Metroplis for the founder, creates his utter-Machine-Human and in the end captures Maria to transfer her soul into it.
She then, as a robot looking exactly like her, lures the workers (in a frivolous dancing scene) to come with her and destroy the machines below. But then the city floods and she's a real evil witch who gets burned.

Ginger Art - Redheads are beautiful

2010-03-26T14:02:00.002+01:00

Red-On-Red by MeRy/Melanie Rijkers www.MeRy.nl/rood | BOOK INFO

iamsterdam

2010-03-10T23:21:00.019+01:00

check out my latest Polaroid photos on Polanoid.net & Flickr.com

...went to the Dam for a photoshoot for Holland's Next Top Model of Colour on February 27 2010 when the half final took place

here some backstage photos

Photo Auction for Haiti: over 36000 euro

2010-03-04T00:02:00.014+01:00

Over 36000 euros was bid & won in the Photoq Haiti auction, all profit went to the orphanage in Haiti run by Dutch people.
I am proud my photo with Amiso & Jermaine of my series & photobook PURE. Proud young (teen)mothers was sold for 390 euro. I hope our contribution helps Haitians and the orphanage thanx Photoq/Edie Peters!

De meest recente fotoveiling van PhotoQ heeft een opbrengst van 36.181 euro gehaald en is daarmee wat de organisatoren betreft een enorm succes geworden. Het hele bedrag wordt gestort op de rekening van het weeshuis in Haiti dat aan het begin door de organisatoren van de veiling als bestemming is vastgesteld.

Ik heb mijn steentje bij mogen dragen met een foto uit de serie PUUR. Trotse tienermoeders, de foto van Amiso & Jermaine bracht 390 euro op :)

Meer via PhotoQ.nl

Original

2010-02-22T13:37:00.014+01:00

Wesley's nieuwe cd en de onze, sinds © 2003

Dutch new idol and popstars winner Wesley's first cd cover looks a remarkable lot like our (photo)cd covers...

I love Polaroid

2010-02-17T00:09:00.021+01:00

Lighthouse, Breda the Netherlands

Polaroid. It's been over 20 years since I've used my Polaroid Image Camera. In fact, I think one of the last pictures we took with it was a portrait of the two of us in Hans' parents backyard, sitting on a bench, all young and beautiful ;)

As a matter of fact: probably someone else took it, most likely his sister or brother, as we are both in it. Anyway, when Hans bought me my first SLR camera (a Pentax) the Polaroid Image Cam just came with it in the suitcase. But being students et all we never really used it much, as the instant film was too expensive.

When cleaning up the attic last week we stumbled upon the aluminium suitcase again, the Pentax was gone (sold? broken?) but the Polaroid was still there. Hm. I wonder if it still works. Then the search for new instant film started. The last operating Polaroid plant was in... Enschede, Holland! Yes, in my own country and never before I realised that to the full. But now I needed film.

The Enschede plant was closed down in 2008, but since 365 days ago the Impossible Project tries to loose the 'Im' and wants to make new Polaroid films 'possible' again, as the last stock of Enschede is now expired and sold out mostly. Via Twitter people mentioned Polapremium where you can buy last of the Enschede films. The deal was done in 5 days orso, order & delivery so it's a good (last?) seller of Polaroid films.

I remember us @ One Hour Superphoto (1993-1995) using Fuji Instant Film, which is of far better quality really. We used it to make passport pictures, the colours were really great! Not like my magenta city scapes, oops. Today we went for a citywalk and I had forgotten that best developing temps are above 13C...so the Polaroids are a bit too purple...

But hey, for a first timer I am still proud of my Image camera and the photos, happy that we saved it so many moves, and never threw it out. So now it´s waiting for more Polapics 2010 ocassions :) so I can create some more. I just love watching the photo come up.

It's almost magic. Like when you are working in the dark room and the developing picture is appearing slowly in front of your eyes. This is the magic of photography. Pity we've lost it now with all digital stuff, though now I am more than happy to work with it. But this instant photography...it's kind of romantic. And I love it.

Happy Valentine

2010-02-14T14:26:00.016+01:00

Kielegat's Carnival's couple still in love after 40 years.

In Breda we celebrate Carnival too. Though it's not so HOT like in Brazil and we don't dance the samba, but we do dress up and sing, dance and drink too...it's one big party for the people, with the big parade in our town's centre tomorrow.

The photo above is one of 6 portraits for the Kontklopper, the Carnival's newspaper of Breda. They've asked me to do "love" portraits, so I chose for a red background, as RED IS THE COLOUR OF LOVE. The couples are dressed up, like they are with Carnival.

The woman of this couple met her guy dressed like a bride, and now they'll get married soon (March 2010).

So really
LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH CARNIVAL :)

Architecture Photography

2010-02-11T21:40:00.020+01:00

Sagrada Familia, famous Catalonian (Spanish) church in Barcelona, by architect Antonio Gaudi

I just love buildings. And people. To me a good architecture photoseries also has people in it every once in a while. People inhabit the building, use it, live in it. Change it. They leave traces behind, which I try to collect in my Traces Of Silence series.

But finally I've also made a webpage for my commissioned architecture photography and just put online. Not too fancy, but "living" images, as I want to prove that an image of a building can be more than the usual commercial perfect photo. I want traces of people visible in it. And lucky for me, architects do agree and book me for different architecture photography now.

Sometimes I am asked to do a series about buildings being demolished , before & after pictures. I am asked to make a photobooks too, which by using Blurb is easy and afordable. No fancy & big advertising budget necessary, just good photos will do.

Geeren-Zuid, Traces Of Silence

Photoseries made in the summer of 2009, when over a 100 houses were demolished to make room for new and modern housing for Singelveste Alleewonen Corp. from Breda. The photobook is OUT NOW and can be previewed & ordered worldwide.

I make a lot of photobooks, even did another one about the same houses, and this book shows only my crossed E6 technique pictures in vivid colors of Kodak chrome (slide) film. Just love to use analog photography now and then.

It all started in 1994-1995 when I was still studying at the Academie of High Arts the St. Joost in Breda. I was curious about the Schilderswijk in Den Haag/the Hague and made my first urban exploring type images.
Schilderswijk, Den Haag, 1994-1995

The abandoned ball is the symbol of the people who had to leave their houses and move, as the old buildings were torn down to make room for new, modern housing.

I discovered during this period that I am indeed a documentary photographer, who's not just covering a (news)story, but wants to personalize the images, make fine art portraits of the people who are in my photograph. I never stopped doing this kind of photography, and still love to go to empty buildings
and abandoned places and just wander around. "Breda, my city" Breda Photo 2003, first ever publication (small photobook B&W printed by Salsedo drukkerij Breda)

I love Poladroid

2010-02-09T12:46:00.007+01:00

my best friends and me in a mobile phone image now turned into an oldfashioned Polaroid picture by using Poladroid

-shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid pciture!-

the world's...gone??

2010-02-06T14:35:00.003+01:00

View from my studio, 6 February 2 am, Breda, the Netherlands

urban exploring & more

2010-02-05T12:19:00.011+01:00

30 January 2010, more snow in NL

Last weekend of January we again had snow in Breda. We wanted to organize a workshop Urban Exploring Photography, so were hoping for the best. Lucky for us the sow stopped and a beautiful day emerged. It was a good day for urbexing in the end! Hope al our students had fun, if your interested in learning about digital photography in NL, check out this PDF file with all possibilities.

White was our Belcrum neighbourhood:

Movement of the Legendary Movie Orchestra

2010-01-25T12:37:00.009+01:00

Het Legendarische Filmorkest kwam gisteren bij me op bezoek :)

Yesterday I made a perfect series of musicians with their instruments. It was a great day, and all models were so cooperative, THANXXX guys! More photos coming soon @ MeRy.com

Photo auction for Haiti

2010-01-22T01:17:00.011+01:00

MeRy's PUUR. Amiso & Jermaine gaan mee in de fotoveiling van Photoq met de opbrengst voor Haïti!

Hier kunt u bieden op deze foto en op nog veel meer mooie en bijzondere foto's: Fotoveiling PhotoQ.nl

Please buy our artwork for Haïti. Dutch photographers have donated their most beautiful en precious work for Haïte here: Art Photo Auction PhotoQ.nl The above work is Amiso (17) and her son Jermaine, from my series PURE. Proud teenmothers.

More PURE. photo artwork available via MeRy.exto.org

And more snow... :)

2010-01-06T17:11:00.008+01:00

last week we even had more snow...view from our bedroom window

2 January 2010: our street is white again

just love the sun shining on winter's days...

me in the park with our son Pim in the back

More snow in NL :)

2009-12-19T17:10:00.008+01:00

18 December, -6 degrees Celsius in the Netherlands. Cartracks near our studio.

View of my window on the morning of 17 December, I love waking up and the world is white :)

view from our studio to Westerparklaan both ways

Breda, "Teletubby Hill" = fun!

Let it snow!

2009-12-17T12:30:00.009+01:00

After a very good, dry & warm summer, today, on my husband Hans' birthday, there's snow again in NL :) Last year we had a good period of cold weather as well, the kids could skate once ice etc. Never thought this year we would have a white period as well! :)

I just love the texture of snow, it covers the dark, ugly world and makes i a bright new, light one. Since ever I had my own camera, I've been doing winter landscapes, with a twist.
Like the auto tracks, seen from the appartmentbuilding where I lived when I was studying photography @ the St. Joost Art Academy. I lived in Breda-Noord, de Geeren, and the scenery just outside the block was: flat. Landscapes of farmers, grass meadows with cows (in summer) and narrow roads, real countryside, right there on my doorstep.
Now I live closer to the citycentre, and yeah, I do miss the views, the wide scapes and space, as the city is crowded and poluted.
Snow white landscape, Breda, the Netherlands. Photo taken with my old Pentax camera and Tri-X Kodak film. Those were the days!

Crossing Geeren-Zuid

2009-12-01T23:58:00.006+01:00

Crossing Geere...

Urban Exploring us...

By www.MeRy.com

Book Preview

New photobook uploaded: Crossing Geeren-Zuid, stills in 'urban exploring' style which I call Traces Of Silence... have a peak here, preview available & worldwide shipping :)

It was such fun to do a shoot with my F100 Nikon again, I just love the old technique of crossing E6 film, what vivid colors and what nice structure!

World Aids Day

2009-12-01T11:45:00.004+01:00

Dec. 1, World Aids Day...in 2005 my photo "River of Blood, River of Life" was auctioned for an orphanage in Suriname and today Twitter turns all #red tweets RED :) STOP AIDS NOW

@joinred It’s World AIDS Day. Turn Twitter RED -literally! Use #red or #laceupsavelives & turn tweets the color red. ONE COLOR UNITES US

Eigenzinnige en creatieve trouwreportage - fotograaf Hans van Nunen

2009-11-24T11:32:00.008+01:00

Wedding Photog...

By Hans van Nunen/Art...

Book Preview

My husband and fellow photographer Hans van Nunen of Artstudio23 makes beautiful and obstinate wedding reportages, check out this new, most creative portfolio wedding album of his latest work.

Looking for a nice present?

2009-11-21T15:08:00.030+01:00

www.blurb.com/user/store/MeRy71 ...why not buy a reasonable priced photobook?? I've published a number of photobooks with Blurb.com, they're all printed on Premium Paper, online preview,
shipping worldwide

80 pages of fun, over 99 brides Trashed their weddingdresses on 09-09-09 @ the Scheveningen Beach in the Netherlands. Most recent publication about it: www.Boston.com/bigpicture :) we hit #8 in this line-up of "big pictures on the shoreline" November 2009.

Portfolio of my combined photos, old street card photos merge into one new image with close-ups of Dutch flowers.

Tantetje (Auntie) is a portrait of the Dutch house of a 100 year old lady of Breda, the Netherlands.

There's one book that's not available tru Blurb: PURE. Proud young mothers my photobook about young mothers age 16-22, posing nude, pregant or with their baby...they chose LIFE Preview HERE
If you wish I'll send the translation of the texts too -the stories of 9 of the women and facts & figures of teenage pregnancy in the Netherlans- without any extra charge, just leave me a message!

November

2009-11-08T23:51:00.014+01:00

Fall, Breda, the Netherlands

The last leafs fell down from the trees...now it's not so colorfull outside anymore, but kinda dark and grey...boring? I dunno. Maybe. I like the sun, but I also like the night. It's the cold I can't stand haha ;)
But so far so good, we haven't had any really bad bad days yet, and snow & ice aren't in NL untill Jan/Feb most likely. No white Xmas for us, that hasn't happen in years.

We do have some Christmas weddings this December, and at the moment I am very busy with the natural redhead shoots. I like portraits. I like people. I like photography. Tho abandoned places are cool too, I just love to explore an abandoned area for 'Traces Of Silence'. Often it's a portrait too, of the people who lived or worked in that area or building...without seeing them in the picture.

If you are looking for a photobook about urban exploring: have a look HERE at my Traces Of Silence book, available worldwide tru Blurb. Online preview available. Excellent Christmas gift. Cadeau tip!

Natural Redheads

2009-10-25T23:46:00.032+01:00

Natural redhead Joep posing au naturel :)

At the moment I am busy with a lot of photoshoots with natural redheads, as I am doing a 3rd (and final?) study of making portraits of people with ginger hair. Check MeRy.nl/rood, for more info about this art project.

It started with helping out painter and organisor Bart Rouwenhorst with his Redheadday in 2007, as I did some promotional/publicity shots and I worked on the project Red-On-Red, during the Roodharigendag (Redheadday). Red-On-Red portraits are also available as a photobook.

In 2008 my husband and fellow photographer Hans van Nunen of our studio Artstudio23 Artstudio23 in Breda, the Netherlands, worked with me on the project Medusa, which also available as a book. As Blurb is shipping worldwide, I reckon these books make an excellent and affordable Christmas gifts :)

This year I was too busy to work during the Redheadday, so at the moment I have people coming to the studio. It actually works 10 times better, more relaxed and faster. Yes, I did 100 women in 2 hours in 2007, but...at this moment we can chat a bit more model-to-photographer and we have less stressed photoshoots than during the redheaddays. So it works for the best this way!

Results (again a photobook) will be available in spring 2010.

Paying to exhibit my work???

2009-10-14T19:31:00.005+02:00

What????????????

The Museum of the Americas and CRISOLART Galleries will organize an extraordinary art show at the gallery space in the hearth of the beautiful city of BARCELONA. An independent Juror will select the "Best in Show" artwork with a cash prize of 3.000 euros (APPROX. $4,500.00 US dollars).
The Juror may also select Honorary Mentions (Certificates)

TERMS OF PARTICIPATION:

1. ARTWORKS: Only dimensions with a maximum width of 80 cm. (32 inches) frame included and of reasonable height.

2. THEME and MEDIA: Theme and media are free and include textile art, photography, digital, art, collage, etc. We will NOT accept reproduction or giclees.

3. DATE: Opening will take place on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 from 6 PM to 10 PM with a cocktail reception. Exhibition will end on JANUARY 10, 2010.
Christmas is high season in Barcelona and the city is crowded with thousands of visitors from Spain and other countries. If you plan to travel be aware that most hotels will be full. Please make the reservations with plenty of time.

4. CATALOG: Submission of catalog will close on November 5, 2009. Participants must submit photos of artworks with title, media and size on time.

5. SALES: participants must send the NET price for their artworks which the gallery will add a very reasonable commission.

6. CONTRIBUTION:
ARTISTS PARTICIPATING AT THE OCTOBER 2009 SHOW AT THE CARROUSEL DU LOUVRE will be subject to special consideration. An informative email was sent on October 12. Please refer to that message.

Other artists:
There is a contribution per work of $380.00 dollars (280 euros for European residents). Payments can be made by check to the Museum, bank transfer (dollars or euros) or credit card. DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION IS NOVEMBER 5, 2009.
The Museum may close the registration at the moment the gallery is full to capacity.

7. SHIPPING:
Residents in Europe and Asia must send the works, ready to hang, directly to the gallery before DECEMBER 15.
Artists living in USA, Canada and Latin America can send the works directly to the gallery or send them ROLLED UP to our office in Texas BEFORE NOVEMBER 10. Stretchers will be mounted in Barcelona at no additional cost.

Please let us know of any questions before sending any contribution.

Best regards,

Dr. Raul M. Oyuela, Director Alexander Yaya Moreno, Director
MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS CRISOLART GALLERIES
2500 NW 79 AVE #104 - Doral, FL 33122 Mallorca, 284 - 08037 Barcelona, Spain
Tel. 305.599.8089 - Americasmuseum@aol.com
www.museumamericas.org

Hell no am gonna participate...they should pay the artist for exhibiting the work, wtf is this crap??? Can't believe they sent this to me...

Hey...I might as well organise a huge exhibition myself, charging 380 euro per work from other artists who want to participate! :p tsssssssssss unbelievable

Now available: final version of my photobook 09-09-09 99 brides Trash the Dress!

2009-10-11T21:02:00.014+02:00

Trash The Dres...

99 brides "trashed...

By MeRy/Melanie Rijke...

Book Preview

Available worldwide: the photobook of the mass Trash the Dress by photographer MeRy (Melanie Rijkers) on 09-09-09. Over 99 brides trashing their wedding dresses for an artistic shoot by Artstudio23 Breda on the beach of Scheveningen.

U can order the book HERE or preview HERE or use Blurb.com
search for MeRy71 :) there's more photos on Hyves as well

Beautiful Valerie

2009-10-07T21:50:00.010+02:00

Lovely Valerie posing for me in postpop art style

I met Valerie for another project, about the integration of eldery people. She was one of the grandchildren who listened to a story told by a grandparent. I did a series of portraits for the brochure and also the portraits were printed big size on the bus which shows the film shot from them telling/listening to each other.

Starnow casting calls - crew wanted

2009-10-05T09:40:00.003+02:00

Music Fashion Photographer required

Music Fashion Photographer required for a photoshoot. You must have access to locations or studio for the shoot and have an eye for taking breath taking shots for a full International press release. Please contact for further details.

Location: London, United Kingdom
Payment details: no pay
Any gender, aged 18 to 99

What's wrong with the world?? Before the big crisis hit I was able to get some reasonably paid jobs in UK, nowadays I only get those kind of requests in my mailbox. What 'NO PAY'??????? You must be a breathtaking photographer, creating images for a worldwide pressrealease (which normally will pay you some extra money fot the credits) but NO PAY??? WTF??

I quit.

Photobook 09-09-09 published

2009-09-21T10:48:00.009+02:00

Hi, am so proud: on 20-09-2009 (we put the day before the month in NL) I managed to publish the photobook about our big event on 09-09-09: Trash The Dress with over 99 brides in the Northsea, Scheveningen, the Netherlands. U can order the book HERE or preview HERE or use Blurb.com
search for MeRy71 :) there's more photos on Hyves as well

99 brides trashed their wedding dress on 09-09-09 Scheveningen Beach, the Netherlands

2009-09-10T00:55:00.008+02:00

www.trashthedress.nl
(will have the album online soon here) xM

Red! already Honorable Mention IPA 2009

2009-08-13T16:20:00.008+02:00

Red-On-Red IPA 2009 award???

Hey this is so funny, nowadays they keep sending you e-mails when your photo has passed another round while judging it @ the IPA 2009 (International Photography Awards, by the Lucy Foundation) My portraits of natural redheads dressed in red (Red-On-Red) has passed the 2nd round and now has entered the final and last round!! Fingers crossed everyone!! ...let's hope the jury finds it ok to be a prizewinner :) :) :)

If you want to know more about my series check www.mery.nl/rood

You can order the book Red-On-Red HERE
and the photobook of Medusa (with fellow photographer Hans van Nunen, shot @ the redheadday 2008) HERE.

Hello Melanie Rijkers,

Congratulations. Your entry 'Red!' has advanced through the second round and is now in the third and final round of the jurying process. Your entry is now an official Honorable Mention of the 2009 International Photography Awards.
In addition, your entry is now competing for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place title. All winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 18th.
Congratulations again. Stay Tuned and thank you for participating in the 2009 International Photography Awards.

Sincerely,

International Photography Awards

No more photos

2009-07-10T12:12:00.014+02:00

No more photography on latest cd-covers

Last week it suddenly hit me when I was re-organising my mp3's: the albums I am listening to at the moment are without any photography on the cover. Placebo used to have weird body/people photography and ofcourse 'our' Anton (Corbijn) was the house photographer of Depeche Mode (and many more bands like e.g. U2) Corbijn always made arty pictures of what once was 'just a synthesizer popband' but nowadays is the best live "oldy" act ever ;)

(Seen them in Rotterdam a few years ago, pics HERE )
Also the Pet Shop Boys recently stated in a Dutch TV-guide "That they never are out of fashion". Conclusion: Album cover photography is?? (out of fashion) :S

Dark-ness

2009-07-09T18:03:00.010+02:00

Door, Sommelsdijk, Zeeland, June 22, 2009

Two weeks ago I returned to the lovely village Sommelsdijk, to finish my series for the Woningbouw Vereniging's newest buildings. Social housing but with flair. They ordered a series on canvas, and want to add summer pics, to the winter ones I did half a year ago.

I like going back to places, see what's changed, or what's not. Like the demolition in Breda-Noord, I am definately gonna go back there in autumn, when the building starts. It's like the Peelland College in Deurne, my old secondary school. They moved from an old building after 40 years (!) to a brand new one, and I took photos of Traces Of Silence just before they started a new semester in December 2005. Now my old school is turned into the Alfrink College, also leaving an old, worn out building empty in Deurne, the Netherlands. (next book! :)

Order your copy here here (shipping worldwide!) or have a look at the first pages online here here

Now I only want the sun to come back, as it's summer here, but a rainy week s far. Last weeks were gordeous, and hopefully I can do some more 'bright blue sky' photos next week again :) Love, M

Black Beauty

2009-07-02T20:12:00.015+02:00

Black Beauty in the eveningsun @ the wedding of Landa & Colin :)

30 May was already a hot day (weekend) but now we really are getting temps above 30 degrees Celcius man! We in NL say: 'the mares fall of the roof' (coz of the heat) so tomorrow's wedding will eb a hot hot hot one. Lucky for me we start early, so I have good hope the reportage will be done by the time they all are sticky & sweaty ;)
Also due to the heat I can't work my 80 hours, it's just too hot. Am not killing myself in this heat, and try to work early mornings and late afternoons only. Tomorrow I can't avoid the heat of the middle of the day, but...on Saturday no jobs for me so I can finally relax.
As a photographer you hardly have a whole weekend off, as a lot of ppl want to come when they are free: weekends. Also my husband and I work a lot in the evening, at the moment he'd lecturing a photography course in our studio, so work work work. Yes, there is a crisis, and yes, ppl look for different ways to get (cheaper) photography, but we are busy as ever.
Digital photography also demands a lot of desktop time, retouching the files and convert them from RAW into Jpegs. Almost all our clients want photos on cd-rom, which we only deliver highest quality and retouched.
Empty houses - for Social housing company Singelveste/Alleewonen Breda (NL)

London Wedding pics online

2009-06-19T09:54:00.003+02:00

Finally Landa & Colin's wedding pics from London online here :)