Abandoned Vehicles: The Dutch Fine Art Photographer Jan shows the impact of age and the power of Mother Nature on cars and trucks abandoned in junkyards.
BY SEAN LEWYES
Amsterdam, The Netherlands –The Dutch photographer Jan Stel has a fascination for accentuating the glory of the past. His photographs detail derelict objects and places that were once the glory of their owners. One of his well-known photography projects examines what happens to abandoned vehicles in the woods. The photographs are a reminder of the passage of time and its consequences.
Many of the vehicles in Jan’s photographs were once treasures to their owners. One can imagine the owners driving their new cars through the street, waving at friends and family. However, over the years, these cars lost their glare because of usage and broken parts. Some have no tires, and others have broken apart with bits and pieces everywhere. Windows and windshields have also succumbed to the pressure of time and vandals.
Abandoned Vehicles: Lost Glory
The once smooth-running engines have been decimated by thieves who took pride in stripping them of their glorious past. In this graveyard, dilapidated vehicles are totems of the past. Abandoned in the junkyards and forests, these vehicles now have new lives. They serve as homes for rodents, insects, and plants that continue to struggle with what is left of their auto lives.
Despite the rundown nature of these abandoned vehicles, the beauty of their glorious past glared through the accumulated dirt and rust that enriched them with ageless patina. One of the photographs shows the dashboard of a luxurious car overtaken by spider webs. Another dashboard shows the magnificent past of a deluxe car with its beautiful red seats. Although the car has been in the woods for years, the red seats still show the brilliance of the past that captivated its owner. It is easy to imagine that the owner had a lot of fun driving around in this car. Even in its derelict state, the car still conveys its alluring essence.
Graveyard for Cars
The junkyard and forests where Jan went to take his photographs are a graveyard for cars. Everywhere in the junkyard are vehicles that have been overtaken by trees and straggled by time: trucks, luxury cars, classic cars, and cars that were the fastest in the world in their heyday. Many of these cars have fallen into bits and pieces while others have become one with nature. Trees grow, penetrating each part and tearing them apart with exceptional ease. That is the power of nature.
Jan Stel’s photographs tell stories about these autos that were once elegant but have fallen into disrepute due to age and time. Done in black and white and color photographs, Jan Stel’s photographs reveal the impact of the passage of time on all. One of the photographs has an abandoned Red Cross truck or military ambulance. In its primes, this truck was a transport for people with injuries. However, in this photograph, it is a relic of the past. After many years of stagnation, the truck has been overtaken by weeds, trees, and rodents. Branches reach out from the windows as if trying to touch the sky.
Jan Sel’s fascination with documenting places and things that have lost their glory and succumbed to the aftermath of time began about two decades ago. Since that time, he has traveled across the Netherlands and Europe, visiting unknown sites. The series on abandoned vehicles is just one of his many projects. A creative fine art photographer, Jan Sel’s photographs create his images using pure and natural light. He does not use flashlights or studio lamps. Therefore, his authentic working process takes time, patience, sensitivity, and excellent timing.
About the Artist
Born in 1970 in Purmerend, the Netherlands, Jan Stel taught himself photography. In his youth, he loved art and went about the suburbs of Amsterdam creating graffiti murals. At home, he made detailed drawings and realistic illustrations. The discovery of his father’s analog photo gear sparked his interest in photography and inspired him to develop his creative style.
Since that discovery, Jan has been creating exceptional fine art photographs that have been in museum and gallery exhibitions across the globe. In addition, his photographs have been published in The Daily Mail, De Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad, De Telegraaf, and many websites and blogs. Jan has won several important awards like the Sony World Photography Awards, International Color Awards, and the Epson Pano Awards. His work is part of many private and corporate collections. You can see more of Jan Stel’s projects and photographs on Behance.
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