Photographer 3
Abandoned Vehicles Regain Lost Glory in Photographs by Jan Stel
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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Joram Krol’s intimate Portraits are Captivating, Confrontational, and Revealing
Audience 2023, one of the intimate portraits by visionary photographer Joram Krol. Photo: Artist/Groninger Museum
Intimate Portraits by visionary photographer Joram Krol invites viewers to explore the depths of human emotion and identity.
BY SEAN LEYWES
Joram Krol, a visionary photographer hailing from Groningen, Netherlands, has carved a niche for himself in the area of black-and-white portraiture. His distinct style, characterized by confrontational yet deeply personal portraits, encapsulates the essence of his subjects and the spirit of his hometown. In his latest exhibition Can I Be Me, Krol presents a collection of 116 captivating and intimate portraits that offer a glimpse into his intriguing world.
Can I Be Me serves as a testament to Krol’s artistic prowess and unwavering dedication to his craft. Hosted at the esteemed Groninger Museum, this showcase offers visitors a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the photographer’s evocative world of portraiture. Featuring meticulously curated photographs, the exhibition invites viewers to explore the depths of human emotion and identity. From intimate close-ups to striking full-body shots, each portrait encapsulates a unique narrative. They invite viewers to ponder the complexities of the human experience.
About Joram Krol
Krol’s journey as a photographer commenced nearly a decade ago when he first laid hands on a camera. Since then, he has honed his craft, meticulously crafting a signature style that sets him apart in the industry. What distinguishes Krol’s approach is his ability to immerse himself in the lives of his subjects. He captures raw and unfiltered emotions with unparalleled authenticity.
Unlike traditional photographers, Krol eschews meticulous planning, opting instead to embrace spontaneity and freedom in his work. Whether he’s photographing locals in Groningen or collaborating on commissioned projects, Krol infuses each image with a piece of his soul. The result is a body of work that resonates deeply with viewers.
This exhibition is an opportunity to experience firsthand the masterful artistry of Joram Krol as he navigates the delicate interplay between light, shadow, and emotion. The intimate portraits highlight the photographer’s personal connection and help viewers discover the profound intimacy of Krol’s portraits. Each one is a testament to the deep connection forged between artist and subject.
Above all else, Krol’s portraits reveal a deep cultural exploration of Groningen. He shares this cultural experience by allowing visitors to gain insight into the vibrant culture and rich tapestry of life in Groningen, as seen through the eyes of one of its most celebrated photographers.
In a world saturated with imagery, Joram Krol stands out as a beacon of authenticity and creativity. Through his confrontational yet deeply empathetic approach to portraiture, Krol invites viewers to see beyond the surface and delve into the intricacies of the human soul. Don’t miss your chance to experience the transformative power of Krol’s photography at the Can I Be Me exhibition, now showing at the Groninger Museum.
Joram Krol’s Intimate Portraits
In a world saturated with imagery, Joram Krol stands out as a beacon of authenticity and creativity.
Can I Be Me, Please?
What do you think about Joram Krol’s intimate portraits?
Wildlife Photographer Finds Peace Photographing Squirrels After Surviving Genocide
Niki Colemont, a wildlife Photographer Finds Peace photographing red squirrels like this daredevil squirrel in flight
Squirrels are perhaps some of the most dramatic creatures you can see around. They can fly, jump, climb, and tease you too. Yes, they are also very mischievous and unpredictable. Those nuanced characteristics captivated wildlife photographer Niki Colemont.
Colemont is a 34-year-old wildlife photographer based in Belgium. He lives in a village called Diepenbeek. Colemont started photographing red squirrels about 5 years ago. While visiting his girlfriend’s grandmother, saw a bird diligently feeding and caring for its chicks. He was intrigued by the devotion of the mother bird’s action. Then, a light bulb went off. He wondered what it would be like to photograph and document suck wildlife experience. That opened the door to a whole new experience of adventure in the wild.
When Colemont turned 30, he bought himself a sigma 150 to 600mm telelens. He also bought a stealth gear square hide tent to help him get closer to wild animals. “Buying these things was my big dream,” he said. Armed with all his camera and gears, the young wildlife photographer made his way into the woods.
One of Colemont’s favorite subjects to photograph is squirrels. Many of the squirrels in his photographers live in his girlfriend’s grandmother’s gardens, while others are from different locations he visits to take pictures.
Colemont is a self-taught photographer. He acquired his knowledge through trial and error. Although not a formally trained photographer, his photography skills are outstanding. This is evident in his many photographs of red squirrels.
Colemont’s photographs brilliantly capture the red squirrels in their most dramatic and intimate moments. In one photo, he captures a squirrel flying through space with an acorn in its mouth. With ears raised and paws wide open, the squirrel appears to be saying, “I am out of here.”
Daredevil Red Squirrels
The impressive daredevil-like nature of the red squirrels is revealed in another picture where a red squirrel in flight tries to catch a tree branch that seems too far to reach. This is obviously a desperate attempt by this intrepid squirrel to impress a female. Like many guys trying to impress a girl, he seems to have bitten off more than he could chew. Fear is visible in his bulging eyes. Will he make it? With its bushy tail and body tilted outward, the squirrel’s aerodynamic performance seems to suggest that he made it.
Colemont’s recent photographs of red squirrels show their flamboyance, courage, and acrobatic nature. Many are captured flying through the air carrying acorns in their mouth while others dash through the grass as if chasing their own shadows. But not all the squirrels in Colemont’s photographs are restless, agile, and acrobatic. Some are just outright mischievous and self-absorbing.
Squirrels Admire Themselves in Water
His series on squirrels looking in water as if looking in a mirror shows that squirrels, like humans, have a fascination for their own looks. In one photograph, a squirrel looks over a tree trunk it is standing on to admire its own reflection. There is an intense curiosity on its face as if asking, “Is that another squirrel or me?” Another picture features a squirrel hanging upside from a tree branch to look at itself in the water. This is one picture in the series with an emphasis on dramatic curiosity.
Colemont’s pictures of squirrels provide enough proof that squirrels are extravagant. The picture of a squirrel standing on the edge of a pond looking at itself in the water is bewitching. In its model-like pose, the showboat squirrel appears to be saying “looking good.” Its beautiful bushy tail and clean fur are clearly reasons to be sassy.
Like many of the squirrels in his photographs, Colemont is a cheerful, lively, and jolly good fellow. He appears a happy young man in many of his personal photographs across the web. His Instagram profile photo, for instance, shows him smiling. There is also that hilarious picture of a squirrel jumping over his head. Even Colemont cannot stop laughing at the rather bold squirrel. It is also easy to conclude that Colemont is a side-splitting fellow. His photographs of squirrels taken in environments he staged for photographing say a lot about the photographer himself. It is amusing to see squirrels interacting with various objects. While some are kissing flowers, others are stealing peanuts, eating Nutella, or fussing with plastic dinosaurs. There is even one carrying a syringe. “Vaccine anyone,” it seems to say.
Childhood Trauma
However, joyful as Colemont may appear, he carries within him a deep scare of a traumatic past. Deep within, this young wildlife photographer has gone through some trying times that would break even the strongest of men.
Niki Colemont was born in Rwanda in 1986. Four years after his birth, Rwanda descended into the bloodiest civil war that later led to a genocide. The Rwandan Genocide took the lives of over 700,000 people, including Colemont’s father. The catastrophe of the Rwandan Genocide is well-documented by journalists, and it inspired Hotel Rwanda.
Colemont began experiencing trauma at a very young age. His mother died giving birth to him. After the death of his father, Colemont’s aunt began taking care of him and his sister. At the height of the civil war, 4-year-old Colemont and his 9-year-old-sister were taken to an orphanage by their aunt for adoption. Eventually, they made it to Belgium as refugees. For many years, the two were happy in their new home. Sadly, Colemont’s sister died in 2019. She was just 38 years old. Her death rekindled past trauma and grief in Colemont. His sister’s death was like losing an important piece of himself. Although he continues to miss his sisters, he tries to find solace in photography.
Finding Peace: Wildlife Photographer Finds Peace
Beyond Colemont’s love of photography, he also finds peace photographing squirrels. At his young age, the wildlife photographer has experienced trauma in a way many people have not. Nonetheless, he continues to find bright spots in life. It is fitting that photographing the joyful red squirrels would be therapeutic.
You can see more of Niki Colemont’s photographs on Instagram and Facebook
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