woensdag 30 december 2009

Judging the Irish Professional Photoraphers Association

Travelling to Ireland on the 20th of december........ what a travel.
Holland was covered with about 40 cm of snow, and the highways were extremely slippery.
With a speed of about 40 km an hour it took me over 3 hours to get to the airport. Than of course the flight was delayed.
Long story.... after almost 12 hours I was happy to arrive alive and well in Irelands Dublin Airport.
On the 21 rst of december I was Judging the IPPA Awards.
Together with Dennis Highlander I was invited to do the judging of this years best imaging of the Irish professional photography.
A full day of Judging, fantastic discussions, amazing photography had a final result of all category-winners and a overal winning set of 4 images.
Hosted by the IPPA, and a one more day stay with my friend Vincent O’Byrne,
Made this event to another warm memory in a wintery couple of days.
Happy Chrismas and a happy new year yes.

Henk

donderdag 17 december 2009

christmas wish


Dear all

We want to wish you all a very special christmas together with your family and all the ones you love.
Every year we make a special card with our family and we want to bring a message....
In november we already discuss with our girls what it should be this year.
Of course it is also a message for ourselfs.
The days are flying by and sometimes you might forget what is in the minds of someone else.
So we are going to try first of all in our own family to be more understanding for each others thoughts and than of course for more other people around us.

We hope it will encourage you all.

Crazy Faces Project Wijchen


Crazy Faces Project Wijchen

Why ?
Is that necessary ?
Great idea !

The comments fly around me when I get the idea.
For a long time I make pictures like crazy faces at the end of a photo shoot.
Leave with a good feeling and a smile.
That's important after finishing work.
The idea of influence people while they are shopping in the center of Wijchen with a wink, and a smile i had for a long time.
By "art in the center" could now be carried the idea further.
Under the theme: "I take my sport seriously"
All Presidents | owners of sports clubs and gyms were approached.
Overwhelming supply of mad faces Presidents | owners.
The one was a little more reserved than the other in our studio.
We started with just a face, were soon taken attributes that had to do with their sport.
And see the result.
Wijchen is (as far as I know) the first who dares to use unpolished crazy faces to create an atmosphere that a good feeling among people should bring.
Shopping with a smile and not stress.
Just stop and realize that life is over there ..
Even still, pull yourself as a funny face and walk in and smile.

Henk van Kooten

Look at our website www.henkvankooten.com in the portfolio art and design!
In here you can see the individual portraits.
You can also visit our webshop for great christmasgifts if your passion is photography........

dinsdag 1 december 2009

Missing leg...


Missing Leg

Playing soccer he broke his leg at the age of 14.
That is how the cancer was discovered.
A pretty boy.
Good looking.
No matter with or without leg.
It did not change his beauty.
Most people are shocked seeing this ‘joking’
With a terrible thing.
But it is how it also survives the negatives.
It is also showing that the beauty-principles of the industries can
Be shown as a stupidity.
Beauty is what makes you you.
It is a missing leg yes, so what?
It is not missing fun in life anymore.
That is how we got to our second image.
Where the first was a part of the project: Heroes of the Hospital
The second and third are of the family shoot.
What I did was a stupid faces picture and showed everybody how they look like with one leg.
It is a family picture to have and cherish, for it show that we al are the same, no matter what we miss.
It doesn’t take away the pain, it doesn’t cover-up.
It just shows beauty in itself.
You are what you is.... to speak in Frank Zappa’s words.


Henk

dinsdag 24 november 2009

Lecture Kevin Wilson: Light or Illuminate Dutch School of Photography, Wijchen, november 23rd 2009


Lecture Kevin Wilson: Light or Illuminate
Dutch School of Photography, Wijchen, november 23rd 2009


The second evening lecture in our school was a huge succes.
In preparation it was mentioned a wedding lecture and the use of available light.
The use of reflectors included.
Kevin got his fellowship in Weddingphotography in both important institutes in England: the BIPP and the MPA.
The evening started at 19.00 with introducing the Sponsors.
Explaining the importance of the sponsors and the photographers working together.
Kevin started his evening talk with a slideshow about his work.
A phantastic line-up of images showing his diversity of using available light.
Not just classical, but the combination of a rather journalistic combination with reportage wedding. Also styling the ways of posing and composing the images.
Cropping lots of his images is already a thoughtproces before taking the image.
Kevin than strated to explain his way of preparation and getting in contact with his weddingcouples.
A proces of 18 months like he was saying.
His way of working is as a concept so there is no way of making things go wrong.
Looking at the location with his weddingcouple, looking for the best places to go etc
Also the way of thinking: “I take five images from a full size weddingdress, so people can show how beautyfull it was.
Also some questions came up, like the way of selling.
In here you see cultural differences with how is worked in the Netherlands.
Looking at a budget first, go for a 60 images wedding album, that ends up in a album of about 100-120 pictures.
In Holland that is seen as forcing people to buy more. While it is in fact not the way Kevin wanted it to look like.
In his opinion people need to see the images, to realise they need more images to tell the story and are open to extend the budget.

Kevin talked very intens about this concept.
He also takes a risk by choosing for an atmosphere instead of a killing flash.
Long exposures that might give even an unsharp result, instead of a pinsharp no atmosphere image.

During the half hour break everybody could walk around and see the new fuji 3d digital camera, the latest Eizo 24inch screen, talk with Nik Software and see prints of Kevin on papers of Innova and Epson.

After the break Kevin started with a slideshow about a bride moving her veil.
Al moving images with huge impact.
That is how art involves into weddingphotography.

Kevin shows lots of images to explain his way of using light and reflectors.
Very interesting is his way of bouncing the light into a dark room, where the light is bounced again to the bride, so there is detail where there is no detail without this bouncing light.
Amazing that it looks so natural in the endresult.
He shows his fellowship images more and more, explaining his way of lighting.
The importance to connect also with other people than the weddingcouple,. Especially the mother of the bride.

Kevin was also very entertaning in the way he showed and demonstrated the excersise of a weddingcouple.
How to make a good figure and posing.

Kevin showed his emotion in weddingphotography.
Also his feeling of romance and expressing love.
Not just a classical feeling, but also a modern taste!
As Kevin says: “If they see the images, they mostly start to cry. And if not, I am disappointed”.

Again this was a different way to teach photography.
Our goal is to teach and not to have an egoshow.
Kevin completely succeeded in this.

To pick out the points to use in your own way of working, creating a different awareness, is what triggers new photography.

Next evening-lecture will be : monday 18th of january 2010.
Venue will be the studio of Photal, Wijchen. Close to our school.
It will be a talk and demonstration with top-choreographer of Introdans
Adriaan Luteijn (see: http://www.adriaanluteijn.com and http://www.introdans.nl )
The theme will be about bodylanguage. Connecting photography to the use and language of dance.
Be prepared that you will be activated and join ‘movements’ aswell.

Title:
Choreographer Meets Photographer.
More will come soon.
Limited places up to 50.
Based on first come you can make reservations already.
Be in time for already lots of people are signing up.


Henk van Kooten

Lecture Stichting Statief, school for photography Utrecht, Netherlands November 19th 2009-11-21

Lecture Stichting Statief, school for photography Utrecht, Netherlands
November 19th 2009-11-21

A talk of two hours in the building of Stichting Statief in the centre of Utrecht.
Always difficult to drive up in that city.
For me a great thing to do, for I can talk in my own language.
Makes it easier to joke and easier to make my points.
St Statief has always great students.
Very eager to learn and asking loads of questions.
I think there were about 50 students.
My talk was based on the differences in imaging of portraiture in
- art
- advertising/fashion
- normal photoshoot

I translated that in ’the language of the face’

Showing slides of different expressions, differences in usage.
The purity that is there to sell a product
The purity that is there because it just is as it is

Very intersting to refelct yourself and your pre interpretated way of looking
Towards differnt ways of portraiture.

The smile as a play
The smile that makes sales in portraiture
The smile that satifies the commercial look and advertising
Sometimes we make the cliche as a standard for both

To make the cliche as a leading part to different imaging
Or the cliche that is used for the need to survive?


Just think and realise......

Henk van Kooten

Lecture Abbots Langley 17th of november 2009-11-21

Lecture Abbots Langley 17th of november 2009-11-21
Meeting Central Region MPA (Master Photographers Association)

Again in England doing a lecture about Baby-Pregnancy photography.
My scedule was about:

- the importance of this market
the biggest group of customers is babies and young families
the purest way of photography

- how to market this photography
using active and passive marketing
using exhibitions
using crossmarketing

- charity
not about money but about a good feeling
to give is always good

- networking
exhibitions and crossmarketing create a new group of contacts.

- building blocks to imaging
a short version of my latest book about how imaging and your own imagination
result into a perfect match between customer and photographer (photographic reflections)

- shortlisting to create the idea of imaging of pregnancy and babies
pregnancy- power, huge belly, emotions, together, tenderness, being a woman,
insecure, fear
baby- dependent, lonley, lost, shit, pis, protection, pure
Aktion- tri-angles, carry on hands, embracing, touching, feel, dream, nude

- workflow
from start to finsh
from photoshoot to photoshop

- concepts
how to make and use concepts
also to see on my webshop
i am working on new concepts and will film and show how.
The concepts will be on the website-shop of me and can be downloaded for just a small amount of money.
Important message: play with the concepts, play with light, find your own photography. Your own style and identity.

Of course i showed several slideshows to show how things work in my studio.
It was a great meeting.
The hospitality was superb.
David Macdonald, Lan Dance, Hossain Mahdavi and more, thank you!


Henk van Kooten

dinsdag 27 oktober 2009

Eveninglecture bij Kevin Wilson 23 November


We have only 8 places left for the evening lecture with Kevin Wilson.
Sponsors that evening are;

zaterdag 24 oktober 2009

My children....


MyKids

The sandwich of a genetic mixture

Whenever I look at them
They are beautyfull

Whatever they do wrong
I will always forgive them

Wherever they are
I will think of them

They create my emotions
They are my soul

They make me worry
They make me cry

It makes me alive
It makes me feel love

But beyond this romantic talk
It makes me responsable for them
It gives me the pressure to handle
And it controles my life

Still it is what I can love beyond everything.
To see them all together, walking next to eachother.
I just cannot believe this has grown out the little seed and egg of
Christina and me..............
And so life goes on, till we die and they grow up and will have children.
Than they will die and life goes on again.
So where does it stop, where do we go, what is the meaning of this?

No answers, just a surprise of the question itself.
No answers, just the amazing, wondering, the pain, the good, the bad.
Most of all the sence of life itself.

Henk

dinsdag 20 oktober 2009

Cross Marketing




Cross-marketing

It is crisis time and everrybody needs to be carefull how to market the business.
Therefore it is good to share ideas of how to make things work.
One thing I used starting up my studio in 1997, was based on cross-marketing.
Specially now it is important to know everybody, no matter what kind of business, is looking at the same problems.
So why not help each other. Looking for partnership.
Looking for this it is important to look at a share interest. Or at least the opening to look for a common interest. Even if it means something that you could create even.
Main rules:
- same kind of customers (pricerange, status, appearance)
- profitable for both
- same drive and ambition
- same click
- make it work for at least one month

Also it could be a charity as well. Or a project to promote.
Right now I am doing a project ‘Carzy Faces’.
It is together with the town-municipal. I am making images of the presidents of the sportsclubs in our town. The project is called ‘I take my sport serious’.
20 images of crazy faces of the presidents.
It is a huge sized exhibition to come in our town size ± 30x50 inch or 80x120cm.
Huge advertising and the same time very good for promoting a good feeling in the community.
But another option is the real cross-marketing.
Doing a shoot for a shoe-company as a free advertising in there shopwindow, combined with a kind of lottery. All the customers coming into the shoe-company can win a free photoshoot.
Once a week there will be three winners. They get a free photoshoot and for the picture will be payed by the shoe-company.
It looks as if the shoe-company is giving away a free photoshoot but in reality they promote you as a photographer for no costs than only a small picture size 8x8 inch (20x20cm).
This advertises both companies.
Be carefull to find the right shoe-company that ‘fits’ your photography.
Same could work with a hairdresser, carcompany etc etc.
This is a very straight and controlling way of doing business.
Another option is to promote a sportclub by sponsoring the club in photography as a kind of advertising them.
You promote them and you get promotion by them.
Cross-promoting should than be the word.
Be also carefull in this way, to find the right sportsclub to your kind of business.

I ad some images to ‘show’ my words.

Cross-marketing might be a keyword for these times.


Henk

vrijdag 16 oktober 2009

Evening lecture 23 november with Kevin Wilson


We are so happy that we booked Kevin Wilson for our Dutch School of Photography Evening Lecture on 23 November 2009, so soon!

kevin Wilson


Kevin Wilson honed his photographic skills to encompass the current trends demanded by buyers of wedding and portrait photography today. The foundation of good photography is based on lighting and composition, this coupled with available light and the use of various reflectors and diffusers is where Kevin has developed his own style and brand of classical work with a contemporary twist.

Kevin, is the only photographer to achieve multiple fellowships, in portrait and wedding, all with natural light, both with the Master Photographers Association and the British Institute of Professional Photography.

Kodak, Fuji, Master Photographers Association, British Institute of Professional Photography, Hasselblad UK to represent their products throughout the UK, has called upon Kevin.
Kevin has won many awards for his photography, including 17 Kodak European Gold Awards for outstanding photography. He has been voted Kodak Uk Portrait Photographer of the Year on no less than 5 separate occasions.

Kevin is currently chairman of the Master Photographers Association’s admissions and qualifications panel.
He has been a judge for many years and held the position of chairman many times

www.kevinwilson.co.uk email: kevin@kevinwilson.co.uk
www.dutchschoolofphotograpy.com

donderdag 15 oktober 2009

Great new products in our shop to download

Hi Everyone.
Today i put some new produkts on my webshop.
It is all about my master QEP.
The vision, explaining compositions etc etc.Do not miss it!

http://www.henkvankooten.com
shop

dinsdag 13 oktober 2009

International Portraittage. Arrangement by Fotowerkstatt


Workshop in Vienna,

International Portraittage. Arrangement by Fotowerkstatt.
Just back from Vienna today.
Doing a workshop on the sunday.
Was a fantastic experience.
Austrian are very nice easygoing and enthousiastic people.
Was doing a talk and some photography about portraiture.
Arriving saturday evening at Vienna Airport, Robert (Fotowerkstatt) was already waiting to take us to a beautyfull hotel close to Vienna.
Having a good evening dinner we (Christina and I) had a short talk to some people of Epson.
After we tested the computer and lights, we had a last drink and went into our
Sleepingrooms.
My workshop started at 12.15 and went on till almost 18.30. Of course with some breaks.
Portraiture and why it changes, what are the most wanted positions to use in the studio, the marketing, the vision. Why things go as they go.
Use of light and composition. The triangles of posings, of lights.
Concepts of photography in different themes.
Photoshop ideas.
The use of my new way of making black and white, using Nik Software’s
Slver Efex Pro:
See images of the modelshoot and the Nik Software in Photoshop.
I try to show al the steps.
Also the use of color and different lighting systems:
Octobox, new super-spot light and rimlighting.
Difficulties of demonstrating is always the situation you are in.
Using this fantastic model Irina, it was almost as it was nothing to do.
Her posing was perfect, but expression was too much as a trained “how it should be”. That is not what I wanted. Expressions that are so controlled but still look ok. There is nothing wrong, it is even beautyfull, but still it lacks a kind of feeling and sensativity. That is a trained model often.
Irina tried and did good. But who is Irina.......

In this evening I also met David Jay.
An Amarican photographer, doing a programme about marketing, workflow, website and usage of slideshow. About his products: making your personal style of website (great programme) and the use of his programme in creating fabulous slideshows in minutes. For also amazing prices. Just 200 dollar for this slideshowprogramme..... really something I am going to use.
But as I spoke to him we really clicked. He is modest but knows exactly where he is.
So I watched his programme.
Really smooth and no mistakes. His story is very good, his photography ........
Loved his weddingshoot in the rain. WOW.
Must do something together with this great young fellow.
Thanks to lots of people I want to thank, I have a new experience in my heart that I will cherish the rest of my life !!!!!!



p.s
Specially in NikSoftware you should use the Tone Curve in FilmTypes.
I think NikSoftware should put tis more in the top of usage, for now you really need to discover the curves inside the Silver Efex Pro.


You can go to my facebook and read more about niksoftware!!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home

dinsdag 6 oktober 2009


Photography of love

This is our new advertising in the Netherlands.
Changing the concept of weddingphotography.
Based on a personal believe about:
Purity and love between two people.

No more weddingphotography
No more ‘lookhowhappies’
No more ‘lookhowbeautyfulls’
No more reportage
Back to the roots
The roots of love

The art of wedding
For centuries, love has been immortalized in literature, music and art.
Love is a source of inspiration; it is an art. It is time that photography was added to these genres as a valuable art form.


Henk

donderdag 1 oktober 2009



Intens Invisible

Arms that touch
Nothing to see
Holding the protection
Secure
Sexy
Warm and Loving

The intensity of the arm coming from nowhere.
It is the secret of no face.
If you close your eyes, could you feel?
Feel the arms of your love.

Henk

dinsdag 29 september 2009


Repeating Use

The Kiss

This Kiss
Cannot Miss
It makes you happy
This Super Kiss

Expession in faces and more
Repeat parts and it get stronger
In this case about Love and Loving

The overkill makes it funny
At the same moment it triggers a feeling
It is the cliche, used to make it recognisable

maandag 28 september 2009


All in One

The triangle of the family
Mother, father, child
Bodies come together
Mother, father, child

The grey-line of imaging is something I like to do.
It creates more ‘mystique’.
The mother and father laying ‘into’ eachoter.
The child looking for the contact.
The story is told without actually seeing faces.
This image is part of my Master Qualified European set of images.
The set is about 20 images in the theme ‘disappearing’.

vrijdag 25 september 2009

I want to share a very very emotional image i made


Henk van Kooten
I want to share a very very emotional image i made.I tell you the story in a sort of poem.I hope it will inspire you to think before you make an image.

enjoy life | time flies....

Saying goodbeye,

Feelings to not let go
In the dream you will stay
In the dream I still can feel
your smell your skin your hair
Hearing you breathing

Waking up
I look around
I realise
You are still part of me
But you are gone soon

This picture was taken to remember.
For the mam is going to die.
I try to give this family a feeling.
Reaching above the image.
Looking at it means you still can feel
You still can smell and hear.
Afraid to say goodbeye
Afraid to lose all that is here in life.
Now this moment is so in them.

It was very emotional.
I call this a flower-pot construction.
The roots are with eachother.
And out of this something new is growing.
Going there own ways in life.

Henk

Looking back to an amazing good Evening Lecture with Vincent O'Byrne




Evening Lectures Part 1:
Vincent O’Byrne, september 21 , 2009
*These are the comments of the DSoP

The first Evening-lecture of the Dutch School of Photography was a huge succes.
Preparations were timeconsuming and lots of investment were made concerning chairs, a tent and tables.
But it payed of.
We were proud to see 50 people showing up in our studio.
The evening started already at 5.30 pm. The sponsors were invited to have time to eat and drink . Also some informal time towards eachother and the speaker Vincent O’Byrne.

People coming in at 6.30 and having time to cool down from travelling.
In that time we could speak to a lot well known ‘faces’.
A mixture of portrait-wedding photographers and commercial photographers.
Really something the DsoP was aiming for.

We started at about 7.15 for some people were late due to traffic-jams.
I started the introduction by thanking the sponsors making this possible.
Than some explaining about the evening.
The sponsors did special offers and Nik Software even put in a free package of the complete collection to be part of the lottery at the end of the evening.

‘New ways of learning’ Starting with the fenomenal photography of Vincent O’Byrne.
Vincent started his lecture with explaing the rules of composition in a totally different way. Schedules that proved the point of impact to look at.
Lighting with one light (he told that this was simple) but so beautyfull that you were part of his talk right from the start.
Although his Irish was sometimes difficult to hear the imaging was making up that completely.
He talked about the centre of interest
The composition in triangles
* translated to social photography... you do the same in portraiture and wedding
Motivation, to go for the best you have, expectations to be achieved
The concept


-the idea

* translated to social photography...
the concept : love, being together, oneness, sex, memories, joy, being different

Research of his photography to find the story before going into the photography.
Also to learn from your own mistakes.
And to learn how to play!!!!! Play with your ideas, your imaging, your lighting
Keep it SIMPLE. Impact is most of times the simplicity.
Seeing this in posing and use of light is important.
Dynamic use of composition.... Vincent shows amazing images to show the use of space and negative space.
Symbols
* translated to social photography...
Symbols can be Love / Joy

Choices / setting achievable goals
Vincent goes on as a speed-train of information.

Instinct, do not think but do.
The use of emotion and feeling on a instinct.
Vincent makes it as an inter-active test. Everybody needs to take a pen and paper and after one word you have to write down 10 next words on onstinct.
Like : fish....water....wind...hair etc etc

It is to realise the thinking, making choices and playing with the elements.
* translated to social photography...
Baby...protection...happy...crying...help
The elements:
Arms, legs, expressions

Than it was time for a break.
Just before I try to shortcut everything.
Just a short explanation about what was told and how to relate in different photographic areas.





The break was about 30 minutes.
In this time people could look at some of Vincents print on different papers from
Epson and Innova.
The prints were sponsored by Epson and Innova and could be buyed for just
€50,00.
Also there was the option to buy Vincents CD’s and DVD tutorials.
The pricing was also very special for the DsoP. Normally they are to be sold 150 each and that was 50% down!
So for who still want some of Vincent cd | dvd’s just let us know we can arrange.
Or you go straight to his email:
info@vincentobyrne.com
Be sure to be chequed by us so we know for sure you were part of the DsoP
Evening Lecture. Only than you can have this price.

The combination of the break with sponsors to talk to worked well.
That was the intention.
These two worlds need eachother.
So thanks again.

After the break Vincent slowed down.
Like most breaks the concentration is more difficult and slowing down helps.
Vincent talked about the qualifications of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP).
He was one of the first to get the Master title.
A set of 20 images, with all history.
The beauty and the beast feeling.

After this talk Vincent ended with a half hour slideshow.
One after the other we were taken into his world of dreams.
People trying to understand every image needed to let this go and just were part of this Vincent O’Byrne.

At the end we had the thanks and wonderfulls of course.
Trying to make things Dutch we had a thank you for Vincent by giving him a orange underpants.

After Nik Softwares lottery we had extra time for a drink and talk.


Also to mention:
Vincent is doing Masterclasses in his studio.
Max of 4 people, costs € 500,00 pp
Already people have asked to do this.
Please let us know so we can make something work or email Vincent himself.
You will be in Dublin, flights possible from Eindhoven and Niederrhein Weeze
By Ryan Air.
There will be a model, you will do your photography under supervision of Vincent.

Next Evening Lecture: monday 23 rd of november 2009
Kevin Wilson.
Max 50 places
If more people will attend we can do an extra evening on the sunday 22 nd.
We keep you informed!

Kevin is a classical photographer in portraiture and wedding.
He got his fellowship in Wedding this summer.
His photography is :
Classical photography with a modern emotion
Always a kind of erotisism without nude.
About :
Available Light
Using reflectors
Composition
Posing and light
Showing this in slides and movies.
More in formation will come.


Thanks again for being with us.

DsoP
Henk van Kooten

And thanks again to all the sponsors!

woensdag 2 september 2009

Judging the MPA Master Photography Awards 2009, 16th-19th of august 2009. Location: headquarters MPA in Darlington, England.


Judging the MPA Master Photography Awards 2009, 16th-19th of august 2009.
Location: headquarters MPA in Darlington, England.

Sundaymorning I leave from Amsterdam-Schiphol airport at 9 AM to the Durham Airport.
Arriving at almost the same time, I am picked up to go to the MPA headquarter.
Everything is already prepared to have a good and smooth judging.
A long table with 5 seats and for each seat is a box to put in the score for the judging.
Everybody is coming in within next half hour.
Desi Fontaine is the chairman/women.
After a short catching up about the way how to judge we start.
Really focussed on what we are going to see I remember myself to be openminded, constructive in making comments and scoring according to the system from 69 poits up to 100.
Awareness about visual impact and looking for the controlled craftsmanship of the photography.
It is always a important notice to myself, for I think each picture deserves the same attention from me.
And I expect myself to fight for good scoring whenever a picture deserves the high score.
Also I expect my fellowjudges to make the same fight.
It almost sounds as a old president Bush saying: “Either you are with us, or you are against”.
This kind of war-scene is not very helping of course, with triggers the best in you.
Over 2000 images to go.
Excitement follows by disappointments, but always a group of fanatic judges there to make corrections towards each other aswell.
I know my kind of caracter is of a perfectionist, looking for emotional commitment achieved by real photographic creativity and craftsmanship.
Some images really are beautyfull of its classical ‘simplicity’, some hurt of lack of anything, some touch emotional the hart of my photographic love.
I always think that my judging should not implify my personal kind of photography-love. It is not what I love to see but what the photography show itsself in all the quality.
It takes a lot from my energy to stay focussed.
To know that we can make the best choices to be shown in the awardsdinner-evening.
It is hard working and now the television appears on the judgingdays.
Fantastic. Now people can see what we do.
It would be great if we could judge for a live transmission through internet.
People can even viste a special tv room to be part of next doors judging.
The ultimate learning experience.
I really hope this will be the future.
After some breaks and going towards 6 PM, I am relieved that we finish the first day with really good winning images.
It is wishfull that we should do more about writing about judging, where to look at and how to improve the quality of entries.
Lots of digital mistakes, lots of bad compositions, bad lighting, lack of report are showing aswell.
Never to forget that good photography only excitst because of its bad opposites.
Refreshing new kinds of imaging is rare, but exciting when it shows.
The positiv way of looking is that new names show up and young photographer show the future way.
Unfortunately that was not happening.
Still a lot of good work to look at.
I think photographers are very much ok-involved to be part of the MPA.
The profession only survives by showing a ‘together’ strength.
Customers who can see an organisation, with a huge competition and a qualification system that works, those customers know how to go to a photographer.
There must be a mutual interest.
To be part of this makes me feel proud.
Of course the judging is international, coming from Ireland, Schotland, Wales and Holland.
That shows the strength!
Point not to forget is the ever frustating categories way of judging.
On itself that is ok. But why on earth make things like UK-photographer of the year,
Uk fashion etc against Overseas photographer of the year etc.
It makes Uk look stupid even.
When I won the overal Overseas photographer of the year, I came back in Holland and told that of this international competition I was winning of the rest of the world, while in UK you only could become the UK photoographer.
I felt always this shows arrogance and discrimination of the UK.
Speaking to judges and organisations in England it was always the same answer: ‘we will not winn any competition if we are together with the overseas’
Totally nonsence of course. UK and any other country have the same kind of principles. About 80 % is everridge kind of photography, 18-19 % good and 1-2% outstanding.
That works in every profession the same aswell as in sports.
Colin promised this will be the last year as a seperate-judged categaries.
Same with some categories only for the UK, like the Pets category.
So next year my frustration will be gone.

It is evening, still sunday and time for the perfect dinner in Clowbeckhouse.
Talking and talking, getting late.
About life and more. That is what makes photography also something special. Talking
not just the photography, but the part that lives it aswell.

After a terrible sleep, better to say, no sleep, I get out of my bed at 8 AM.
Breackfast, and of to judge the second day.
After the first days judging the commercial-industrial photography we go into the social-photography like wedding and portraiture.
Another huge amount of images pass.
Scoring 99 poins where someone else scores 69......... Now the big battle begins.
Always talking to the image prevents it to make it personal.
But most I get into the 90’s aswell.
Very pleased that I could manage this image to be a winner.
That is what makes it sometimes interesting. Loads of images are very much scored the same with only 3-5 points differce. But sometimes there is this huge difference in the judging-perception.
Is it a covering up of bad photography, or is it pure quality of outstanding craftsmanship.
The digital time makes it much more difficult.
Opinions and perceptions can be drifting apart in this.
Sometimes the wrong category of the image, sometimes briljant styling and make up, but the photography aswell?
Sometimes the digital imaging is that strong with the graphic design, that even the discussion could be if this is photography.
This makes these called fights very interesting, and the open mind thinking very important.
Willing to listen to others talking about the image can make me move down or up.
There is no one reality, and accepting sometimes I scored too much is also part of getting along with my fellowjudges.
Each of them I respect completely.
I know it sounds like the perfect attitude, but be real, it is also just me writing.
I know I can be difficult, strong opinion, fighting for the image, using all I know to get them all to have the same way of looking into this.
My way of looking can really manipulate people. I know, but hey, I expect them to be the same.
No talking unless it is allowed by the chairman, yes sometimes that could be better.
But we are humans, with passionate feelings about some pictures. That makes it more than just completely silence and boring way of looking like there is no feelings involved.
Way from that we are all involved with our passions.
So I am the same.
In years I changed a lot, became more friendly and easier to go with.
Learning to make a strong point in a convincing way, but more the soft way of dealing with this.
Also to accept what is done is not always what would be my first choice.
After the ‘battle’ leave it as it is.
Shit, no. Not always to be honoust.

Again a full day of judging ends at about 6 PM.
Again a perfect Dinner and again, wine and talking.
I feel exhausted but also very happy.
The times you can talk with only fellowship qualified photographers are not that much.
Not to make a difference, but it is different than doing a workshop, a talk or a photoshoot.
It is like a big playgarden for me. Ultimate happyness yes.

The third and last day of the Awards-judging starts much better.
Had a real good sleep now.
So rested and strong for the last part, which is also the overall winnig images, the judges competition involves.
Fantastic winning images. I almost agreed with all.
I cannot talk too much about that.
Would be wrong. But that is the part only the best images stand up.

To finish with the, since three years, judgescompetition.
We all took an image on 16x20 with us.
Of course I wanted to win and took one of my last images with me.
Something really new.
Always a risk for most of my images that are really new do not win.
I hate that. I think that I am too close to my images to have a real open look.
Making those choices is very difficult.
We are allowed to take 1 image with us.
So wrong choice is clearly over and out.
New images also are too close in time.
After several months I clearly have a final feeling about it.
But to be clear..... I shit did not win.
So now you all know that I am a very bad loser, always try to talk like: as long as I love the image, I do not care what someone else says or thinks.
No way, I do care, and feel shit if I do not win.
But after some time I get real and see also the beauty of the winning images.
And it is true that I can accept different choices than.
So here is my story, I do care and I can feel angry about not getting what I thought would do good.
But I also know that this is way it goes and I cannot change this.
It is shit if some tells you that that highlight in the image took it down, while you deliberatly did this to make the image stronger.
And than a judge is like a God telling that he is wright and you are wrong.
At least that is how it can feel on thet moment.
But that is all in this game of course.
That is what I learned in years to accept.
A bad judged image does not judge the person bad. It is just the image.
Isn’t it the beauty aswell?
Pain is there because of the joy.
The neverending story that the one cannot be there without its opposite.

So that ends the third and last day of the Awards judging.
Going back to ClowbeckHouse.
Going for the third amazing dinner, the third amazing talking.
Going for another good sleep.

My last day is the day of judging the qualifications.
Associatship and fellowship.
The judging for this is in the Clowbeckhouse.
The breackfast-luch-dinner room is cleared to make space for the big stands.
The qualifiers arrive early.
I finish my breackfast really quick.
And than the judging starts.
Going out of the room the preparation of the first entry of 20 images starts.
Always exciting to wait, to read the stories that accomplish the qualification of the photographer.
Not to tell about each of the panels, it was a fantastic day.
Totally new and refreshing photography.
Great associateships that were upgradet several times to fellowship even.
It always makes me emotional to see that someone gets his/hers fellowship.
So amazing to see the work they did, the effort to make things work.
Only very few did not pass.
And that was obvious the once that did not listen to the mentors that tried to help them.
Qualifications is not that easy to judge when it hits the borderlines of a pass or fail.
It is good to have judges to talk with eachother about this during the thumbs up and down. A good panel of judges don’t need so much to make a point.
The rule for me: If a mistake is not taking more attention than the impact of the image, than hell with the mistake.
Sometimes it is a deliberate breath of fresh air to make a kind of a-symphonic image.
If than it even improves the way of ‘centre of interest and storytelling’.
Than it makes an image even briljant.
In qualifications that is so nice to do, because you can show your control over more than one image.
It makes it more believable.
Choices choices in life. It is always the issue.
Sometimes ok, sometimes not.

It is going towards 3 pm if we are ready.
Time to relax a little, drink a cup of tea, one last cigaret and back to the airport.
Last hugs and kisses.
Thank yous, see yous. Always last looks in the eyes. And of I go.
At the airport I start to realise the days that passed were amazing shit great.
Dreaming this I arrive in Amsterdam, looking into my wifes and oldest daughter
beautyfull faces. Home again.


Henk van Kooten

Ps
My image for the judges competition

vrijdag 28 augustus 2009

Eveninglecture by Vincent O'Byrne .

The dutch School invited Vincent O'Byrne to give an Eveninglecture.
Go to www.dutchschoolofphotography.com to download all the information.
Date = 21 september
time = 18.30 -22.30 in the evening.
location = Fotostudio Henk van Kooten, Wijchen


Nieuwsbrief 27082009
Algemene Informatie Avond-Lezingen

De lezingen zijn gebaseerd op een initiatief van de Dutch School of Photography.
Deze school is ongeveer een jaar geleden opgestart.
De Dutch School is erop gericht om op een zeer diverse manier met kennisoverdracht ten behoeve van professionele fotografen bezig te zijn.
Zowel door andere trainingmethodes als door gebruikmaking van andere vakgebieden is kennisuitbreiding, maar vooral het verwerven van nieuwe inzichten, iets dat de eigenheid en kreativiteit nieuw leven in kan blazen.
Een lange zin, maar het dekt wel de lading van de avond-lezingen.
We willen beginnen met elke twee maanden iets neer te zetten. Het moet
Uiteindelijk een maandelijks verhaal worden.
We hopen op een opkomst van gemiddeld 35 personen.
We hebben echter een capacteit van maximaal 200-250 tot de mogelijkheden.
Iedere bijeenkomst kan voor de sponsoren een aanleiding zijn iets speciaals te doen.
Voor deze bijeenkomst heeft NIK-Software een softwarepakket beschikbaar gesteld, ter waarde van honderden euro’s.
De complete collection zal worden verloot onder de deelnemers.
Een mooi gebaar om deze bijeenkomsten extra te motiveren.
In de toekomst zullen ook speciale Sponsor dagen georganiseerd worden.
Bovenal is echter het nieuwe leren een speerpunt.
We begeleiden de lezinggevers dan ook in alle details.
Hoe wat en waarom wordt uitgewerkt in antwoorden. Iedereen moet weggaan met een ‘vol’ gevoel aan informatie en inspiratie.
Ik heb geprobeerd al mijn ervaring van de laatste 10 jaar ( in het geven van workshops, trainingen en lezingen) constructief te vertalen in effectief leren.
Geen ego-shows maar echt iets overdragen.

Tot 21 september,

Henk van Kooten

vrijdag 24 juli 2009

Eric Blasco


Henk Van Kooten
06/07/09

El pasado lunes se realizó en el Hotel Termes de Montbrió una jornada de trabajo de la Asociación de fotógrafos de Tarragona (APROFOT) a cargo del maestro Henk Van Kooten (Wijchen, Holanda). 70 personas pudieron disfrutar de las ideas revolucionarias de Henk, su manera de ver la fotografía, de expresar en imágenes los sentimientos y de iluminar. A pesar del impedimento idiomático (se expresaba en inglés) supo transmitir sus ideas a través de Janusz Szpakowski, interprete y traductor para quien no sabia inglés.
Después de deleitarnos con sus primeros videos y con la presentación de su lugar de trabajo-estudio pasamos a la acción; Arantxa fue la encargada de poner su imagen y Cristina (mujer y estilista de Henk) de maquillar y vestirla. Él nos enseñó que debemos exagerar las posturas de los modelos para dar fuerza, varias poses diferentes también y como utiliza el foco de luz octogonal. Una de nuestras sorpresas fue que utiliza pocos puntos de luz por lo general. La gran baza de Henk fue lo que denomina “Crazy Faces” o como diríamos nosotros Caras locas, con lo que se metió al publico en el bolsillo sobretodo en la segunda parte. También tocó la sensibilidad del espectador con una impactante foto que tenia un trasfondo no menos duro…
Y así finalizó Henk su puesta de largo de cara al público con una fuerte ovación y con la entrega de una estatuilla en conmemoración a su visita y su “Workshop”. Lo que mucha gente no conoció es al verdadero Henk y Cristina (porque son los dos una sola persona), amables, atentos, y con un humor muy característico que dejaron huella.
Por eso solo me cabe decir, en nombre de toda APROFOT, que: ¡gracias por todo y que esperamos su regreso pronto!

Eric Blasco

woensdag 15 juli 2009

Workshop Aprofot Spain

APROFOT July the 6th 2009, Reus, Spain

Workshop Henk van Kooten



The evening on sunday the 5th of july, Christina and I left to the airport of Eindhoven.
It was a evening,soft and warm weather, close to raining and for that a little moisterous.
We arrived in Reus at about 23.00.
Waiting for our arrival we saw Ferran and Janusz, waving to be recognized.
After a short drive we arrived inthe hotel.
There were more people waiting for us to say hello.
Sitting in the warm and moisterous heat of the evening we had a talk about what next day would do.
After some drinks and some late evening food, we all went to bed.
Monday morning was 8 o’clock breackfast, than chequing the laptop, digital projector in the special presentation-room of the hotel.
People came in early to have a look at the sponsors boots.
Hasselblad had everything arranged to make the photography work.
The soundcheque was not easy, for the line to the sound equipment didn’t work, and needed to be fixed.
By than it was about 10.30, almost an hour late.
But as easygoing the Spanish are, it was no problem.
My carefulle made scedule was only completely gone.
The talk started with introducing me and my photography, aswell my history.
This went into my vision about photography.
Small breaks with slideshows to show where I am talking about.
Janusz translated my English into Spanish.
That took the spirit out of my being, for I was more focused not to miss anything. Also the breaks in my talking were dfficult.
I had the feeling I could not be as spontanious like I normally am.
Still it worked fantastic, cause Janusz (who knows me already
for a long time) could extend my speaking into a lively entertaing way of communication.
Next was the photoshoot where I demonstrated some posing and the way it effects the bodylanguage.
We prepared some outfits and styling, combined with basic make-up going into expressive make up.
In a short time we could make a variety of pictures, as shown in our output imaging.
Different ways of photoshop-usage gave also a multi presented imaging.
I also shared the now famous “crazy faces” as a positiv way to end a photoshoot.
Something we use in our studio to finish a lot f photoshoots.
It is based on a very importing prinnciple.
Customers do a lot effort to have the result for there familypictures done.
It is hard working to achieve to personal touch and kind of family-language into the finalimage.
At the end of each photoshoot we do something crazy to give the customer a present and a positive ending of the photoshoot.
All faces together and on 1,2,3 we make the image with all of them putting a crazy/funny face.
It really works. Lot of fun at the end.
This crazy/funny face feeling went into the feeling of the workshop and everybody started to make pitures like that.
I really hope this spreads into the world of photography to show customers the importance of photography.
Even the big group-picture of all the present photographers was a crazy-faces picture.
The lunch-breack was Spanish beauty of course. Lots of fantastic food and a great lunchtime.
I wishe I could speak Spanish to make more conversation work without being translated.
But hey, I am learning Spanish now for three months and could already understand more than before.
Spain is not just a beautyfull country, but also having great hearts and souls as the Spanish people are.
After the break we id more presentations and talk first.
About my latest book : building blocks to imaging.
Showing how you can change photography in yourself:
Building Blocks to Imaging
Discover your personal handwriting in photography
A photographer who can fully ralise his talents. With products and customers that are suited to him or her. What photographer would not?
Building Blocks for imaging is a guide on the path to success, individual style and, perhaps, more importantly, satisfaction.
Building blocks to Imaging teaches photographers to deal consciously with their own perceptions.
Building Blocks for imaging is about personal development and photographic reflection.
Success, individual style and satisfaction cannot be reached without trial and error. The aim of the book is to teach an awareness about your own image and imaging
based on choices. If you know what you can and tune your photography and customers can seamlessly implement this commercial line. With a good balance between individuality and photography, your individuality identifiable. Your own style.
Style becomes identity,
Identity becomes a style.
Henk van Kooten used himself as a red thread of pitfalls and failures to successes.
The book offers a practical guide, step by step and richly illustrated with superb photos of the naked core of the message clearer.
After this it was showing the results of the photoshoot, showing some photoshop trics and how to finish.
Cause we lost a lot of time I only showed briefly the ways to go and did the real finishing in my studio.
By that time (and another short break) everybody was getting tired, and I could not show my marketingways and photographic art as well my commercial photography, like fashion and advertising.
Basicly that was not a big problem for this group was mostly portrait and weddingphotography.
I ended with a talk about our weddingphotography, our different aproach to do only portfolio’s and a art-line of what we call now ‘photography of love’.
It is still evolving into something I know where to go, but must earn new ways of imaging to achieve this.
Photography of Love is the approach we choose to do, instead of doing the reportage way of working.
Nowadays most people can do the coverage of what happend on the day of the wedding themselves.
Digital photography is so much into the world of amatures nowadys that I choosed to go a different way.
This approuch needs arketing and explaining why and how.
Our website is instructed to give this information through pdf information-downloads.
I finished the day with a long slideshow about my weddingphotography.
When the last music ended I got a huge applause, completely surprising me.
I really was overwhelmed by this appreciation.
Sorry that I could not respond immediatly because of this.
My wife was waving: stand up you idiot.
And so I did.
Thank you all so much for this.
By than it was almost 20.00 o’clock and Ferran (president of Aprofot)
Had some nice ending, and presented Christina and me a beautyfull piece of art.
Thanks again.
It now is standing on our counter to show to our customers.



After saying goodbye to everybody, signing books and kissing, on the picture with of course crazy-faces, I went to my hotelroom with Christina, still shivering from everything that happend this day.
Hasselblad even asked me to come back in october in la Coruna.
And I will!

Late evening dinner, going to drink something outside, we met a Irish couple.
So it was about 3 at night before we went to sleep.
Next day Ferran and Erik took care for us. They showed us there studio and took us to Tarragona.
And we looked into this very old city.
What a beautyfull tow this is.
In the evening Ferran and his wife joined us for a dinner at the beach.
And at 22.30 there was a huge fireworks.
The dream went on.
I have so many great friends after this.
Janusz phoned me to tell he enjoyed himself so much, and it touched me immense.
Again a great day.
The next day we went again to Ferrans studio.
And now I did a photoshoot of this beautyfull family.
If they are happy it will be on the weblog as well.
I tried some new techniques.
And of we went to the airport of Reus.
Surprising me there was Israel wth his wife to say goodbeye aswell.
And I hate saying goodbeye, for it makes me emotional and wanting to hold my moments of happyness.
But going home means going to my children, and really I love them so much that it is a good thing to look forward to.
And so it ends.
Doing workshops is not just sharing my thoughts and photography, but also meeting good people that become friends.
It enriches my life so much. I am priviliged to have a talent, but I am more priviliged to meet people like you Ferran, Erik (family Blasco), Janusz, Israel and Cristina.
I really hope to be back!
Everybody: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sorry my English is not polished, but to have everything translated into proper English will take too much.
This writing must be seen as an understanding way of what happens in my life.


Henk van Kooten

LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE IMAGES!

( portfolio fashion and advertising | aprofot )

vrijdag 12 juni 2009

First Letter



Name : Henk van Kooten
Born : 14 th November 1962, Netherlands.
Married in 1985 with my pride Christina Fluit.
Father of four daughters : Reneé, Linda, Marieke and Eva.
Education in Photography: Fotovakschool Apeldoorn, but most of all a autodidact.

Working for 14 years as a mail Nurse in a large Hospital.
During these years I worked for 8 years on a freelance base for a local photographer.
Working in two totally different worlds, but somwhere the twain do meet.
In hospital I learned how to see the patient as a psychological and somatic synthesis. I learned how to perceive emotions and how to deal with them.
You learn how to look into their eyes and how to know how they feel. You observe their attitude and notice how they feel.
After 8 years dualling jobs I started in 1997 my own Studio in the town centre of Nijmegen in the eastern part of the Netherlands, close to the German border.
I felt free, could do things my way.
After the education of one day by a BIPP photographer Leen Koper in marketing, light and lighting I created whole new fields to explore and I made a giant leap forward.
“Your own style”. In my opinion that was always something imposed on you by someone else. I just did the things I loved to do and thought I needed to do.

Style becomes identity,
Identity becomes a style.

Luckily my customers appreciated the way I did; maybe this way they even created some part of my present style.
My point of departure is that people should be able to create their personal space; they can be who the are, feel respected for there being.
Photography as a reflection.
To me , imaging is a way of mutual communication/interpretation with all these different kinds of people.
The final result should - in my opinion - be called Art.
Photography is Art, at least should be a form of.

After starting my studio and joining the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP), I started to qualify myself in the Institute. And amazingly I got my Fellowship after 11/2 year.
A spectacular result.
I won several Awards, amoungst them 2x International Weddingphotographer of the year,
1x The Lichfield Award (for the most creative use of people)
2004 : the BPPA --- Overseas Wedding, - Fashion and Glamour, - Commercial, -Overall Photographer of the year 2004.
For a overview of my awards, please look at my website: www.henkvankooten.com

2003- We have a new studio since November, wich is about 6 miles out of the town centre.
2004- I joined the Master Photographers Association (MPA) in England, the Professinal Photograpgers of America
(PPA )in Amerika, the XXV in Amerika
2005 -Also qualified myself as a Qualiofied European Phototographer (QEP) in portraiture, wedding and Fashion.
2006- Atfter this I also achieved the highest European standard possible: the
Master QEP.
Our customers come from all over the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and England and even the USA.
Since ten years I do workshops, wich I like to do. I need contact with other Photographers.
Have been on national TV for winning the WeddingCompetition.
Workshops : Germany, England, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Scotland,
Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Wales.
Doing critics and judging is also a part of my time now. I love to do this, as it is good to push and inspire people. Give them more selfconfidence.
Since I do workshops I started to say : If you do not see it, it will not be there.
I see myself as a mirror for people. But I will be the one who’s turning the mirror upside down or .....
I believe also in mistakes and taking risks during jobs in photography. Make last minute dissisions.
I try to be open minded, as I want to see people as they are.
The question will be : Look at that man; do you still see the boy in him ?
Inspiration : Architectual buildings, people, Ballet-dance, Music, Sport,Commercials.
2006- became part of the XXV in Amerika
2008- member of the Professinal Photograpgers of America (PPA)
2009- I joined the Federacion Espanola de Profesionales dela Fotografia y de la Imagen (FEPFI) in Spain.

Started to change our studio in three parts since 2007/2008:
- make up and styling
- the dutch school of photography
- photographic art and design

We are still moving into a multi-organisation.
Photographicly I keep evolving into more and different projects and concepts.
Influences with graphic design and painting are upcoming.
Also the writing of books:
‘One day with Henk van Kooten’
Is a tutorial about portraiture and wedding, incl a dvd
‘The Human Chain’
A project about 50 Dutch Myors in the reflection of the question: is ther still a personal life left, being a mayor. Incl. writing visions of the Mayors.
‘Disappearing’
Last small book produced is about my MasterQEP
‘Building Blocks to Imaging’
Discover your personal handwriting in photography
production starts soon

Sharing my views, ideas with photographers, a communication into the neverending. It is all put in our new slogan:
JUST THE IMAGE ......





Henk van Kooten