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

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........

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