Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 08:24PM This is Charlie and his Warhammer figure. This was a test shot for a project I want to develop, where people pose with their favorite childhood toy. In Charlie's case he's still playing with his or purchased it during his adult life, but what better way to live out your childhood dreams than spend earned cash on toys you always wanted.
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 05:29PM "Van alle tijden" is a university theater production coming out next month. Shot this photo for their promotion campaign.
Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 09:06AM
As part of the premiere music video for the Enough4All project, sung by Julya Lo'ko and Erwin van Ligten, I need to film a wide variety of eyes that will represent a worldwide vision. Enough4All is a new initiative by the non-profit organization Church World Service (CWS: http://www.churchworldservice.org/, http://www.facebook.com/churchworldservice) to raise awareness and eradicate hunger, poverty and promote peace and justice around the world.
In combination with these clips I'm taking portraits of the willing subjects. Here are a few:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 06:08PM Here two shots from the "Snorren Borrel". Also known as Maartje's brithday party.
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 06:20PM I’m happy to say that, lately, every other issue of Sight and Life magazine has used one or two of my photos, but I know they might also be used in slideshow presentations and the like. It was great to discover how my work has been published in the following informative articles on MixMe, a multimicronutrient powder produced by DSM.
MixMe is not alone in the multimicronutrient lineup. There are a number of others like Vitalita, specifically used in Indonesia, which I also took promotional shots for. The powder form has proven to be a great way to boost nutritional levels. However, that is not to say there haven’t been speed bumps along the way. Even now. MixMe is facing difficulties in its distribution in Africa.
While I was taking these promotional shots, I would often end up in frustrating discussion with refugees who posed simple, but also difficult questions, like where MixMe was manufactured and it’s specific effects on fertility.
I found some feedback from refugees on the following wordpress sites:
MixMe Nutritional Supplement Raises Questions
Community Talking Point: MixMe
It is clear that African communities need more information and encouragement to trust even a good product. Vaguely remembering scenes from ‘The Constant Gardner’, filmed in Kibera, Nairobi, I can understand some of the hesitations. However, this isn't a drug, it is a form of supplementations.
With MixMe added to food people can receive the vitamins and minerals they are not receiving due to lack of meat, fruits, and vegetables. This supplementation insures a better level of general nutrition resulting in bigger, brighter, and stronger people.
The result of a crisis used to be a lost generation, because children, in their delicate state, do not receive sufficient micronutrients to grow physically and mentally. This no longer has to be the case with implementation of multimicronutrient powders.
There are some issues that need to be addressed like increased appetite opposed to limited rations, and if it can be seen as Halal. However, increased appetite is a sign of good health, and the issues that have come up, are a result of poor planning in food consumption.
Whether MixMe can be labeled as Halal or not, the refugees are in no position to be picky. This is a matter of pride more than belief. It is that same pride that has poor people fasting, when they are constantly in a state of undernutrition.
However, that pride may also be what keeps them going. An attempt at ‘choice’ in a dire situation. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to eat the same food everyday, let alone the conditions they live in, with only 20L of water a day.
The other myths around the product are almost laughable, and seem to stem from a strange mistrust in a UN organization doing their best to help them.
As I was leaving Kakuma, a WFP survey was just underway. Hopefully all the concerns, as well as positive feedback, are now out on the table. A lot of refugees can see the obvious benefits from MixMe, mainly in their children.
Having discussed the topic with the beneficiaries, people in the relevant UN Agencies and NGO's, those producing the product, and friends, it is still good to see how many different people are involved with “those people in Africa” that “everybody” says are forgotten.
