Travel Tuesday Journey to the Heart of Kinderdijk

As I was thinking about what kind of post to put together for today, the idea of re-establishing a series of travel images might be of interest. So here we go, bringing back some of those moments that captured my eye and imagination. Let’s start this week with the country of my birth: the Netherlands.

Here’s a moment from travels back to the home country…

In 2022 I visited Kinderdijk, well-known for its abundance of windmills, for the first time. Even though I grew up less than an hour from Kinderdijk, the thought of going there never crossed my mind. After all windmills are all over the country with about 1,200 of them still remaining; once there were 10,000 of them, but technology has replaced most of them.

With this image I wanted to provide a sense of yesteryear, when 10,000 windmills would have dotted the countryside. I’m curious how many of you will be able to find all of the ones in this image…

Author: jansenphoto

A Fresh Perspective Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment. Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael. My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals. Universal Connections My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation. This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections. Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client. And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography! View all posts by jansenphoto