Thursday Throwback: A Journey to De Put

Even though I grew up in the Netherlands, there are a number of locations that I never visited; or is it because I grew up in the Netherlands. One of these was Kinderdijk (until 2022), which was no surprise to our Dutch tour guide, as all of us in the Netherlands can see windmills just about every day. Similarly, it was not until 2011 that I visited Leiden.

Here’s an image from that visit…

Visiting my cousins in Leiden made for a very nice walk around the city and just an all-around great time. Of course, one of these cousins lives in Australia, so she traveled the farthest! During the walk we came across this windmill, named ‘De Put’.

Another windmill, you say! This one is actually a replica that was rebuilt in 1987 and sits next to the Rembrandt Bridge. The original windmill was built in the early 17th century and was captured in an etch by Rembrandt, who lived in Leiden in his early life. So, definitely somewhat special!

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