Wednesday Window Selfie: Stories Behind the Lens

After just over a week of the return engagement on my blog, I’m beginning to hit my stride and having some fun with the posts thus far. The process has been both invigorating and enlightening as I’ve revisited my work and sought new angles to explore. I’m working my way ahead a little bit for the Wednesday Window series; after looking through a good amount of my shots from the 2022 photography trip to Iceland, there lurks a series of images of Harpa Concert Hall to be featured over time. Each photograph captures the stunning architectural design and the vibrant interplay of light that the building is known for, presenting an exciting opportunity to share not just visuals, but also the stories and experiences behind them. I look forward to weaving narratives that complement these images, drawing readers into the atmosphere of Reykjavik and the striking presence of this cultural landmark.

For today’s featured image, I present you with something lighthearted and rare in my collection: a selfie that captures a moment of pure joy and spontaneity…

Walking around this magnificent architectural structure, if one pays close attention to the reflection in the south-facing facade, a spot can be found that mirrors the viewer in one of the lower windows. Of course, this is a lot easier to find in the presence of an experienced photography tour guide, such as Loren Fisher! Our little group huddled together, enabling me to capture this particular moment. As you can tell from the facial expressions, we enjoyed the contrast of this instance of levity to our ‘serious’ photography (maybe not so serious). It’s great to have fun in everything that we do!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

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