Nicolaas Kuipers – In Flow with Otto

Nicolaas Kuipers has a distinct, photographic voice. As a viewer we can see it in his playful approach to whatever he chooses as a subject as well as to the whole photographic process. For Nicolaas no angle is impossible, no rule is to be obeyed, no story is too small or too big to be photographed, no challenge undoable. Nicolaas attended two of my workshops last year, and already during the first one in Villajoyosa, I noticed his playfulness and the positivity he permeated into his photography. Already then it was possible to see the development of a distinct, photographic voice (his images from this workshop has been showcased in the post Stories behind Stories). Half a year later when he attended the Cuba workshop, this voice was even more developed. By then his visual sense and understanding had grown and every day he returned with amazing pictures. Part of this is he outgoing persona, his willingness to engage with anyone and give of himself in any situation, part of this is the pure joy he infuses everything around him with, and part of it is his photographic understanding. The outstanding photos following this post here, are all from the Cuba workshop. As I wrote in my last post, we as photographer, should not chase any style, but let it come to the surface by itself, through time and experience. For me Nicolaas Kuipers is the true embodiment of this understanding.

When Nicolaas Kuipers attending my workshop in Villajoyosa, Spain, this spring he arrived full of energy and with an exhilarating positive attitude. He had been a passionate photographer before, but lately had put the camera away. Just before signing up for the workshop, he had found the old passion again, which was very evident during the workshop. He worked hard with his photography, he was out shooting early and late, and he was willing to open up his mind for new ideas and thoughts I and the other students in the workshop could offer him. Space was one of the concepts he really caught on to, I believe – that is the space that exists around the main subject, the scene, one could say, where the situation being photographed unfolds. Nicolaas began capturing this space, not only as a given element in his photograph, but incorporating it into the stories – whatever they are – in the images, and making that space come beautiful alive on its own. In addition, Nicolaas went beyond the obvious subject, capturing not only subject matter and the palpable story taking place before the camera, but through his approach, the use of perspective and space; and awaiting the special moment, his photos reveal the intangible story behind the story. For me personally, I am happy to know that I will see Nicolaas again in my photo workshop in Cuba later this autumn.