It felt like ages, but I finally got back to my blog. I missed it, honestly, but I had just too much on my mind. Photography was not one of my main priorities.
I did see things on my daily commute though.
I can’t believe it though that I took photographs each day last year. I guess lots of things happened. Probably too much.
I’m still coping with that. I’m just glad I actually saw and felt moments that caught my attention.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Nothing is obvious. I said so before and will likely repeat that again and again. I thought I would be taking more photographs again. When life evolves around the basic things even passion can take a break. And a long break it is.
These photographs are some of the few I took in the previous months. Back to basics I guess. My commute, keeping things simple. It is good to keep things simple. Gradually I’m appreciating that again. To balance life.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Day 469 – December 27, 2015
I’ve seen people posting their 2015 lists, favs, and musings. Last year for me felt like a very uncomfortable and pretty dramatic year and I rather prefer to look ahead instead. A former colleague committed suicide, a dear photographer passed away, I had my health issues and my son got a stroke. At times it was all too much, but taking photographs helped me to find distraction at times. Sometimes I wished I would have been able to continue doing so every day, but I’m still OK with that.
I don’t try to have any plans or resolutions for this new year. From experience I know there is always something differently happening. I should better try to life every moment and be aware how precious these moments can be.
Day 470 – December 28, 2015
I missed the feeling of learning something new again, so I started to film. Wondering if a few seconds footage would add something to a brief moment. While film might add motion to a moment, a photograph, to me, still has more than just that less then a second capture. There is the deliberate and subconscious thinking before and after a moment. It is not only seeing, but also feeling a moment happening. I wondered whether film would add more of that thoughtfulness, but for now I get the impression I film like I photograph. I do like keeping the filming for myself now. Still something of learning, experimenting, failing, and hoping to succeed sometime.
While I love photography, and love to see work by others, I’m having more and more problems with how photography evolves into a process. A process were technique seems to matter most. Where even a Magnum photographer I admire shares his work with a camera brand hashtag. Where the most popular photography websites only share reviews, business related news, and popular viral stuff. Sure, even I admit that techniques matters to photography. Like the camera matters to the photographer, but there is so much more to photography.
Day 471 – December 30, 2015
Distortion however doesn’t come from the outside I think, but from within us. Sure, somewhere there is an absolute reality, but the reality we life in is formed by what we like and dislike. Or what we should like or dislike formulated in lists and the number of likes. We might be appalled by the amount of crap on the internet, but don’t seem to be able to be more selective about what to see and read. Maybe we try to hard to seek recognition for the choices we make and try to find common peers.
Day 472 – January 2, 2016
So I try to keep doing what I love to do. Taking photographs for myself. In my pace, with my gear, my priorities, my feelings. I refuel myself to cope with the new deal in our family. Refuel myself to see and feel new moments. Peace and all the best for 2016.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Day 451 – December 6, 2015
Day 452 – December 7, 2015
Day 453 – December 8, 2015
Day 454 – December 9, 2015
Day 455 – December 10, 2015
Day 456 – December 11, 2015
Day 457 – December 12, 2015
1.5 weeks after my son had a stroke he was transferred from the academic hospital to a rehabilitation hospital. He is already able to walk a bit and lift up his left leg. The future is still uncertain and we, and he in particular, try to cope with this situation. Yet, we have seven more days of progress. And that is the best there is.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Day 446 – November 29, 2015
Day 447 – December 1, 2015
Day 448 – December 3, 2015
Day 449 – December 4, 2015
Day 450 – December 5, 2015
I needed, I wanted, to stroll the streets again, clearing my mind. To turn things simple again. Or, at least I try to.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Wouter Brandsma 