martien van asseldonk's photostream

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We have art, Nietzsche said, so that we will not be destroyed by scientific truth... Humanity in the universe.. it is easy to despair and feel ultimate small. There is humility in submission, and tenderness. But for me, who have a hearth and mind too small too encompass the whole of this creation, I seek consolation in the words of Nietzsche.

And you, ("and you beloved one," she said, while she got distracted by a tramp waving his arm so that she suddenly applied the brakes of the car too fast too avoid colliding and her fiend got a fit of laughter but it was holiday and who cared the world was theirs and they were each others) and you, you....

I beg you to forget about skincolor, and to enjoy tones and texture harmonize with background. Forget about wealth, and read stories of existence in the richness of faces. Look with submission and tenderness, try to encompass the whole of creation. (It wasn't a tramp, it was her brother.)

How do you make these portraits?” a visitor asked. “I don’t know, I just shoot,” I replied. When more viewers asked the same question, I tried to understand and explain it.

There are a few photographic rules, like try to have the sun in the back. Realise that taking a subject from a low position “enlarges” it, it shows deference and respect. Shooting from a high position belittles the subject. Fortunately it is easier to squat than to climb on a chair. Always make more shots, and select the best few. Making pictures has always on emotional impact on the subject. It varies how many shots you can take, sometimes none, or just one, sometimes up to ten. Try to shoot at least three.

You need to practise, get experience. After a while you might develop the ability to 'see' a composition, or picture. Seeing a frame that pops out the background – then point and shoot. You can set your mind on what you want to see, I often look for a combination of a spirited face – some people kind of carry their soul in their face - with a good background. Sometimes I ask the subject to make a few steps toward a good background.

There is a deeper level, touching personality, which takes the lead when the actual shooting starts. Sometimes I do not interact with the subject an just record what I see, but often there is interaction and energy flowing. There is always a sense of connection and love from my side. A smile perhaps, to which people respond. I am a management trainer and that goes with being a kind of loving father giving people a sense of safety and security, and at the same time taking some controll over them. I play that same role when photographing people, at least when I am in the mood and have the energy. Once I am shooting I am very focussed, almost like a trance. Especially when the subject has that spark I am looking far. It is a hightened state of awareness for a few minutes, a flow. I pay full respect, often joking, defreezing the subjects, interacting with them. It depends also on the culture. In Bangladesh people almost always love to be taken photos. Women in some Muslim cultures shake 'no' or hastily cover their face. In North Vietnam it are the men who say no, not the women. I never make pics obviously without permission.

Then there is also the artistic dimension. Feeling what a composition does to the emotions, and being directed by that. Bringing out deeper levels of existence, untold truths. Partly this is unconscious. Partly it is realizing what works and applying that it in new situations. For instance I often place my subjects at the extreme left or right of a picture. It increases 'aloneness', and invites the viewer to fill in that gap. It also increases vulnerability and a bit of tenderness. I can enlarge that feeling, but in some pictures I feel that it is not fair towards the subject, they deserve the middle of the photo, maybe because they are already so vulnerable themselves.

All this doesn’t go through my head when shooting. It is only in retrospect that I am trying to understand what I did, and it doesn't explain all my work. I..., well, I just shoot.

Photos of martien van asseldonk (3)

martien van asseldonk's favorite photos from other Flickr members (224)

Contacts (11,251)

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Groups (50 50)

Millenniums Best Kid Pics 13,353 photos, 1,207 members
Editorial Views 328 photos, 59 members
Bangladeshi Photographers 98,541 photos, 3,525 members
Asian Voyages 483 photos, 108 members
Magnificent Portrait - Post 1 Give 5 2,042 photos, 224 members
HUMANS BEING 9,802 photos, 524 members
Hidden Journeys 978 photos, 170 members
Do we look like a terrorist to you? 421 photos, 92 members
The Images of Sri Lanka 5,368 photos, 240 members
Reportage people 11,995 photos, 682 members
Official National Geographic Group 294,354 photos, 12,381 members
⌙ The New Golden Seal of Quality - Invite Only P1/C3 5,380 photos, 1,571 members
Coloursplosion! (Post 1, Award 1, Invite 1 to Group) 71,490 photos, 5,240 members
Exposition (P1 - C2 ) SWEEPER IS NOW ON 32,139 photos, 2,062 members
Far and Away the Best (Invited Images ONLY) 35,095 photos, 7,480 members
GLI AMICI DEI MIEI AMICI SONO MIEI AMICI( Post 2 Award 2 ) 28,037 photos, 1,418 members
Best of b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l (admin invite, award 2) 13,827 photos, 3,312 members
Master's Gallery-ADMIN invite- Only for Members!! 909 photos, 193 members
He@rt in All of us 769 photos, 388 members
*The Best Of The B-E-S-T Post 1/Comment 3 17,908 photos, 4,457 members
Getty Images on Flickr 0 photos, 12,744 members
Only the best* 73 photos, 7 members
Favourite Landscapes 1,667 photos, 78 members
♡ show me how you feel ♡ 2,279 photos, 427 members
Ysplix :-) 15,429 photos, 2,352 members
National Geographic | World Wide 66,268 photos, 6,098 members
as beautiful as you want 366,283 photos, 8,728 members
SOUL WOMAN OF THE DAY: October Champion is Announced 2,174 photos, 344 members
Photos from the G20 protests, London 2009 3,006 photos, 250 members
Portraits (Headshots) 1,416 photos, 195 members
PEOPLE_OF_ THE_WORLD 26,254 photos, 1,795 members
People out there 2,558 photos, 115 members
** Flickr's Best ** / post 1 award 2 / Moderated Queue 11,741 photos, 2,862 members
Just One Look 23,295 photos, 2,253 members
Fascination and love of life 218,801 photos, 13,369 members
Refugee Women 1,431 photos, 577 members
The Perfect Picture 2,491 photos, 316 members
Ljómi *a ray of light* 44,158 photos, 4,097 members
The best portraits, the true portraits 335 photos, 109 members
Kodaki Ko (Post 1- Comment 2) 8,511 photos, 866 members
:: FOTOGRAFÍA HUMANA :: (human photos) 13,714 photos, 549 members
Out Of This World. P1. A3.*SWEEPER ACTIVE* 96,837 photos, 7,427 members
DIGIFOTO Pro 397,572 photos, 14,128 members
JOURNALIST★CHRONICLES - (Invited Images - P 1 C 2 / Moderated) 5,665 photos, 751 members
Malawi 7,293 photos, 432 members
Fotografi senza frontiere (high-quality photographs) 15,059 photos, 1,023 members
**Platinum Heart Awards** (Only with 8+Heart Awards Invitation!) 167,258 photos, 13,839 members
Portrait Photography (Post 1 Award 4) 16,719 photos, 2,345 members
Africa Bambata (invite some new members!!!) 4,885 photos, 259 members
**Heart Awards** (P.1 Award 5) Rule Break= BAN 867,845 photos, 32,285 members

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Testimonials (40)

adeflick says:

"i am the biggest fan of your photos, the images you capture are divine in each angel. i sometime lack words to describe my feelings, but i can say that i wish that i could leave my current field and switch to photography..
keep the good work going!"

25th August, 2011
Dick Verton says:

"Martin

Je hebt een uitzonderlijk talent om bijzondere foto's te maken.Ik geniet enorm van je werk.Vooral ook omdat jij net als ik graag de mens centraal stelt in je foto's( zelfs al staan ze uiterst rechts of links!) Ik kan echt van je foto's genieten en ga een volgende reis nog meer op compositie etc. letten.Dus meer hurken! Wanneer komt je fotoboek uit?
Groet
Dick Verton"

16th April, 2011
sammsky says:

" I just came back from a tour of India and Bangladesh. Before I left, I read through some of your stream and learnt your technique for landscape portraits .... ie: position the subject to the extreme right or left of the frame whilst filling the rest of the frame with contrasts etc. Its a wonderful technique so I hope you don't mind but Im now using it all the time!"

19th November, 2010
My Beautiful Friend says:

"I love what you wrote about some people wearing their soul on their face. Your photos are sublime. I wish I could go and rescue the starving baby in Bangladesh. I wish I could just go and take him home with me and feed him. That is a hard picture to look at, but I think the mom probably keeps him that way on purpose so she can get more money from people who feel sorry for the baby. Just my opinion."

28th September, 2010
espe casanoves says:

"he visto las 123 paginas de tu galeria ... que decirte?? ... es un recital de las que agregaria una por una a mis favoritos ... eres genial y un autentico artista del retrato sobre todo pero ademas eres un todo-terreno, captas ademas paisajes imposibles ... y por la cantidad/ calidad de fotos creo que tendras retratado a casi todo el mundo ... de verdad, nunca he visto una galeria tan genial, mi mas sincera enhorabuena, un gustazo conocerte y ahi te va un beso desde valencia ... seguiré de cerca tu obra que es como si la estuviera viendo con mis ojos !! :*"

16th September, 2010
riccardocornaglia says:

"I just wanted to express my deep admiration for your images and places you've visited.
They are images that touch the depths of the heart.
Congratulations for what I could really admire your gallery.

Regards Richard"

15th July, 2010
LeYgE says:

"I love so much to look your Fotostream. I start looking one photo and when I least expect it I feel "trapped" by the charm and beauty of your photos!!!"

11th June, 2010
iki-photos says:

"un petit témoignage dans la langue de Molière, ta galerie m'a emportée loin, très loin.
Elle témoigne autant de la réalité que des contrastes de notre monde, mais elle remplit le coeur de tendresse, elle témoigne d'une grande, très grande humanité.
Bravo et mille merci Martien !"

15th May, 2010
Nuria Fatych says:

"Seine Bilder sind nicht nur eine gute Reportage... Martien sieht alles mit Liebe und sehr philosophisch. Er respektiert jede Person, die in seinen Objektiven kommt... Er verewigt die Atmospher und metaphisischen Sinn eines Momentes,r verewigt die Schoenheit dieser Welt!
Sie inspirieren mich! Danke!"

13th January, 2010
Melisa Coloiera says:

"his portraits of people are fantastic, very naturally captures expressions, I am delighted to meet her gallery that I can learn a lot from him, is a genius of the portraits with incredible anthropological work. Best wishes, greetings!"

27th September, 2009
kajvin says:

"I love Martien's images they tell a story abut people and countries, he have a great skill to documentary the without a lot of words."

27th September, 2009
Junckr says:

"He is a master of portrait
photography.Common sense
and any photo, great job.
it is certainly inspired by him."

17th August, 2009
ibcali says:

"You are such a master portrait artist! I just "happened" across your photo stream and cannot wait until I have more time to devote to feasting on your photos! Keep up the AWESOME work! ;)"

5th August, 2009
adam_mcintosh says:

"His pictures have a way of sneaking up on me and suddenly leaving me awestruck by both the depth of personality revealed and the technical excellance of his work!"

3rd August, 2009
gibba1 says:

"Everyday I look forward to some stunning images from Martien Van Asseldonk. Having read Kabul Beauty School and other items about Afghanistan, his work really does put a face on a terrible situation. Many thanks to him."

28th April, 2009
desi.dorite says:

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it. ...writes JM Barrie. But Martien has given us all a touch of humility through his beautiful body of work. His photos and the inspired people behind the creativity are something I look forward to. I aspire to be as good a photographer and take lesson from this master."

11th April, 2009
cherry blossom tattoo says:

"Martien is an inspiration, he has the ability to capture the true essence of a person, I don't know how his does it, maybe I don't want to - it's pure magic. His photos are a delight to view and command attention, usually resulting a smile of some sort.
Keep it up x"

18th March, 2009
Tatif says:

""your pictures really reflect your passion and talent,how to put in scene.
Congratulations""

13th March, 2009
liangdu says:

"Martien photo has a story, I was attracted by their.On this day I have read all his photos, with my friends to speculate on what his career as well as other relevant his life.I put his photo recommend my friends to watch, this is a pleasant thing.Thank you for allowing me to see another kind of life."

28th February, 2009
Purple satin bowerbird back on and off says:

"As a contact I follow Martiens photostream daily but rarely leave comments as the usual "Flickr-ese " adjectives often seem too trivial and well used to describe the depth of feeling invoked by Martiens unique talent as a photographer and recorder of real life.
I so admire his ability to portray beauty,humour,hope and above all love in even the saddest of images
Thank you Martien for allowing me the priveledge of seeing through your eyes people , places and situations I could hardly imagine without you and your camera.
."

30th January, 2009
Fran.Marchena says:

"There is a common denominator in the work of Marti, and is none other than the loving gaze with which he perceives our world. Every face, every gesture, no matter the color of their faces and surroundings of these gestures, they all speak of hope, remind us about the joy of being alive. Each one us should carry in our pockets a photograph taken by this man to remember, when necessary, that life can be as beautiful as we want."

30th January, 2009
Beyond Teresa says:

"You have made incredible trips and amazing photos of this world. What a five stars photostream! No country is too dangerous or distant for you. Congrats and keep the amazing images coming! Beyond Teresa"

25th January, 2009
AmoryLuz ♥ Love&Light says:

"Really we need art, maybe if not, we're not alive. But there's a way to end this trauma and be better, therapy like family constelations(Hellinger) or Alejandro Jodorowsky with psicomagic acts. finally doing our personal work and feel that there's a reason in everything that matter. God's plan that anyone can't understand. Because we don't need to understand everything.Tao, Zen, Buddism. Thank you for sharing your insights through your beautiful photos with us all"

24th January, 2009
feli_64 says:

"There is intense humanity radiating from your fotos. It is not just that the photos are well made, but they express as well rather the desire to visit these places and meet these people. In each portrait be can guess a history. Thank you so much for showing your world."

21st January, 2009
m_terry_38 says:

"I have only just noticed Martien's photostream and I wish that I had discovered these breathtaking and moving photos long ago. They are full of life and simplicity. Just beautiful."

17th January, 2009
Jenae smiles :) says:

"I just have to say that Martien's images are breathtaking! I feel like I am right there when I see them. Martien brings out such pure emotion. I just want to thank Martien for sharing such amazing images of individuals I may never have seen or experienced without his photos."

9th January, 2009
B J Smith says:

"Martien I stumbled onto one of your pictures just a few nights ago, since that time I have spent hours looking through your treasures one by one.Each photo is just as special as the one before, ive never seen such a beautiful collection of anything in my life.And although I know little about you i have a feeling that the man behind this beautiful collection may be the most beautiful of them all.thanks Martien from a distant friend BJ Smith"

7th January, 2009
L-A-H-I-R-U says:

"Martin's photostream contains exquisite photoset of people and their lifestyles. Especially he has figure out the people of Sri Lanka (which is my country) and about their lifestyles in an amazing and a potential way.
"Martin, your photostream is the best one which I have seen. Wish you the best and thanks for sharing this with others.......""

3rd December, 2008
BornJavanese says:

"Thanks, Martien! You're so kind to have your collections shared in here. I just found a person who is so sharp to capture humanity through the lens. I can feel your passionate heart.

God bless you and family!"

1st December, 2008
Kevin Borland says:

"I've only written one other testimonial since I joined flicker a year ago (and that testimonial was solicited). I've seen a lot of fantastic photos on Flickr. I'm involved in a lot of scoring groups in Flickr, where I've seen a lot of photos I thought deserved 10 out of 10s.

Over the past year, 137 photographers have added me as a contact. I usually review the first page or two, and if I like their work I add them as a contact. Sometimes, I find a photo that I mark a favorite. When Martien added me as a contact, I began looking through his photostream. On nearly every page, I found multiple photos that moved me enough to mark as a favorite.

I can't remember the last time that I felt captivated by a photostream to browse through 50 pages of photos. I'm writing this testimonial because I feel that Martien has an incredible talent for capturing the human spirit in his photos. His photos are from various locations around the world, mostly around the Indian subcontinent, including Afghanistan, but as remote as Massai tribal communities in Kenya . Quite a few of his portraits, in my opinion, belong on the cover of National Geographic, or in a museum.

I consider myself a pretty good semi-pro photographer, but when I browsed through Martien's portraits, I feel like a complete amateur.

Congratulations on fine work, and I hope you someday find yourself in my town (Arlignton, Virginia). I'd love to see how you would capture the spirit of my home."

26th November, 2008
tlparker9 says:

"Martien's portraits are wonderful! It's so apparent that he sees great value in the human soul - wherever he find it, whatever color, shape, culture. He see a treasure. I do too - I just can't capture it on film. I hugely admire his work and return often to his photostream for a treat. Thank you for sharing your vision!""

21st November, 2008
hafifimuhammad:currently lazing with ali kareemi says:

"your pics are extraordinary and it looks like the ppl in sri lanka are happy despite the suffering and hardship..bravo to you! all ur pics are the best.i'm truly inspired!"

19th November, 2008
razzzmatazzz says:

"Martien's photographs are too good for me to just tap in a casual comment, they are all very thought fully captured and definitely demands serious introspection.
I find most of his photographs very emotive................they really stir up a lot of feeling and emotion. He is immensely gifted with the power of capturing the expressions that exude from the eyes of his subjects."

19th November, 2008
-uno-mas- says:

"Martiens photos are in a class of their own, they are very inspirational, and I hope I can one day achieve a fraction of what he has with his photos."

5th November, 2008
soymamen says:

"Enorme! no tengo palabras.
Gracias!"

6th November, 2008
sonja_valentina says:

"Fabulous work and exquisite look of the world. Congratulations!!!!"

3rd November, 2008
chippewabear says:

" Martien, I am so engrossed by your photostream, I looked for hours at your photos, I love the detail and the loving way you portray people, I also love your animal photos, I am so glad I found your photos, they are so good and full of hope. I really felt like I was learning about the customs and about the people of Sri Lanka, I love how you see no color, but you see all colors, I love the way you give a poor peasant the same attention you give a beautiful piece of architecture I love the way your photos of dirt poor women are proud and full of emotion and hope and the way the men you photograph are full of life and have such a sense of humor. Your photos have a sweet gentle quality even in a war torn country of refugees, Even while you are showing the way the war has effected these people in such a horrible way. You are an exceptional photographer, you love and respect the people in your photos as you love and respect the land and all you see. Through your photos others will learn to love and respect different cultures and people too. I feel privileged to view your soul through your photos. Barbara"

21st October, 2008
Pericomart(ahora sólo series) says:

"Sus fotos muestran felicidad en las caras de la gente. Y para que fluya debe ser dada primero por el fotógrafo. Creo que hace usted un buen trabajo repartiendo un poco de felicidad... en los tiempos que corren la felicidad es difícil de encontrar y más difícil transmitir.

Felicidades!!!

----Google Traducción:

His photos show happiness on the faces of the people. And so that flow should be given first by the photographer. I think you doing a good job of handing out a little bit of happiness ... in the days running happiness is hard to find and more difficult to transmit.

Congratulations!!!"

19th October, 2008
Le nai says:

"you are. if im allowed to say it. a great photographer. Flickrs like yours inspire me to go on and on exploring this marvelous world
I really envy the places you've been to and id love to be able to catch expresions in the pictures like you do.

Please keep going like this..i will be very happy to watch your new pics.

Best Regards

Nacho, from Argentina"

2nd October, 2008
Zita Kamugira says:

"I spent my latest few hours looking through the photographs in your album. It was a great pleasure for me, because like you I have no borders between people. Like you I love all the people on this earth. I love your tenderness in the way you look trough a camera. I love the sence of equilibrium in each composition, the light, colours, textures, distribuition of volumes, the respect for the others. It is as if your life was the life of someone who had learned to look, or who was born with this sense of beauty inside and outside people. Its very difficult to find someone like you, who is not a professional photographer. When you have will publish a book of yours travels you can count me as one more reader.

Hugs, Zita"

22nd July, 2008