touch of spring

machu picchu

I asked Emma for an Alpaca-photo. Here it is. Taken yesterday.

flowers for Pienke

Last goodbye to a very dear aunt .

thora in pink

The enchanting Thora Egidius, painted by A. Piersch in 1909.
While visiting the canalhouse museum van Loon, this pink picture caught my eye.

negen straatjes II

Which window belongs to Johnny ? If we may believe the information, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis recently bought an appartement in this building. I feel like a real papparazza.

negen straatjes

I'm lucky to live around the corner from "De negen straatjes" (the nine small streets) in the heart of Amsterdam. This shopping area with attractive little shops and a creative inspiring atmosphere is becoming more and more popular. You could say that's a good thing but I am afraid that its popularity will spoil the market. Rumour says that big commercial companies show more than normal interest in this neighbourhood. Lets's hope that somone or something will stop this development so that these streets don't lose their charme.

BARACK OBAMA DAY

19

Today, nineteen years ago I gave birth to my daughter Emma. In nineteen years this is the first birthday without a cake, balloons and garlands. Emma is breaking away from home and childhood at the other side of the world. Leaving me sentimental but proud.

Entre les murs

An impressive French film about one year in a classroom filled with puberty of different cultures in a Parisian suburb. The students are all non professional actors who, brilliantly directed by Laurent Cantet, show 100% believable characters. There's a lot in this film that triggers discusion. The vulnerability of the teacher is shocking. And how on earth can you create an atmosphere where you can do what you want to do; teaching your subject. It is a constant struggle and a daily fight. It makes you wonder why someone wants to become a teacher at all. It cannot be the high salary or the early retirement.

birdies

These cute little birds are continuously changing colours. Little smiley presents to give away. For sale at the HEMA

FOAM 2008

Foam_Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam presenteert op 15 januari 2009 Foam Album 08 met een feestelijke lancering. Foam Album 08 is een rijk beeldverslag van wat Foam in 2008 te bieden had en tegelijkertijd een fraai fotoboek met verrassend werk van bekende en minder bekende fotografen.

Hats on for Rembrandt

"I started working on the hat without a design. Meanwhile, I looked in the mirror every now and then. I'm not shy. My mother often take pictures of me. I like to have my mouth closed when somebody takes my picture. The photographer said: "You look like a queen.' When I saw the photo, I immediately thought: I'll put it in my room. On the inside of my closetdoor. I like it better than ordinairy photos. Because I made the hat myself. And light is in my eyes. One eye is darker than the other eye. Actually I have dark brown eyes, really dark. My parents loved the photo. My father put it in his mobile phone. The hat is in our storeroom now. Rembrandt would have said: "It looks like a real Rembrandt' . Everything is Rembrandt, except for my face."
Dilian Balkan

What would Rembrandt do with a digital camera? With this question as a startingpoint Photographer Marije van der Hoeven made portrets of more than threehundred children from different backgrounds. Together with hatdesigner Tineke Koelewijn the children designed a hat for themselves. A simple studio was improvised at school. The children posed with their hats on. Classmates took care of the lighting with torchlamps in the same light/darkness atmosphere that Rembrandt loved so much. The best photo's were used for a beautiful and very special book.A wonderful project with amazing results!

cold enough

for a nice fire

en retour

one week later

Fitz Roy

This is what Emma will see today on her journey through Patagonië.

Sabrina Starke

I like this girl from Rotterdam and her music

winterlight on the canal

The Herengracht in winterlight this afternoon.

Bariloche

Following her trail, this is the place where Emma is today.

Stunning landscape of Patagonië.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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