This work remains a matter of feeling—it can’t be automated.
Gert van Oortmerssen is conservator and analyst in the Laboratory for Conservation and Material Studies of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA). With the greatest care he restores the centuries old pottery, jewelry and other objects excavated by the GIA. Vases like this one are often in dozens of pieces and it’s no small task to put the right shard back in the right place. Automation is not possible—computers simply don’t have the power yet. For the time being it remains a matter of feeling and a lot of patience. Doesn’t that get boring? “Never. Every puzzle is a new one.”
Interview with Joris van Alpen in Bionieuws, February 4, 2012.
While I was away, Bionieuws published a nice interview about my photography. It was this small newspaper that published my first photos several years ago, and sent me on my first paid assignments. It’s extra special for me now to find a portrait by Reyer Boxem of me in the same space where some of my own pictures appeared before.
Biologiestudent en natuurfotograaf Joris van Alphen gaat voor National Geographic in Chili een fotoreportage maken van de blauwe vinvis. ‘Een prachtkans om de wereld in te gaan, dingen te zien en met anderen te delen.’
For those curious about my activities in Chile, the article also provides some background information on the project I worked on. If you receive Bionieuws in the mail you will find the interview on page two of the second issue. Otherwise you can get the PDF from the publicity page in the About section of the site.
It feels like I’ve only just arrived in Chile and yet my time here is already up. I’ll be boarding my plane in a few minutes, so I will leave you with this photo from last night of the cabin under the Milky Way that was my home for the past three weeks. I’m sorry I didn’t get to post anything from the field—I really wanted to share my experiences with you as they were happening, but I had my hands full with working on the project. I’m signing off now—the next post will be from home!
As I write this I’m waiting for the first in a series of flights and ferries that will take me to Isla Grande de Chiloé in Chile. The waters surrounding this island are part of one of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet, and harbor the largest known aggregation of blue whales on the southern hemisphere. I’m going there to photograph a blue whale and southern right whale conservation project for National Geographic Netherlands/Belgium.
As I’ve never been to Chile before, the photo above is from Ecuador. But it does symbolize the journey I’m about to embark on. I made it when I was fifteen with my first camera, a four-megapixel digital compact with a video teleconverter attached to the front. Four megapixels seemed huge to me at the time. How far this technology has come in a few years! It was not truly my first camera though—my first camera was made of blue plastic and had one button to release the shutter and a dial to advance the film to the next frame. A gift from my parents when I was seven. It broke down after exposing as many as three rolls of film. But in a way that digital compact was still my first real camera—for the first time I was taking pictures with the intention of creating good photos as opposed to just holiday snaps for the family album. And on this trip to Ecuador, for the first time, I dreamed of going on photographic adventures for the famous yellow-bordered magazine…
I have to board the plane now, so I need to finish up. The next post will be from Chile!
As you may know I was nominated for the National Geographic Emerging Nature Photographer Award 2012 together with Joris De Raedt (Belgium) and Marten van Dijl (the Netherlands). This is a new award in the Netherlands and Belgium for “seriously talented photographers with proven contributions to nature conservation and awareness raising (…) meant to stimulate [them] in their professional career.”
Right now, this means several of my photos are in the Dutch edition of National Geographic Magazine, which is in the stores today. Those images are part of a photo story about Burgers’ Bush that I shot during a 6-hour challenge for the contest. I’ve added it to the photo stories section of the website, so you can see all the images if you wish. There you can also view the photo series about barn owls that secured my nomination.
Chile
For the near future, the award means that I will travel to Chile to photograph a blue whale conservation project for the Dutch National Geographic Magazine. I’m sorry that this is a little hastily written, but I will try to share more later as it is a very interesting project. I’m hoping to take you with me ‘into the wild’ through the means of the world wide web. I may be able to do some blog and/or video updates from the field, either here or on the Dutch National Geographic website, and I might devote a post or two to the preparations, but like I said, more about that later …
Interviews Today
I have several interviews in the Dutch media today. Firstly, the newspaper Dagblad van het Noorden has again devoted a page to me with an interview and several photos. Also, you can tune into Radio Noord between 16.00 and 18.00 (Central European Time, UTC +02:00). The piece will probably air around 17:00. Finally, I will be on RTV Noord live in the studio at 18.00. If you don’t live in the area, you can listen and watch the livestreams for the radio and television broadcasts.
Update — Here’s the piece that aired on RTV Noord:
Last but not least
Finally, be sure to check out the work of my fellow nominees Joris de Raedt and Marten van Dijl as they are both excellent photographers, and in addition Joris does beautiful illustrations of the natural world.
Theater technician Frans van Rijn in the OUTheater.
For my monthly feature in Universiteitskrant Groningen I like to try and find a subject whose job is often overlooked and put this person in the spotlight. This month, that is literally what I got the chance to do with theater technician Frans van Rijn.
What is more wonderful than a place to experiment?
Frans worked in the OUTheater since its inception 22 years ago (then known simply as University Theater). Here, he taught inexperienced students the tricks of the trade, and helped bring some 2500 shows to the stage. But this Friday the curtains will fall for the last time in the OUTheater. Faced by budgetary cuts, the university’s cultural centers are closing it down, to be converted into a lecture hall. Nevertheless, Frans looks back with joy at the good times: “What is more wonderful than a place to experiment, a place to collaborate? When you create something with a team and everything comes together that gives a tremendous kick.”
Jan Huizing has guarded over the university since 1980. He started working as a security guard and saw many incidents during those years. Recently he caught two burglars hiding in a toilet. “When I started working there was still respect for someone wearing a uniform, but nowadays those guys don’t hesitate to pull a knife. I loved the work, but looking back I am glad it is behind me. It became too dangerous.” He is still a guardian of the university, but today the subject of his protection is protocol. In his present job as beadle, he makes sure that PhD ceremonies and inaugurations flow smoothly. “For centuries we have performed these ceremonies by the same protocol, and it should stay this way—the way it’s always been. As beadle it’s my responsibility to uphold it.”
My first feature story for the Dutch National Geographic Magazine about my adventures with the Centro de Conservación Cetacea protecting blue whales in Chile.
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