Uncommon intimacy

On the 28th, my video piece on Hamida will be screened during the multimedia evening at the Spaziolabo Festival in Bologna, Italy

You can also view the exhibit ‘Uncommon intimacy’ with work of 4 very talented NY photographers including Erica McDonald, who helped curate the exhibit and multimedia evening.

Hamida is one of the most wonderful persons I met while working and she touched my life profoundly. From the instant we met in her tent in the flood camp, we clicked and she very generously opened up to me and allowed me to get to know her and her family. The intimacy was built up during the consecutive weeks that I kept visiting her, often not photographing, but just talking, hanging out, being there. I’m so happy that my work on Hamida was chosen for this particular screening.

Here’s Hamida’s video once more

I heart Antwerp

© Wendy Marijnissen

 

© Wendy Marijnissen

 

© Wendy Marijnissen

 

Even on a rainy day like today, I’m in love with my city Antwerp. It’s home, it’s where my heart has always been.  In between the travel it’s where I return and feel completely at ease.

The view of the city from the museum MAS is amazing. Too cold and rainy to go to the real panoramic view on the roof (which I tried but it was wet and freezing today), but I already marveled at the views from the inside out. And even though the museum itself has a serious identity crisis, there are some amazing pieces of art to discover.

 

London

© Wendy Marijnissen

 

A new year and the start of a new project. It took me straight to London on the first days of the year and even though I’ve visited this city more times then I can remember, it was fresh and new yet again. Discovering new neighborhoods and seeing different people.

Sadly on the day I started my project, one of my all time sources of inspiration died in London. Eve Arnold.

From the moment I discovered her work, she was a source of inspiration to me. The loving way in which she photographed her subjects and the people she met, struck a chord with me. The simplicity of the image. Clear, honest, compassionate.

I love this quote of hers that sums it up totally:  “If a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given. It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.”

She’ll remain a source of inspiration for me even after her death. And I for one can’t wait for the coming book ‘All about Eve’ bundling together all her amazing work.

Rest in peace Eve. And thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us!

 

The tree, the piano and the chair – Wanderings #17

© Wendy Marijnissen

Wishes

Happy 2012

© Wendy Marijnissen

I’ve had another incredible year with great adventures, amazing encounters, old and new friends all over the world. I hope you did too.

I would like to wish you happy holidays and a beautiful 2012. Enjoy the final days of the year

They’re here

© Wendy Marijnissen

 

The postcard sets are finally printed, cut and ready for shipping They look really nice and I’m very happy with the end result. I know it’s an expensive time of the year and that there are so many worthy causes to support, but do consider ordering a set to support my documentary work.

10 euro + shipping

shipping in Belgium: +1,75€   —   in Europe: +3,5€  –   rest of the world: +4€

Send me an email with your details and I’ll give you the account details or paypal instructions for payment. wemarijnissen@gmail.com

 

More research – Mags

© Wendy Marijnissen

It’s the season

I believe it’s important that independent, documentary photography exists.
In our throw away society where images are plenty, in depth reporting can get lost. Taking your time to go deeper into a story became a luxury hardly anyone can afford.

I continue in my effort to tell stories that I feel are worth to be told.
Like the story of Hamida, who delivered a baby while she lived in a tent camp for flood victims in Pakistan.
Or the story of Jamila’s daughter Sobia, who got raped and murdered after refusing a marriage proposal from one of her neighbors.

© Wendy Marijnissen - Dummy of the postcard set

With this postcard set you can support me and help me continue documenting stories like the one about the dai in Pakistan.
The set will be printed and ready for shipping on the 15th of December. Each set contains of 5 images from the Looking for Dave series, 13x18cm and costs 10 euro + shipping costs. Payable via Paypal.

Around x-mas they’ll be available in the shop of the Photography Museum in Antwerp as well. There’s an exhibit of Peter Lindbergh at the moment worth checking out and you can pick up the cards in the shop along the way.

Order your copy/copies by sending me an email with your details (name, shipping address and copy amount) to: wemarijnissen@gmail.com

Thanks!
Wendy

Ashura

© Wendy Marijnissen - Ashura in the old city of Lahore. Pakistan

 

Today’s blasts in Afghanistan reminded me of the Ashura processions I was fortunate to photograph 2 years ago in the old city of Lahore.

Ashura marks the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein in the battle of Karbala in Iraq in the year 680. It is made up of mourning rituals re-enacting the martyrdom. Shia men dressed in black walk through the streets hitting their chests and chanting. Slowly the rituals and chanting build up to the point where the adult men hit themselves with knives until they bleed. It sounds horrible and some of the photographs are bloody and not really appetizing to watch. But besides the fear that some of the processions might be targeted and bombed like today in Kabul, the atmosphere actually was very serene.