Student Photographer of the Year

In this series I’ve photographed the last remaining traditional costumes of the Netherlands, to celebrate and cherish the country’s ancient culture. These groups have a few things in common that we often miss in modern society: togetherness, authenticity and shared pride. Today we live in a time where individualism, social pressure and a drive for achievement have taken over. Many city dwellers are disconnected from their cultural roots and feel alienated in a society full of global citizens. By elevating these communities, I hope that people will look for their own cultural roots again. In my romanticised images I create a world which I think is perfect, a world I would like to be a part of. These cultures are full of extraordinarily detailed clothing in which each part has its own meaning and tells a story about the history of its culture.

In my photography, I am looking for the meaning of the 'human Identity'. Who are we, what has made us who we are, what way of life are we made for and how can a trained mind help us with this journey? To find answers to our identity I photograph the history, culture, and spiritual awareness of human.