maandag 27 augustus 2012

Redhead Days Breda 2012

The redhead days 2012 are exactly on the same date as in 2007, when I made my famous series Red-On-Red. Coincidence or not, this year's theme is 'by nature' and the dress code = green. Same colour as the very first roodharigendag (redhead day) in Asten, NB, the Netherlands in 2005.
Since 2007 it's been an annual event in my city Breda.

Spring 2007: I shot my first set of Red-On-Red, as I was involved in creating promo and marketing photos to support the 1st redheadday in Breda. My Red-On-Red try out in Rotterdam was successful :))) yes, it works!! Red clothing, red background and...gordeous natural red hair!
So 2 September 2007 I photographed over a 100 redheads @ Electron in Breda. The results were published in my very first Blurb book.

2 September 2007 - Roodharigendag Electron Breda
In the years following I was asked to help and so Hans van Nunen and I did Medusa in 2008. In 2009 we were very busy with out own group event, 99+ brides Trash The Dress in Scheveningen. Can't remember if I made any portraits but at least I took some 'snap shots' in the Valkenberg park. To avoid the big crowd I organised another RED! shoot in our new photostudio in Breda, Artstudio23.com at the end of the year.

Models are pleased not to have to wait to get their portrait taken, and TFCD is exactly what they want: for posing they'll receive all files HR on cd, and I am given written permission by the model, to be able to use all portraits online etc.
Roelie in 2010 - infraRED
infraRED was my 3rd book. Using post-production to create infrared photos of natural (ginger) redheads. The analog film sort of showed 'beneith skin' layers, as infrared light has a different point of focus then when using normal light. It goes into the skin, deeper. I asked myself: what if infrared light is used on red hair??
Jose en Roelie in 2007 - Red-On-Red











This is what I do. Trying out new ways, things that aren't supposed to be 'done that way' (e.g. never wear red when you are a ginger). Most red hair models are made to pose against nature (green) background, to get the biggest colour contrast, so...I was wondering: why not use only red, and dress them red and make them pose against a red background. Red-On-Red(-On-Red!) :)

Medusa was created to use the (long) hair of the models, to shape it show it pose it! We made the models lay down so we could create new shapes with their beautiful red hair. infraRED was a try to get under the skin of (wreckled) redheads. What happens when all (red) colour's dissapeared?

In 2011 I cooperated with Expo, and held a triple shoot. I am experimenting with analog photography still, and after discovering my Polaroid camera in the attic again, I am also using instant film. The 2011 book is simply RED. 3 photos; 1 digital, 1 analog (cross processed) 1 instant.

For 2012 I've again received a lot of requests, 'aren't you doing something this year????' ...ok...as it's my first lustrum in taking photos of natural redheads, this year is the VERY LAST opportunity to get a MeRy photo as natural red hair model. Walk in 2 September 2012, Huis voor Beeldcultuur, Reigerstraat 16, Breda. 14.00-16.00 h (2-4PM) Dress code: white top/shirt, and optional: red top/shirt.

To all mothers and mothers-to-be: all of your portraits will also be used to help out One minute to stop maternal mortality to support UN's 5th Millenium Development Goal.
Medusa, 2008

© Fotograaf Hans van Nunen

dinsdag 21 augustus 2012

Amputee sportsman - Össur UK photobook 2008


Photoshoot with model Jim for Össur UK, amputee sportsman wearing different kind of prostectics while rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking in National Park, The Moor, Devon, Southern England, July 2008. Photography & design: MeRy (Melanie Rijkers) - Idea & marketing: Eve Rigby - Cover Design: Össur UK - You can view the photo book HERE.

Life without limitations.

Photographer Melanie Rijkers is available worldwide. Business, event, wedding and portrait photography, graphic design (photobook) and documentairy series: info@artstudio23.com

Model wanted for San Francisco Trash The Dress shoot

Wanted: bride (and groom?!) for San Francisco TFCD photoshoot. I am an experienced Trash The Dress photographer, and available 10-13 October 2012. info@artstudio23.com or msg me via Facebook Thx!

Model wanted for Vegas Trash The Dress shoot

Wanted: bride (and groom?!) for Las Vegas TFCD photoshoot. I am an experienced Trash The Dress photographer, and available 12 or 15 September 2012. info@artstudio23.com or msg me via Facebook Thx!

donderdag 16 augustus 2012

Resumé Melanie Rijkers, independant photographer

LinkedIn:
Melanie Rijkers - BeeldVinder [fotograaf] - 21 July 1971 - Bakel, the Netherlands
Fine Art Photographer - ImageFinder
Online bookstore

Facebook.com/Artstudio23
@mery71
Dutch blog
Google+

Member of:
GKf and Brabants Kenniscentrum Kunst & Cultuur (BKKC)

Since 2007 working together with photographer Hans van Nunen: Artstudio23.com


Experience
Owner/photographer at MeRy.nl/Artstudio23.com since 8/1996: Independant Fine Art Photographer to be hired for business events, artistic weddings, photo album design, art on canvas, big size photo art, pure portraits of mothers, family, baby, kids. Documentary and architecture photography. Fashion, glamour, models, pregnancy and artistic nude. Polaroid fan, but I also love Photoshop and iPhone apps!

A few big projects:
PURE. Proud young mothers age 16-22, 2006-2009
Red-On-Red, redhead days Breda, 2007-2012
Trash The Dress, organisor of group events since 2007, e.g. 99+ brides ran into the Northesea, 2009 - photographer of Mass Trash The Dress in Adelaide - photographer of Running of the Brides @ Niagara Falls, Canada

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Organisor/curator of Halte Vlaszak exhibition during the Breda Photo Festival 2008, VAK ateliers.

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Organisor/curator of the Best in Breda open studio route 23+24 October of the Breda Photo Festival 2010.
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Sales at Cityfoto
1/1997 to 9/2007: Printing and developing analog and since 2005 also digital photos, designing birth announcement cards and wedding invitations, selling cameras, photoalbums, printing canvas art etc.
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Before working part-time @ the last photo store I've had jobs with: One Hour Superphoto, Miss Selfridge and Circles clothing stores, Miniature City Madurodam's souvenir shop, check-out girl @ Edah supermarket and ofcourse I also was a newspaper-boy (girl ;) and worked on farmer's land to harvest strawberries, beans, asperges etc when being a young girl.

Education
St. Joost Academy, Breda - Fine Art Photography
1992 to 1996
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Sint Lucas Grahpic Design Academy
1988 to 1992
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Peelland College Deurne (IVO - secondary school, type HAVO)
1983 to 1988
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St. Willibrordusschool Bakel (elementary school)
1977 to 1983


maandag 13 augustus 2012

Red-On-Red 2012

Red-On-Red [Redhead day 2007] portraits now available as e-book too! From 4,99 €

In 2007 Bart Rouwenhorst held the first 'roodharigendag' in Breda, the Netherlands. In 2005 there was a similar, but much smaller event in an art gallery in Asten, where Bart was showing his paintings of red (ginger) women.
When working on promotion photos for the first Breda redheadday, I came up with the idea of Red-On-Red. ​ During the 2007 event five big pieces (90x140 cm) of Red-On-Red art were shown in the Grote Kerk (Cathedral) of Breda, the heart of the annual event ever since.
In the Belcrum I was able to create my own outdoor Red-On-Red studio @ Electron, and over a 100 redheads had their portrait taken 2 September 2007. ​
This e-book is to celebrate the beauty of being blessed with red hair. I am proud that I was one of the Breda artists from the start, who gave people with red hair a reason to be proud, very proud! ​

 In 2008 we created Medusa
infraRED was made in 2010
2011 and 2012 books will be out asap ​

2007 Red-On-Red original book also showing behind the scenes and event photos. ​ ​ ​

Contact info@Artstudio23.com for more information about our photography, Hans van Nunen and Melanie Rijkers (MeRy) are Artstudio23.com
Facebook.com/Artstudio23

Red 2011 - redhead days Breda

3 sets of beautiful redheads! Photos made during the redhead days in Breda 2011.

Also available as e-book, 4,99 € only!


3 sets of gordeous redheads, posing for me dressed in black during the redhead days in 2011. 1st set: digital camera (Nikon D700) with studio lights, 2nd set: Kodachrome Elite cross-processed film with Nikon F100 camera, 3rd set: instant photography using Polaroid and Impossible Project film.



Olympics 2012


 Olympic Rings, Tower Bridge






Ships had to pass therefore the Olympic rings were 'up'

 Team Olympics everywhere through the city, to show people their way [Spitalfields Market]
 Stratford station, now THE entrance to the Olympic Park
 Same colour phonebooths (Olympics pink/purple)
 Entrance to the Olympic Park, no one is allowed without a ticket...
 Picadilly Circus, watching the Games
Snapseed image of London city 

London City 2012

English summer rain... - lucky for us we were invited to the Africa Fashion Week where the environment was warm and colourful:) Olympic logo just outside Old Spitalfields Market, inside there was:







More of this wonderful event here: Africa Fashion Week London 2012 feel free to tag yourself!