McLion

Yesterday was the opening of Magdalenahof, a living community for elderly people in Geldrop, a small town near Eindhoven. Housing cooperation Wooninc. organized a party and I was asked to take some pictures. It was pleasant to see that many rollators where out of use! The seniors nowadays enjoy good old Imca Marina as much as a Spanish Merengue band, so the dancefloor was crowded .

© Pavel Iljin 2007

Last weekend we had a boys-only night out and went to the ever charming city of Liege (Luik) to visit a concert of Marillion. Like many other adepts, somewhere on the line I stopped proclaiming that all their material is great. 'Brave' was the first post-Fish album and still can be considered as one of the best ever - by any artist! But 'Anoraknophobia' and 'Marillion.com' are terrible. So I had no illusions that they have found the right track again with the newly released 'Somewhere else' CD. And even after the concert I'm not convinced it is worthwhile. Instrumentally there's nothing wrong, but the lyrics are poor. One thing changed gradually over the years, singer Steve Hogarth transformed from a shy and introvert frontman to a real on stage performer, able to maintain his ever loyal crowd. This, in combination with a great setlist and a perfect location, Le Forum - an art deco theater in the center of town, made it the best concert I've ever seen from Marillion. Chapeau!

"Te koop" Alsacelaan 85, 5627CB Eindhoven, EURO 217.500

I have found myself a new temporary job: I will be a broker for some (hopefully short) period. After exactly 13 years this wonderful house with nice garden and
a spacious office is back on the market . And although I expect to make good money on it, it is a bargain for the owners-to-be. More info and pictures on www.funda.nl and www.makelaarsland.nl. Or download the brochure here.

Since I don't want to be homeless and stroll in parks or sleep under bridges, being a broker also means buying a new place. But if you don't mind, I'll keep the good news for the next episode.

In my last post, I've mentioned that I was working on a 'secret' project. Well, since yesterday I can be open about it. Together with my colleagues Mark and Reindert, I start up a new company named Missing LinQ! Our aim is to help companies, organizations and local governments with Community Building, a complex of manners to improve social wellness and connecting groups of people living or working together. Our input will be on a cross media level: created by ourself but also instruct volunteers (children, elderly, immigrants etc.) and (communication) professionals in video productions, photography, writing and maintaining a specially developed content management system for a brand new website. This website is completely designed to play all kinds of files and has also a structure that allows clients to inform top-down and vice versa. A commercial model for return on investments is included and we will give project and management support as well. We strongly believe in the possibilities of what is called web television, especially within our integrated model. Right now, we are involved in some projects, of which I will inform you later.
More info: lion@missinglinq.com.

© McLion 2007

Yesterday I had a shoot (film and photo) for a really secret project, of which I will announce some details later this month. Better not share information with competitors at this moment. In advertising it is always handy to bring in a puppy, a child or a beautiful woman. My collegues (later!) have worked with Angela before, and she is for sure a beautiful woman. Besides that, this multi talent is a clever girl who helped us very professionally presenting our message for an important presentation next week. It was productive and nice working together.

Until now Angela is known as a 'babe' who has posed for FHM. Not exactly my taste, because I think she can look like a combination of Georgina Verbaan (a babe) and the more classic Mariska Hulscher. Later this week a TV-commercial from Lu will be aired, in which she will make us buy biscuits. I hope our production will have the same 'selling power' as the commercial, so we can convince our audience.

© McLion 2007

About a month ago I was called by Esther, an old friend and colleague with whom I lost contact for over 10 years. The company she now works for was in search of a designer to create a new image brochure. After this had been delivered, we found some time to talk about old times and present lives. Esther and her friend Maurice seemed to be the proud parents of a beautiful daughter called Jade. And they would love to have some portraits of her. A request I couldn't and wouldn't deny. It was great fun and I wonder why I don't do this more often. More pictures in the gallery.

On the 3rd of June Tori Amos will give a concert in the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, and my friend Erik bought us some tickets. Although I'm familiar with some of her songs, it will be an evening of surprises. Amos is compared with icons like Joni Mitchel and Kate Bush, so you can imagine I look forward to her performance. The singer/songwriter/pianist is called to be highly alternative with her religous oriented lyrics and eccentric personality. Amos will visit The Netherlands for the promotion of her new album American Doll Posse.
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Amos and www.toriamos.com.

It doesn't happen so often that one of my favorits performs in my hometown Eindhoven. Last thursday the Norwegian singer/songwriter Maria Mena held a concert at the Effenaar. I expected that the average age of the visitors wouldn't be over 16, because of some popular songs that are played all days at the radio. There were some, but Mena's lyrics are serious enough to appeal a larger public. Her introspective songs and the announcements in between, made it a quit intimate concert. Surprisingly good, specially considering she's just 21.

It's official: I may call myself a writer! Last december my book was nominated for the title 'Travel Book of the Year 2006'. This week the 'Vereniging van Reisboekhandels in Nederland - VRN' (United Travel Bookstores in The Netherlands) announced the winner and started a media campaign. Guess what? And the winner is... 'Transsiberië & Kamtsjatka'.

The jury wrote: Beautiful large format book, with splendid and original photos of a journey from The Hague via Moscow and further by Transsiberian Railways to Irkutsk (Lake Baikal), Vladivostok and Kamchatka. It can be read as a captivating travel report and is illustrated with landscape photos and intimate portraits of the local population. Besides that it also includes some practical travel tips.

I'm very honoured with this election, which is a great stimulance and inspiration to continue what I love to do: photograph, write and travel. I want to thank all members of the jury and wish for all of us that this title will lead to exposure and sales. Finally I want to congratulate Anavasi Publishers (Cartographic Map of the Year: Mani, Greece) and Luc Verhuyck (Travel Guide of the Year: Firenze).

Info: www.reisboekhandel.nl/pers2grb.html

Last weekend Erik and I went to Munich and Garmisch Partenkirchen. Not for skiing (although we all did the Zugspitze - almost 3,000 meter!) but for visiting Milka, who was studying on a military base there. It was a good opportunity to test my new camera. A small impression.


Me skiing: getting more crazy

Milka: getting more beautiful © McLion 2007

Munich: getting more expensive © McLion 2007

About 101 stories to tell, but I didn't find time yet. But I do have the pictures, so please feel free to visit all Ghana galleries.

Detail of a fishing boat in national colors, Cape Coast © McLion 2007

They say you get to know people really when you are traveling with them. So I knew I took a risk when I agreed to join a couple and their friend to travel together through Ghana. Steven - my fellow traveler and the initiator of the book 'Prime Meridian' - and I have met before, though not often. His wife Marie-Xavier and their friend Daniele where completely unknown for me, as I was for them. During our trip I have found that all my (professional) activities made me what I am today: a soloist. I do have difficulties with discipline, people arguing about money, planned highlights and regular sleeping and eating. So there was some friction, and at the end of our journey I think at least some of us were happy to split again.

Normally people are looking for a place to put the blame. But in this case I don't want to do so, perhaps "it's because of me" . Besides all of this, I already did know about Steven's search for another (financially more attractive) publisher for the Prime Meridian book. Maybe we'll still find some common ground to finish what we started, and we'll create a fabulous book anyway. The future will tell.

In spite of these troubles, I really had a fantastic time in Ghana. Because of the country, it's people and above all because of that other risk that worked out extremely well: Daniele.


Daniele at the Canope Walk near Cape Coast © McLion 2007

Today I received some fantastic news. The 'Vereniging van Reisboekhandels in Nederland - VRN' (United Travel Bookstores in The Netherlands) nominated 'Transsiberië & Kamtsjatka' on a shortlist for the prestigious title 'Travel Book of the Year 2006'.

Wow! The other two contestants are 'Mijn Mercedes is niet te koop' (My Mercedes is not for sale) from Jeroen van Bergeijk and 'De groeten aan de koningin' (Greetings to the Queen) from Karin Anema.



'Mijn Mercedes is niet te koop" is a story about an old car that was exported from The Netherlands and finally was sold in Burkina Faso. The writer traveled from Amsterdam via Marocco, Mauretania, Mali, Ghana and Togo to Benin, telling about car dealers and adventurers.
Info: ISBN 9045700379, 222 pages, € 17,90.

'De groeten aan de koningin' is situated in Suriname. The author reports about her meetings with indigenous people on her way from Paramaribo to deep in the Amazone rain forest. In Suriname the Dutch influences and historical connections are still visible everywhere.
Info: ISBN 9045012065, 288 pages, € 19,90.

A pleasant effect from this nomination is that 'Transsiberië & Kamtsjatka' now is for sale at all bookstores united. For more info and addresses, please visit their site: www.reisboekhandel.nl. The winners (also in the other categories Travel Guide of the Year and Cartographic Map of the Year) will be announced in January 2007, but I'm already very grateful for the votes. Please keep your fingers crossed.

Last weekend I visited Milka in London. A good opportunity to test her new 'friend', named Lumix DMC LX2. Like Helmut Newton said: "lesson one in photography is to have a camera nearby, always". It seems this tiny wonder makes light on itself! And London has plenty of sights worthwhile capturing, like the Tower Bridge.



One of the nice things about London is that there is always something going on. For me, a highlight was the visit to a small and very expensive gallery, that exposed unpublished prints of Marylin Monroe. Not that I like her that much.
I think she was not half as beautiful as the legend makes her, and besides that I've seen more expressive faces.



But the pictures were made by Eve Arnold, a legend on her own. On the internet I've found a photo of this Magnum photographer, made during filming 'The misfits' in 1960. She holds her camera, and like the DMC LX2 it's a Leica! Times are not always changing.

It has been a long time since my last posting. Maybe I've suffered a terrible disease named 'writers block'? It was not a period in which nothing interesting happened. On the contrary. But sometimes pieces need to fall down in the right place, in order to make the puzzle recognizable. Sometimes seeds need to be planted and I have to wait on the fruits. The matter 'book selling' has turned into another phase.
I'm very pleased to announce that from now on Transsiberië & Kamtsjatka is available nationwide. Many stores that are united in BGN / Selexyz - a distributor to over 20 prestigious stores in all major cities - ordered the book. Selexyz book stores are recognizable at the sign *).

Besides that, also specialized travel book shops, took the book in their portfolio:
Pied à Terre (Amsterdam), Geografische boekhandel Jacob van Wijngaarden (Amsterdam), Reisboekwinkel De Zwerver (Groningen) and Landschap Reisboekwinkel in my hometown Eindhoven. Address information can be found here. Promotional activities are being planned, for Transsiberië & Kamtsjatka and even already for Prime Meridian. Dates will be announced later. Thanks to all of you, for believing in the book and our cooperation.

Sometimes I lack inspiration, other times I get overwhelmed with it. I had to chose a 'lyric of the week', and 'Fools in love' from Joe Jackson could have been a justifiable choice. But somewhere last week I've lost some of the cynical me. Not all, don't worry. And I was listening to a very positive song that someone special mailed me. In the original post, I had no picture, only a link to the song 'Sunshine'. Recently I was able to 'capture' her, so here she is: Diana.


© McLion 2007

When I'm not writing my own, I do like to follow weblogs of friends. And although I hope mine is interesting enough to keep you busy, I like to give you the links. Just press on the pictures when you really want to leave my weblog .


Val in Chili (Spanish), Paul in Eindhoven (English), Suus in Suriname (Dutch)

Last week I was asked to design a book about the famous Dakar raleigh. Photographer Ed von Jessen is invited to follow a Dutch team during their track from Lissabon to the Senegalese capital Dakar. The book will be published in a limited edition in spring 2007.

I went with Paul to Berlin again. Although we like to work together, there is always an element of competition. Photography has a technical aspect, but it all starts with the notice that a situation is photographical. This time he won.

Since my weblog is intended to inform you about important matters in my life,
it was quit a struggle for me not to write about the one person that was on my mind so often. I felt in love with a beautiful woman called Hester. She is a singer/songwriter and we have met at a concert in Nijmegen. I'd figured to show you her picture at the moment we would have realised a kind of steady relationship. Allthough we've tried, for various reasons we've never got there.
In spite of that I wish to share some of her beauty with you, so here is her picture.


© McLion

"If I'd like rejection, I'd audition" is a line in a Maria Mena song. Photographing and writing books is one thing, selling them or get published another. Each letter, call or email is an audition, and I figured it would be a good idea to start auditioning at the top. National Geographic is known for it's fabulous pictures, made by a selected, small group of photographers. My approach was, that it's not up to me anymore to be the judge of the work I consider to be good. At National Geographic Netherlands, the 'executioner' is named Paul Römer. A friendly man, who thinks Transsiberia is a nice piece of work. But get published? No. It is good, but lacking 'sublimity' and 'unusualness'. Besides that, the Dutch magazine uses ready to print articles that are translated from the American version. And some local Dutch/Belgian material, a criteria that also doesn't fit that well. All made by a fixed group of photographers. So I was rejected, and I think I'd better learn some lessons from it. Improve quality, consider target groups, allow professionals to give feed back. On the other hand, realize that the publishing world is a bulwark that's hard to intrude, and where your name is an important trademark. Question: how to get a name, without losing my believes? Like Oliviero Toscani said: "Every idiot can take beautiful pictures of beautiful things. It's the art to recognize beauty in common or ugly situations". I will not go into extremes, climb in a tree for 60 days waiting on a leopard. Descend 4 kilometers into the ocean, where creatures lives that no one have ever seen before. Simply because no one (except this researchers and National Geographic photographer) will ever see them in real. Don't let me be misunderstood, I'm an adept for this documentaries. But it's not my field, it's not my strength and it is not 'common' enough for the audience I want to reach. So thanks to Paul Römer I've found my mission statement. Up to the next audition!

Waalkade - Teena Marie © McLion

Jan de Heus, groentehandelaar en Mehmet Pamuk, Turkse Nederlander:
"Jij lachen naar vogeltje, Mehmet. Isse leuk. Voor later."
"Ja, mijnheer. Deze photografie kan wellicht ter illustratie dienen van het feit dat wij, ondanks het taalverschil, een grote genegenheid voor elkander hebben opgevat." Foto © Roel Bazen

Sometimes signs literal appear out of the blue. Yesterday I received an email titled 'compliment'. It touched me, and so I want to share some phrases.

"This evening a beloved friend put your book Transsiberia on my kitchen table. In my sleepless night I start looking and reading, and because of the fact that my appreciation increased page by page, I want to tell you that I believe it's an admirable piece of work. Photographical it has a high National Geographic calibre. Did you ever contacted them? I also have a deep respect for the research. It always turns me on when so many details and backgrounds are incorporated. But I also have to agree with the mentioned potential publisher, it's not very commercial. Nevertheless it is a fantastic and beautiful book, for which I want to compliment you. Maybe you should consider a more commercial approach. Don't be modest. This work deserves better." Greetings, Elle.

Well, isn't that a nice way to start the day. The books subtitle is "A source of inspiration to travel: backgrounds, photography and stories." Clearly I succeeded in inspiring somebody, and at least one reader had a great night. But the inspiration was mutually. Elle appeared to be Elle Eggels, a Dutch author of romans, novels and travel books. The international publishing rights of her first book, 'The House of the Seven Sisters", were sold at top prices. In The Netherlands alone, 80,000 copies are sold and the manuscript is translated into ten languages. Critics (www.curledup.com/houseof.htm) compare her magic surrealistic style with great writers as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Laura Esquivel.



It is always pleasant when others boost your ego. But to hear all this compliments from a bestseller author, who is also a lecturer in creative writing, makes it even more flattering. So i'd better get over my scratched self confidence and go out there selling some books . And continue writing. Thank you Elle.

More info: www.elleeggels.nl and www.vassallucci.nl

© McLion

Last friday was an end to an era. After 3 years of study (in combination with work!) Milka was rewarded with an excellence scholarship from the University of Tilburg.
It is a formal recognition for something I know already for a long time: she is very talented. Besides her degree in Translation and Interpreting, she now holds a degree in International Economics and Finance. The scholarship comes with a nice amount of money, which she will spend on a masters program Conference Interpreting at Westminster University. I'm extremely proud and wish you good luck in London.

Last week I took an important decision. Exactly one year ago, I was asked by Close the Gap to be the manager of a project that should define the possibilities of creating local services that make use of the high tech glass fiber network in Nuenen. It has been a joy to work with people from Achmea, Philips, TU Delft and Rabobank, who are really interested in innovative ways to (re)built a community. Not that this is completely altruistic, those companies are also searching for expansion and new marketing methods. But exactly that is the part that makes it challenging, the line between idealism and business. Unfortunately it seemed to be impossible to keep all goals in line. Politics in business can harm splendid ideas.
I was in it for the ideas, not for Machiavellic games. So, I figured I would be better off looking forward. "Never throw away old shoes before you bought new ones", is a classic phrase. But what to do if the old ones don't fit you anymore? I'm quite sure that in the near future I will find a new challenge. Meanwhile I have plenty of time to read jokes about (un)employement .


© www.foksuk.nl

During the Nuenen-program, video producer Reindert Franke discovered a local talent. His name is A-rash Sangar, he's 17 years, born in Ukraine and grown up in Afghanistan. Due to the war, he and his parents seeked assilum in The Nether-lands. A-rash writes his own songs and performs under the name Active. We supported A-rash by organizing recording sessions at Pop-Ei studios, a live performance at 'Het Klooster' and with the introduction of his debut album, which will soon be introduced.


© McLion

Since the 27th of July www.mclion.com was unreachable due to technical problems at Tiscali. From today the site is hosted at Argeweb and I assume that this choise will offer more stability. One of the consequences is that my advertising e-mail account impression.nl@worldonline.nl soon will not be available anymore. So please send your mails to mclion@mclion.com. Furthermore you will see at this weblog that many things in my life changed drastically. And as you might know, in times of worry, doubt or changes (for creatives this means at any time!), always listen to uncle Fish...

Last weeks something happened to me, that for a long time I considered to be impossible. I have met a special and beautiful person, at heart as well as her looks. In a very short period of time, we have found connections at many levels. I can assure you, or as some of you might know, not that many people can easily relate to me! And unfortunately, there are not so many persons I consider to be interesting or worthwhile. She gave me more than she will ever be aware of, and I cannot find a proper way to thank her for that. But, although she thinks I am marvelous, our blossoming love went to fast, to intense. I think I have scared her a little. So now she is in doubt, something I can imagine but truly regret. I do have her picture, as you might expect from a photographer. But I will not show you, just to protect her privacy. I do hope, from all inside of me, that one day soon, I will be able to show you.

If you want to, you can read visitors reactions or you can respond to the articles in my weblog. To do so, you can press on 'comments' below the article. This will lead you to a new frame, where you can add your (nick)name, email and message.

After seven beautifull years of marriage Milka and I came to the conclusion that our time is over. Keep on fighting for the non-excisting would lead us further apart and could create a damage that neither one of us deserves. I'm gratefull for all we shared and wish for both us that we will find the future we long for. The English language has no different words for 'liefde' and 'houden van', so I can only state that I still love her. If you are interested in a detailed view on her professional life please visit the website www.interpreterrussian.com (under construction). To see Milka, please go to Portraits of Milka.

While cleaning the archives, I found this cartoon. September last year hurricane Rita destroyed New Orleans. The Dutch government thought it would be a great idea to help and so they decided to send a frigate of the Dutch navy. While watching the news, Paul and I couldn't stop smiling. Not because of the poor people who lost everything, it's a tragedy. But why do we, the Dutch, think that a marine ship is of any assistance? Like the United States don't have their own. We felt suspicious about this gesture and wrote an idea to the makers of Fokke & Sukke.
The cartoon was published in the Dutch newspaper NRC.


Translation: Fokke and Sukke at Her Majesties Motor Ship Van Amstel: Big chance that your great-grandfather also boarded a Dutch vessel.

Last saturday, the 8th of April, bookstore Donner in Rotterdam organized a lecture program called 'Het reizen vereist sterke zenuwen' (Traveling demands strong nerves). Accompanied by Milka, Norina and Paul, I went to Rotterdam. We visited 'Kop van Zuid' (quarter with Hotel New York, Erasmus Bridge) and enjoyed the architectural developments near the harbor. Paul and I held a lecture about traveling in Siberia and we presented the book 'Transsiberia and Kamchatka'. Existing points of sale were Pegasus in Amsterdam and the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels. I'm very pleased that Donner took my book in their portfolio and give it a prominent place in the shop (main entrance, first table left, near Wouter Bos!). In case they removed it to a place that fits better with my status as an unknown debutant , please go downstairs and look in the travel books section. For more information: www.donner.nl.

Yesterday my friend and fellow traveler Steven Weinberg went to Algeria. He will photograph and interview people who live and work along the prime meridian. It takes a lot of guts to travel in this country, because many muggers (and terrorists who want hostage money) are active in this area. Last saturday for example, in a small village near Nashville, 13 people got killed near a custom house. The same day 120 people are reported missing after a tragedy with a ferry boat at Lake Volta in Ghana. Transport at Lake Volta is called to be very dangerous, because of the many obstacles like stones and fallen trees. Ghana is our next destination in December this year. And if we want to follow the line (yes, we do indeed), we have to cross the lake. When we studied the map, I was prepared for crocodile attacks, but not for accidents. Traveling demands strong nerves... Stay well, Steven.