State of Amsterdam 5
A new year, a new State. Because we love the smell of hard copy.
The latest edition of State of Amsterdam contains work from:
All images are made in Amsterdam. State aims to present you an array of styles, made by the freshest talent around. Hopefully we've succeeded so in this issue.
Thank you for your contribution Randy, Karen, Thomas, Sarea, Mitchell and Jeroen​​​​​​​
Support the State
We´ve now made five hard copy editions of State. We’ll continue to make the magazine, but it would be nice if more people noticed us. As we don’t have big funds for promotion, we need the street community to make some waves. Help us spread the gospel? Support our non-profit initiative by:
buying the zine (yes, it's only €10!)
promoting us through your socials
subscribing to our social channels
tagging #stateofamsterdam
telling your friends
5 Questions for … Randy Fokke
Featured in this 5th edition. We ask her the important stuff.
What’s your favourite Amsterdam neighbourhood to shoot?
While most of my non-photographing friends tend to avoid this area, I love to dive into the busy streets on and around De Wallen: de Zeedijk, Damstraat, Warmoesstraat, the small alleys. Not only because it’s always crowded and things change all the time, but also because of the feeling of being an island in the middle of a swirling sea. I like that contradiction, it calms me down in a weird way and makes me observe better. My favorite spot is Waterlooplein, always. I used to live in that neighbourhood and it never disappoints me.
Which secret spot would you recommend (now not secret anymore)?
It’s not so secret, but every now and then I go to Buikslotermeerplein and the Boven ’t Y shopping area. The architecture is not pretty at all, but that’s also what attracts me, especially when it’s bathing in sunlight and the market is still there. At the other side of the shopping mall, across the AH XL, is a quite ugly white and green building which provides the best shadows when the sun is standing low.
What’s your most memorable streetphotography experience from the past year? Being at the UvA-protests at the Oude Turfmarkt concerning the genocide in Palestine was really intense and emotional. I felt an inescapable urge to capture what was happening, all the emotions, the soothing power of being together and also the inevitable confrontation with the police. My camera really felt as a shield and weapon at the same time.
Which type of images are you currently shooting?
Currently I find myself shooting a lot of ‘moody’ and dark images, especially since Amsterdam was, for many days, hidden under a thick layer of grey mist. Trying to capture some (artificial) light on these dark days, without avoiding the darkness, also helps me to cope with the winter blues.
Which (street)photographer inspires you?
There are so, so many. My all time favorites are - a true cliché, I know - Joel Meyerowitz and Saul Leiter. Also really admire the work of Mary Ellen Mark, Alec Soth, Harry Gruyaert, Ernst Haas, Fred Herzog, Nan Goldin, William Eggleston, Alex Webb - to name a few.
Not so obvious - Tips & News
Atelier K84 features Daniel Nicolas’ exhibition ‘Havenstraatterrein: The Final Years’, from 24 January - 1 March
One of our favorite street photography books is Monotowns by the legendary publishing house Zupagrafika
For our analogue shooters - checkout FotoMignon in the van Woustraat (unpaid promotion, we really like this store)
Haute Photographie will take place in Rotterdam from 27 - 30 March
Under the bridge
Amsterdam is full of bridges. To street photographers they are an endless source of inspiration. Particularly, we love (being under) the concrete ones. Brutal. Raw.
Everybody knows the Amsterdamsebrug. These are some of our favorite - not so well known - bridges:
Brug Dalsteindreef - Zuidoost (photo)
Brug Ringvaartdijk - Sloten
Brug Zaventemweg - Slotervaart
Brug Kruislaan - Oost/Watergraafsmeer
Brug Metro line 53 - Zuidoost (best in Amsterdam?)
Did we miss a great spot? Send your favorite bridges to mail@stateofamsterdam.com
Best spots of Mokum. Have you been here?
On the edge of the Watergraafsmeer lies the Science Park. The grounds of the UvA, the Data Center, Container homes and business center for start-ups: it feels like a small abandoned world of its own in the city.
Do you shoot in Amsterdam?
State is always looking for new talent. If you want to be considered for a feature in our magazine, send (a link of) your work to mail@stateofamsterdam.com