Lost Cities
In the autumn rain
the city drowns
and no one notices
On a gray, rainy day the colors fade away, making contrasts suddenly seem stronger. Many cities are drowning. If it's not in the amount of rain that can't be drained fast enough, it's in the hustle and bustle, the noise, the stench and pollution, the loneliness of many residents, causing many cities to lose their charm.
The contrast with the silence, simplicity and purity of nature is enormous and only gets bigger as a city grows. The inhabitant of the city lives, literally and figuratively, further and further away from the rural environment and from his fellow citizens.
Yet there is much beauty to be seen in the built environment, where man seems to have become a subordinate element in his own creations.
Into A New Morning
It's early in the morning, I'm walking through the streets of the old city of Nijmegen. This old part of the city is called 'Benedenstad' (Down Town). The morning light accentuates the lines and details of the old facades.
NONNENSTRAAT, NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Awakening (2)
Early in the morning, the beautiful medieval village of Corenno Plinio on Lake Como awakens. Narrow streets, old worn stairs. The streets are deserted, except for a single elderly resident climbing slowly up the steep steps early on. Many buildings with original details and no bars, restaurants or other tourist attractions. A gem!
Summer In Varenna (2)
The sun is slowly descending from the roofs,
the narrow streets await the first sunbeams
after a cool dark night
Halfway the morning in the old city center of the beautiful town of Varenna. The chilly streets wait for the sunlight to warm them with a shower of light...
Birds Cry
Thick clouds of brown
smoke darkens the sun
Eyes tear,
birds cry
The sun colors the evening
in the hues of the poison that
factories vomit
How high may become
the price the future
will have to pay?
I feel it is my mission to make people aware of the beauty and at the same time fragility of nature. At the same time, this sometimes feels like hypocrisy because I am part of the society that causes the destruction of the earth's habitability. Even though I do my best to live simply and keep my ecological footprint considerably smaller than "the use" of 1 earth.
At times when I feel that, I also feel an urge to create a work with a more poignant message....
Some Thing's Out Of Whack (1)
The title is a phrase from the song "Nettie Moore" by Bob Dylan:
Lost John's sitting on a railroad track
Some thing's out of whack
This morning blues falling down like hail
Gonna leave a greasy trail
NEAR THE CITY OF GOUDA, THE NETHERLANDS
Mirror of light
Mirror of light
A few rays of sunlight
escaping into the darkness
NATURE RESERVE LÖVÖ, KALMAR REGION
Awaiting
A mare and her foal follow me suspiciously with their eyes as I slowly get closer. The foal presses herself firmly against her mother’s side, awaiting what is to come. A great moment for a portrait…
These are Fjord Horses, a Norwegian race.
FIELDS NEAR THE CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Pressure
An abstract diptych of a rushing train, giving the impression that you can feel the pressure.
NEAR THE CITY OF UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS
The City Drowns
In the autumn rain
the city drowns
and no one notices
On a gray, rainy day the colors fade away, making contrasts suddenly seem stronger. This city and many others are drowning. If it's not in the amount of rain that can't be drained fast enough, it's in the hustle and bustle, the noise, the stench and pollution, the loneliness of many residents, causing many cities to lose their charm.
The contrast with the silence, simplicity and purity of nature is enormous and only gets bigger as a city grows. The inhabitant of the city lives, literally and figuratively, further and further away from the rural environment and from his fellow citizens.
CITY CENTER OF THE CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Shadows Of The Past
"Can you make something for the theme Shadows of the Past", someone asked me recently.
But of course! And as a major exception: a photo montage.
No complicated manipulation, simply one photo translucently superimposed over another.
CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Entrained In The Undertow
This photo was made in a crowded shopping mall in the city of Nijmegen, Netherlands. It feels like being sucked by the current, only with difficulty you can move to the side to go into a store.
CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Mirror of light
Mirror of light
A few rays of sunlight
escaping into the darkness
NATURE RESERVE LÖVÖ, KALMAR REGION
Wander Through Streets Of Light
It's early in the morning, I'm walking through the streets of an old city. Although the streets are deserted, everything is breathing the bustling activity that has taken place for centuries and often still takes place. Sparkling of life, sparkling of light on a sunny day.
NONNENSTRAAT, NIJNEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
The Morning Light Draws A Shadow Of The Past
It's early in the morning, I'm walking through the streets of an old city. The morning light accentuates the lines and details of the old facades.
BEGIJNENSTRAAT, NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
The Evening Light Is Painting Fragments Of The Past
Fishermen's sheds in Stenbjerg Landingsplads.
Stenbjerg is a fishing village on the former island of Thy in the northwest of Jutland, Denmark. It is noted for its small white fishermen’s huts next to the sandy beach.
STENBJERG, NORTH JUTLAND, DENMARK
Escaping The Shadows
A cyclist drives from under a bridge into the light. From shadow to light, an escape from the dark.
NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Vows To The Light
The sunlight dances
through the streets, shadows
reveal their vows
of fidelity to the light
CITY OF VARENNA, LAKE COMO, ITALY
Mirror of light
Mirror of light
A few rays of sunlight
escaping into the darkness
NATURE RESERVE LÖVÖ, KALMAR REGION
Awakening
Early in the morning, the beautiful medieval village of Corenno Plinio on Lake Como awakens. Narrow deserted streets, old worn stairs, many buildings with original details and no bars, restaurants or other tourist attractions. A gem!
CORENNO PLINIO, LAKE COMO, ITALY
Summer In Varenna
The sun is slowly descending from the
roofs,
the narrow streets await the first sunbeams
after a cool dark night
Halfway the morning in the old city center of the beautiful town of Varenna. A man stands still in a dark, chilly street. It is as if he waits for the sunlight to warm him with a shower...
CITY OF VARENNA, LAKE COMO, ITALY
Want to see more?
If you want to see the complete collection 'Lost Cities', click on the button below (opens on a new tab).
On the art website Saatchi Art you can find my entire portfolio. The photos are for sale as Open Edition or Limited Edition print.
If you prefer to order an artwork directly from me, please send me a message.
If you want to see the complete collection 'Infinite Sea', click on the button below (opens on a new tab).
On the art website Saatchi Art you can find my entire portfolio. The photos are for sale as Open Edition or Limited Edition print.
If you prefer to order an artwork directly from me, please send me a message.
Availability
All photos on this website are available as Open Edition fine art print and as Limited Edition fine art print in any size, on fine art cotton paper up to a maximum size of the shortest side of 110 centimeters ~ app. 43 inches*, unless a photo specifies that certain editions / sizes are no longer available.
*Ask for the maximum sizes on other types of paper.
Availability
All photos on this website are available as Open Edition fine art print and as Limited Edition fine art print in any size, on fine art cotton paper up to a maximum size of the shortest side of 110 centimeters ~ app. 43 inches*, unless a photo specifies that certain editions / sizes are no longer available.
*Ask for the maximum sizes on other types of paper.
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Follow the steps on the page Preview before purchase and I’ll send you a photomontage of the desired photo in your office, living room, bedroom or any other room !
Questions or orders you can send to me by email to jacobberghoef@gmail.com
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