From Volkskrantgebouw to Volkshotel

The Volkshotel in the former building of the Volkskrant, still one of the largest newspapers in The Netherlands, transformed during the past year (and the years before that) into an almost new building.

I’ve been experimenting with many different (old) camera’s the past few years. It turned out I took quite a few pictures before, during and (almost) after the make over of the once modern building since I became a member of Bureau Wibautin the Broedplaats** in the VK-building.

Used cameras: Nexus 4, Polaroid (SX-70 and 600), Kodak Brownie model 2, Agfa Rekord II, Venaret

There’s a big disadvantage using a scanner for Polaroids: the tiny layer of plastic shielding the picture from the outside world is thick enough to make the picture look out of focus or just a bit unsharp..

* Bureau Wibaut, a collective of journalists and other media-producing people
** Broedplaats: artist run initiative, a place where rents are relatively low and creativity is high

Tears of Steel – the small things

The latest Mango Open Movie project from the Blender Foundation was released today: Tears of Steel (September 26, 2012). The story is set in Amsterdam and shows us lots of small snippets, some of them Dutch heritage. I’ve tried to grab a few… (Youtube film below the pictures)

Tears of Steel - Opening shot, see the blue building things on the Central Station in Amsterdam
Tears of Steel – Opening shot, blue building covers on the Central Station in Amsterdam
Tears of Steel - Lemurs? What's that? I recognize it from somewhere, I think
Tears of Steel – De Lemurs. I know it’s a primate with a long, ringed tail. but what’s the announcement about?
Tears of Steel - De Amsterdamned... Nostaligia
Tears of Steel – De Amsterdamned. Nostalgia.
Tears of Steel - I can't read! Can you?
Tears of Steel – I can’t read! Can you?
Tears of Steel - The air ship's rear end reads 'Amsterdam'
Tears of Steel – The air ship’s stern reads ‘Amsterdam’

 

Tears of Steel - Dr. L. de Jong, an oeuvre on the Second World War, it reads... Second Half (down below the number 7 in white)
Tears of Steel – Dr. L. de Jong, an oeuvre of fourteen volumes on the Second World War and The Netherlands.

 

Tears of Steel - Ok, what do we see here?
Tears of Steel – The painting on the far left, is it the same as before? The painting in the right window, I cannot figure out if I should recognize it. And, in the upper right corner, the street sign reads (I think) Oudekerksplein.

 

Tears of Steel - Ah, a tiny red car.. A Green Wheels. I suppose it should not have been there.
Tears of Steel – Ah, a tiny red car.. A Green Wheels. I suppose it should not have been there. I heard they could have continued removing annoying stuff for ages…
Tears of Steel - Anyone on the names and artists on those paintings?
Tears of Steel – Anyone on the names and artists on those paintings?
Tears of Steel - And this? Who's sign is this?
Tears of Steel – Whose sign or sig is this?
Tears of Steel - TIME BEFORE ??OBOS? LOBOS? FOBOS? 0802?
Tears of Steel – TIME BEFORE ??OBOS? LOBOS? PH/FOBOS? 0802?

 

Tears of Steel - A Church interior..
Tears of Steel – A Church interior.
Tears of Steel - What famous lamp? Or is it the *kuch* Van Der Valk Toucan?
Tears of Steel – Famous Art Deco lamp?
Tears of Steel - Robots! Appearing as graffiti on church walls! That's the thing with white walls..
Tears of Steel – Robots! Appearing as graffiti on church walls!