Introduction

In 2009, the Steenbergen Stipendium was combined with the Photography Prize, an initiative started by the Dutch Association of Insurers in 2004; Nikon Netherlands joined in 2007.

The setup for the Stipendium remained the same in 2009: the three-member jury visits the accredited art academies with an independent photography program.

MICHIEL BROUWER (ST. JOOST)

Lapponensis
He stands out with his documentary project "Lapponensis." The project is characterized by its attention to a forgotten passage in Swedish history and an anthropological genre within the history of photography. In the early 20th century, Sweden sought to find the perfect Scandinavian race, conducting research through the Institute of Racial Biology until the late 1950s. Although the archive has been open to the public for five years, hundreds of remains have not yet been returned to the descendants. Brouwer effectively captures this story in a concentrated manner, making choices that bring the essence of the narrative to the forefront. This research calls for more exploration. The jury believes that an extensive "Lapponensis" project would work well in book form and hopes to be able to peruse it in the future.

PIM LEENEN (HKU)

Zonder titel
The jury couldn't ignore Pim Leenen's presentation. He displayed his black-and-white photos side by side, stacked vertically, sometimes in a block of six and other times individually. This presentation style complements the associative nature of the photos. Leenen combines everyday objects in such a way that your gaze is drawn from one to another, revealing connections between the objects. These connections often revolve around form and materiality. Leenen's work allows you to see everyday reality in a different way.

JORIS JANSEN (KABK)

Flock
Luckily, the jury came across Joris Jansen's work, almost overlooking it due to its isolated location compared to the other photography students. Jansen's presentation consisted of multiple works. "Flock" consists of three works: an abandoned road, a vague figure, and a house shrouded in mist. From a distance, they appear as paintings, but upon closer inspection, you realize that each image is composed of pixels. Every photo is made up of images found on the internet, with each contributing the same amount of pixels to the entire image. The combination of found photos creates an archetypal image of what was already present in the collection of found photos. In "Rainbow," Jansen combines found photos of rainbows to create a rainbow circle. The installation of interconnected computers that change colors reflects Jansen's fascination with systems and networks and fits well within the overall presentation. Jansen plays with the medium of photography and pushes its boundaries. The jury admires the strong concept of Jansen's work and is impressed by how he translates this concept into visually appealing images. The combination of ratio & technique and the almost romantic images it produces is very interesting.

CHRISTAIN KRYL (KABK)

Top of the world
Kryl is already a good documentary photographer who has the potential to become an excellent one. He has delved into a captivating subject: the elite of St. Moritz. In his photos, you can feel his fascination for this group but also the distance he maintains. Kryl's photos are technically precise, and he has a keen eye for details. He has committed himself to working on this project in the coming years, and the jury strongly recommends it. A promising start.

ARJAN DE NOOY (KABK)

Uit de collectie van Arjan de Nooy During his graduation presentation, Arjan de Nooy created a cabinet that housed archival photographs, his own photos, and a bookshelf with books that inspired him. Even more significant than this cabinet, however, was the towering stack of books by Arjen de Nooy himself: "De Facto – A History of Dutch Photography". In this book, De Nooy sheds a completely new light on the history of Dutch photography from his own perspective. It is a highly personal history of photography that includes archival photos, found images, as well as photographs made by De Nooy himself, presented as if they were taken by someone else. The jury greatly appreciates De Nooy’s bold approach. The book is beautifully designed and encourages reflection on the history of photography, subjectivity, and artistry. The jury is curious to see what De Nooy's next project will look like.

NOëL LOOZEN (RIETVELD)

Loozen's graduation project stems from memories, desires, and a longing for childhood. The photographs of places that remind him of this time are layered on top of each other in the presentation, much like memories overlap, making it impossible to fully grasp them. In addition, Loozen presented two films. "Rastplatz" shows a running man jumping over obstacles in different locations. In the editing, it becomes a long, continuous journey. Another film features Loozen himself in therapy, aligning with the personal nature of the work. The jury appreciates how Loozen has translated a deeply personal exploration of the past, memory, and the pushing of boundaries into universal imagery that resonates with others. The well-thought-out presentation further enhances the work.