The End, Le Fin, El Final

Been holding on to this one for a while now, and I'm happy it finally ran. Björn van Dongen end of January this year in Laax. 

Check out the latest Taste issue, #2, if you want to see it printed on real thick glossy paper.
This absolutely positively wraps up my publications of the o-eight year.

That's all for now. Drive safely tonight.

No, no nerd!

So no, I wouldn't consider myself a nerd, but I do love those tiny little Mac applications that make life a bit more beareable.
On that bombshell, I thought Wallpaper Clocks by Vladstudios is one to mention. It does just what is says, it displays the time on your desktop.
And in my opinion it isn't that hungry on resources. But hey, how would I know, I'm no nerd.

The website itself already contains a lot of free wallpapers, but I took the liberty to make one myself as well.

So here's your once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a real von den P.P. de Meijer! (It's 1440x900 only though.) Get it by clicking here.

If you dig, do let me know.
Happy holidays friends.

Part deux

Post-party pre-coffee photo editing with my ears still ringing.
Soulwaxmas was a success. Over-and-out.

Even more smiles and happy faces!

Little update on yesterday, more kids and happy faces in the Animoto attached.

On a sidenote. A new article from Boston's The Big Picture popped up in my RSS reader. The year two-thousand and eight in pictures. 

This is better than World Press Photo, seriously.

The Boston Globe did a great job launching this section in May of this year. 

Hmm... Boston, why does that sound so familiar?

Christmas came early

O.k., I'm back and I've re-found my mojo since my last post... This one's about pictures again, boo ya!

I'll skip the usual rants and go directly to the shots. Basically, one of the city's fraternities organized a day for the kiddos in the neighborhood. 

Even Santa dropped by, and he brought some soup 'n warm beverages.

And here's an oldie. Took it during Radio Soulwax in Ghent last year... They came back for another year.

Apparently last year's gig wasn't enough for the David and Stephen, and they don't seem to care a lot about sleeping either, since they're hitting four cities in four days in a row this time... Paris, Berlin, Hasselt and Rotterdam. Gotta love them for that. Period.

Can't wait till Friday.

MePowder

It's official... this is my first post that's not about photos. My first in 24 posts... you peeps must be getting so bored with me... I'm becoming more predictable than your postman...

Speaking of which, my favorite man in orange payed me another visit today delivering a highly anticipated package that looks a bit like the following.

Now I hear you thinking. What's that? A Bible? Nope. Hmm... The winter edition of your Donald Duck subscription maybe? Not quite, can't wait for that one though. Oh wait, is it a datebook planner for next year, so you will remember all our birthdays? Ehm... no, sorry.

This is a book based on the white substance we all love most... snow.

During the last years the folks at VerseSneeuw and those of White magazine have been collaborating on setting up a whole new concept in last-minute powder-hugging.
The book not only features all the info you'll ever need to ski the best lines in the most powder dumped places in Europe, it also tells you how to read those thermal maps you never understood on the news, so now you can predict where the snow will be falling.

And the biggest feature of all is the community they are building around it this instant, with the latest snow predictions, more practical info on resorts, and mobile messaging to your powder-hungry friends! It's great!

This all is great, and the WePowder guide is pretty much your new golden standard for hunting snow, but the only way you' get it is by invitation.

However, I'm sure if you show some dedication and do your best, one will find it's way to your doormat. ;-)

Essentials in life...

O.k., so if the frontal and temporal cortexes in my brain are recalling my long-term elementary school memories correctly,  the 3 key essentials in survival were something like food, water and shelter.
Of course the older you get, the wiser you get... and the bigger this list becomes. So in my case good coffee, the Entourage TV series  and cars can be added.

Anyway, I've found a solution for at least 3 of the items on the list.

Life's easy. See below.

If you ever have something to spare, be sure to get yourself a meal at 

Oud Sluis and give yourself some proper night rest in their cozy guesthouse. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

Exclusive

It's a feisty one

I love wednesdays.
For a starter, last wednesday, not only was it my only free day of the week, and did I wake up with the sun shining on my face, I also had the opportunity to enjoy myself a few hours in Fiat's new tiny inner-city go kart, the 500 Abarth...


Now I won't be writing you a Clarkson review, but this car is great.
I'm completely sold.

It corners tight, has a nice revvie engine with a great sound, a set of brakes that will let you inspect the inside of your windscreen from a few centimeters distance, and a little turbo gauge you won't be looking at since you're having to much fun. Heck!, there's even an extra seat you can put your girl on while you are driving, because you won't be handing over the steer, trust me.

Actually, the only downside on the car I came up with was the ESC that couldn't be turned off... On the other hand, no ESC will make the car perfectly safe, so personally I don't see any reason why a mother wouldn't buy this car for her 21-year old son...

A big thanks goes out to Jerry and the folks from Auto-Nieuwkoop for handing me out this little rocket.
If you'd want one, and I'm pretty damn sure you do, you'll have to go and talk to these guys, because they're the one and only distributor for the Netherlands.

Can't wait for next weeks wednesday...

Renske & Raymond, sitting in a tree... K-I-S-S...

So I get a lot of phone calls (Note: I'm not trying to look popular now... most of the time it's from the same peoples anyway) and not even in half of the cases I answer them. And calling back..., that's even a bigger drama... so if you think this thing in any way relates to you and you're getting a bit emotional about it... I'm sorry!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, during uni, I got -a lot- of phone calls from the same unknown number, but really couldn't pick up, because it was another miserable uni day with all of it's obligations.
This call in particular, for unknown reasons, I did return. And that's when I first spoke to Renske.
She told me she was going to marry Raymond and they were looking for a photographer to do some coverage. A few weeks before they had spoken to Casper, a buddy of mine (thanks amigo!), who had told them about the Nike contest and they got all stoked about it. In short, the couple wanted to hire me for their wedding. I however, had no experience at all in this kind of clicking.

I do think I got a pretty decent result though. :-)
Here's a short, 2-minute 50-shot, movie on the day. Check it out.
Oh, and by the way, if you're thinking what's up with those last pictures... that's flying crockery. C-r-a-z-y!

Get your inner-nerd out!

Here's a new one. I really got in touch with my inner-nerd yesterday during the IT & Logistics fair in Utrecht. The friendly peoples of Trancon had asked me to help them out shooting a few photos for future usage. Trancon has recently launched a new sort of warehouse management system called Boxwise , and it's controlled by touchy touchy screens, just like your iPod touch.

A GTi day at the track...

Here's a short slideshow containing a bunch of shots the folks at Peugeot didn't use for their magazine... Por que?!

I'll explain it... visually

O.k., so here's a short story on the other day...

Promised the peeps of the Uni Sports Council I would take a few photos for them, but hey... since they're always extremely busy sporting the only suitable time to get the photo was 9am in the morning.

Heck, they didn't even have time to change their outfits! (Proof's below)

Anyway, the night before, this new super nice surf-snow shop in my street had it's opening party for which I got this last-minute invitation, and they served free Mojito's the entire evening and I love those. I was having a great time and did I mention the shop is supernice already? Oh, and also being Thursday night -that's the night the Dutchies are usually very thirsty- it didn't take long for a few of  the buddies to come join the party.

In short, we got so hammered that it took 7 phone calls and a five minute uninterrupted push on the doorbell to get me out of my bed the next morning and my models for the morning had been waiting for over half an hour.

So, the moral of the story is - if there is any - don't let me promise to get you a photo early in the morning, because it could take a while...

Oh, and it's party hardy time again tonight, so please don't call me too early tomorrow morning, mom.

I almost forgot - I did actually - I'm editing my post right now, but I got this little note from from Orage and it got me stoked.

Would you... ?

Took out the Nissan for a spin. I love this car.

I'd marry her... any day. I just don't think the world is ready for it... yet.

I also gave the blog a few whirls. Changed the name, made a new background, and added a new header. Think it looks nicer now. Do you?

A bit of this and a bit of that

Here's one from yesterday, Rotterdam seen from the van Brienenoord bridge in pouring rain.

I know the city in the back isn't tack sharp, but I blame the wind for that. I was freezing my b*lls of standing there in my shorts and flip-flops.

O.k., moving on to the next subject ...
The peeps at F-Stop just released the 4th edition of their Adventure Photo Newsletter and one of my shots is in there again.
It's one page 3. Check out the PDF here or watch it online here. Thanks a lot F-Stop guys!

I'm sorry...

For not picking up my phone yesterday. We were chilling at Jack Johnson.

More photos to come in a bit on the Reload website.

Skadi clothing

Get it while it's hot.

Nike update

Well peeps, the word is out, I didn't win.
I'm not sure what to think about it and I do find the outcome a bit strange, but I guess it probably just wasn't my day.
I do however want to thank you all again for voting for me.
I got over 300 votes, which is pretty amazing considering a lot of you especially registered for Facebook just to cast the vote. Big up to you guys!
And about the beers I promised, if you should see me tonight, come drink one with me. It's my birthday. :-)

Take care peeps!

PP

About that picture...

Checking out other people's photos is fun, at least it's something I like doing. I for a fact wake up watching photos before I go to uni, and every now and then go to bed with it as well. Maybe you like looking at other people's photos too, we could start a club... (It's a joke people.)

Anyway, having a story to go with a picture can make a great photo unforgettable, and that's where the guys of F-Stop Gear make their entry. The guys at F-Stop are the new kids on the block in camera-bag country and are really trying to add something to the community as well. They, for example, recently started their monthly newsletter for photographers, containing four great photos and the stories behind them.

Today, their second newsletter hit the shelves and I'm very honored to be a part of it, standing between the epic photos of the legendary ski photographer Grant Gunderson and the amazing Tim Keple (check out his recent movie - you've never seen anything like it.). And although I've never heard of him, Derek Diluzio also has a great photo in it.

You can download the newsletter here, and to view it online go here.

SOS! Help me out (of this country)!

For all the Dutchies who are reading this, I wrote you a few lines below.

So everybody, the UNIMAGINABLE happened to me last weekend!
Saturday I got an e-mail from Nike ACG, the outdoor all conditions gear department of Nike, telling that I'm one of the 5 finalists in their worldwide photo contest. (Truly, I had never expected this to happen and almost forgot about it!)

Anywho, Nike was offering talented(?) journalists, film makers and photographers a chance to team up with a few of their best riders and be part in the making of one of their Sweetspot movies. In short, a Nike team rider gets to choose the most perfect location (anywhere in the world) (s)he can imagine to make their ideal movie. A journalist, a few film makers and a photographer get to travel with the rider to it's perfect spot where the guys just wait for the perfect conditions to do the shoot. (Check out the site if you don't know what I'm talking about. ;-)) The winner of the competition gets to travel alongside a Nike team rider for a two week trip to Patagonia in South America to create next season's first Sweetspot movie.

The finals come down to the likings of a few industry judges, the Nike ACG pro athletes and public vote on the Nike Facebook Sweetspot Group!
Please cast a vote by adding this Nike Facebook voter (click) on to your Facebook page and help me out! I know it's a lot to ask to register to Facebook, but please do, it would mean the world to me! This would be the biggest achievement by far for me. Oh yeah, and please vote between the 20th of June and the 1st of July.

O, and please forward this e-mail to everybody you know and don't forget to tell your friends. :-)

I'm hoping for your help guys!

Cheers all,

---

For the Dutchies, Belgians, and maybe the Germans (not sure about that last one)

Ik ben dus ongelofelijk blij en overdonderd dat ik ben uitgekozen als één van de 5 finalisten voor de Nike ACG 'Join the Crew' fotowedstrijd (wereldwijd!). (Was het zelf al half vergeten dat ik er aan meegedaan heb.)

De winnaar van de wedstrijd mag samen met een Nike team rider, een filmploeg en een journalist (waar je die voor nodig hebt snap ik zelf ook niet) mee naar de ideale spot, deze keer ergens in Zuid-Amerika (twee weken lang), om daar mee te helpen aan een nieuwe Sweetspot film (check de Nike site).

De finale zelf bestaat uit de normering van een jury, de Nike ACG pro team rijders en vooral van you people! Ik wil jullie dus allemaal vragen om op mij te stemmen door de Nike Sweetspot voter (klik) op jullie Facebook pagina te zetten en op me te stemmen! (Please?! Krijg je een bier van me. ;-)) Dit is echt het allergrootste compliment dat ik ooit op mijn hobby gehad heb!
Ik weet ook dat bijna niemand Facebook gebruikt en Hyves veel hipper is, maar neem alsjeblieft de moeite! (Voor twee bier dan?)

Stemmen kan van 20 juni tot 1 juli. En forward dit mailtje alsjeblieft naar iedereen die je kent of niet kent!

Please help me out!

Waterloo festival o-eight

Every year a few of my buddies organize a local street festival right in the middle of their street, named after their street, for all the people of the Waterloo street. Being held for the 6th time the weather was traditionally great, and so were the vibe and the music.

A Busy Saturday Write Up

Last saturday was busy, not busy as in hectic busy, nor being stressed out busy, just busy.

After waking up way to early, being slightly hung over from the night before, another episode of the one-man-show of photography took place.

The boys at the Mustachio, better known as the Moustachaud en France and the Mustaschnurrbart in Deutschland, kept their second annual Skullcandy Railbattle event in Zoetermeer (Holland). and I had already promised Jeroen from Reload Mag I would get him a few shots for the site.

Anyway, as I already told you time wasn't really by my side, and I wanted to visit the Free Your Mind festival as early as possible, because it promised to be one of the biggest parties in ages, with great music and even greater weather. So Sweetlake was a quickie, got there, took a few shots, and left. Here's one.

Robin van Heel - Frontside boardslide

The little guys make the rail look big(ger)

After that me and Kurt hurried to Arnhem with 4 large bags of stuff (probably weighing as much as an elephant) we wouldn't use anyway. And since the bus-drivers were having their strike (per que?!) we ended up renting one bicycle for as cheap as 15 Euro's(!). Just imagine two guys plus four bags (now weighing as much as two elephants) on one bicycle covering 7 kilometers to our crashing spot to get some well deserved sleep...

Someone get me a tandem.

Derrick May - The ambassador of electronic music during the FYM festival

Nokia Big Air '07

A snowboarding contest in the center of the city on the warmest day of the year.

Eureka!

Another one for the buddies.
These guys are the chief executives of the Eurekaweek this summer in Rotterdam.

The ones that didn't quite make it

I was looking through my photos yesterday when I noticed a few untouched photos from my recent trip to Laax.

The first picture actually has a story to go with it.

I was showing this pic to a buddy of mine yesterday during histology class (I'm a med student in case you didn't know) when this tutor walked up to me and had a look, because he thought this photo had some sort of resemblance with bone marrow.
We were like watskeburt?! Had this guy been smoking the forbidden fruit? (Well not really forbidden in Holland.) Am I missing something here?
Anyway, I don't see why kids aren't going to school anymore these days.

Silvan Jäger - Double grab

Freshman Frank van der Putten visiting Mars with this huge frontside 5

Room 1 for a day

A little timelapse I made for a few of my friends.

Val Thorens, yesterday.

Got back this morning. A 1200 km ride in less than 10 hours. Not bad eh?