For Dutch National Portrait Gallery / Rabobank former Rabo Photographic Portrait Prize winners were asked to shoot portraits in the special daylight studio at Lowlands festival. Sunday was my turn. Never before I was at Lowlands and never before I had so many people in such a short time front of my camera. I had the handsomest assistent of all with me and even that didn’t distract me as I had to shoot 100 portraits in 3 hours. All in all it was a wonderful experience and it was awesome to see my friends at the festival. Even caught a …

Volkskrant journalist Fokke Obbema, after barely surviving a cardiac arrest in 2017, asked existential questions: what is the purpose of life, what is the essence of existence and what does it mean to be human? In a series of critically acclaimed interviews, he discussed this with people from very different professions and backgrounds. In ‘De zin van het leven. Gesprekken over de essentie van ons bestaan’ (translation: The meaning of life. Conversations about the essence of our existence) of publisher Atlas Contact, Obbema bundles these conversations. The accompanying portraits were made by me. The result is a book full of …

Are you at Lowlands this weekend? Then have your portrait taken by me or one of the other portrait photographers in the daylight studio of Dutch National Portrait Gallery. Every day between 2 and 5 p.m. one of the winners of the Rabo Photographic Portrait Prize is at work here. You can find us in the What’s Happening area, between the Lima and the Heineken podium. Friday Sander Troelstra winner 2015Saturday Sarah Mei Herman 2018 winnerSunday Jitske Schols winner 2016 Check the Dutch National Portrait Gallery’s Instagram and Facebook page to find your portrait.

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Tuesday, July 1About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our life? In this episode Fokke interviews soprano Christianne Stotijn. Interview: Fokke ObbemaPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Media: Daily newspaper Het ParoolPublication date: Saturday, June 15About: My series Songs for soprano about the life and times of Anna Witsen at FotoFestival NaardenPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols TICKETS ⬤ Fotofestival Naarden 》

My precious ‘Sora in Black’ is watching over the exhibition floor of photo basel these days. You will find her at booth 23 of the ever so wonderful Galerie Caroline O’Breen. Het sizes measure 120 by 80 cm and she is available in limited editions. She won the Dutch National Portrait Prize for being the most beautiful. Go and see my intriguing ‘Sora in Black’ by yourselves! WHAT. photo basel is Switzerland’s first and only international art fair dedicated to photography based art. WHEN. June 11-16, 2019 Tue-Sun from 12h – 20h During Art Basel week 2019. reserve your tickets …

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Tuesday, June 11About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our life? In this episode Fokke interviews IT specialist and Hindu priest Ashis Mathura. Interview: Fokke ObbemaPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, May 27About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our life? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews doctor and writer Ivan Wolffers who is fascinated by the theme of survival. How is it possible that people can survive in almost all circumstances?, Fokke Obbema wants to know from him.Interview: Fokke ObbemaPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Three more days to go… this Saturday FotoFestival Naarden kicks off! Very very exciting, with so much to see and experience. My own series of course, but also the interesting work of so many other inspiring photographers. The 16th edition of FotoFestival Naarden will take place from Saturday, May 25th to Sunday, June 30th, 2019 and is themed ‘Dutch Masters & Marvelous Misfits’. It tells the stories of people and their landscapes, the latter in the sense of sceneries and thoughts. It tells the tales of our best and worst moments, from self-loathing to self-love, from rebellion to naivety, and …

Title: Piccolo IIITechnique: toyobo etching plateFinish: frame, museum glassEdition: 6/10 + 2 APSize: etching plate A5, framework +/- 14,8 x 21 cmPrize: €625,= incl. BTWMaker: Jitske Schols (etching by Eric Levert)Available at: Galerie Caroline O’Breen (or contact me and I will get you in contact with Caroline) MORE DETAILS ⬤ Piccolo III product page 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, May 20About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our life? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews talent coach and author Etchica Voorn. The blood of two cultures flows through her veins. Double blood, she calls it. It enriches her life, she tells Fokke Obbema, but that did not happen automatically.Interview: Fokke ObbemaPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Media: Het ParoolPublication date: Saturday, May 18About: Barely a year after councillor Sharon Dijksma (PvdA) started working in Amsterdam, she leaves her mark on the city apparently effortlessly. “Dijksma is a silent bulldozer.”Text: Ruben KoopsPhotography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, May 13About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our existence? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews friar Bernardus, abbot of monastry Koningshoeven (Berkel-Enschot): “You can not proof God. He just is or is not.”Interview: Fokke ObbemaPhotography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online (in Dutch) 》

Title: Ayla gazingTechnique: toyobo etching, chine colléFinish: nutwood frame, museum glassEditions: edition 5 + 2 AP per size (2 sizes)Size: etch A5, framework 40 x 33 cm and etch A4, framework 57 x 47 cmMaker: Jitske Schols (etching by Eric Levert)Available at: Galerie Caroline O’Breen (or contact me and I will get you in contact with Caroline) MORE DETAILS ⬤ Ayla gazing product page 》

Media: VillamediaPublication date: May 2019About: Henk Blanken in Villamedia, magazine about journalism: “You do not just become correspondent ‘death and deterioration’”Photography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Visit Villamedia 》

A new newsletter with current projects, events and exhibitions. Wanna subscribe and receive your own copy of my newsletter in your mailbox next time? READ MY NEWEST NEWSLETTER ⬤ Newsletter spring edition 》

For all the strong women in my life and beyond. For my mother who raised us, worked fulltime and often stood alone. For my grandmother who taught me to be lighthearted and cheerful despite a hard working life. For my great-grandmother who was awarded for her help given in WOII, actually for all unidentified, unseen and unlisted great women in history that paved our ways in a male dominated world. And for my daughter to get inspired by these heroic women. VIEW THE SERIES ⬤ Series Hidden Figures 》

Media: Het Parool.Publication date: Tuesday March 23, 2019About: Interview with Sylvana Simons after one year to be councilor in the municipality Amsterdam: ‘Our input is revolutionary’Text: Michiel Couzy and Ruben Koops Photography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read Het Parool 》

Media: Het Parool.Publication date: Tuesday March 8, 2019About: Otto Nan, co-founder of the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam, sets up a cooking school with hotel in Uruguay, together with Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann.Text: Sara Luijters Photography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online 》

Fokke Obbema has been nominated for ‘De Tegel’ award in the category ‘interview’ with his interview series about the meaning of life. De Tegel is a recognition and tribute to journalists who have contributed to maintaining and improving the quality of Dutch-language journalistic news, reporting, background, research, interview and camera productions. I am very proud to work together with him on this beautiful series on Mondays in De Volkskrant. Media play an increasingly important role in society. That is why the quality and social significance of media in general and journalism in particular deserve special attention. For that reason, since …

In their first book De Kunstmeisjes will share their art stories. You still need a little patience, because the book will be launched in August by publisher Meulenhoff and will be for sale in a bookstore near you. I had the honor to shoot the cover portraits of these interesting young ladies. ⁣⁣

The 16th edition of FotoFestival Naarden will take place from Saturday, May 25th to Sunday, June 30th, 2019 and I will be participating! A dream come true. My mother used to live in Naarden and we would always visit the exhibition, long before I became a photographer myself. Curators this year are photographer Koos Breukel and photo historian and author Hedy van Erp. This years edition’s theme is ‘Dutch Masters & Marvelous Misfits’ and it has been made with the intention to praise and include the misfit. The misfits presented at the FotoFestival are greater masters than they are given …

Media: Het Parool.Publication date: Tuesday March 5, 2019About: New novel ‘Otmars zonen’ by Dutch author Peter BuwaldaText: Maarten Moll Photography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Saturday, January 26About: The Rwandan-American writer Clemantine Wamariya escaped the genocide in her homeland and now fights against hatred and division. Last year she wrote the baffling book ‘The Girl Who Smiled Beads’ about her life – now translated into Dutch as ‘Het meisje dat kralen kon lachen’.Photography: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read the article online 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, January 14About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our existence? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews writer and former journalist Henk Blanken. He has Parkinson. About ‘the beauty of decay’ he writes stories that are praised internationally. The answer to the meaning of his life is to others, he says to Fokke Obbema.Photography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read all the articles …

It was 1889 when Herman Gorter wrote his magnificent poem ‘In den zwarten nacht is een mensch aangetreden’. It was written in response of the death of the young lady Anna Witsen. The general public was not aware of that fact, but her brother Willem Witsen knew it though, for Gorter donated him the handwritten poem clearly indicating the reason. Exactly 100 years later this story came to me for the first time. Rein van der Wiel’s book ‘Ewijkshoeve, tuin van tachtig’ was launched and I read it cover to cover. I realized that the family estate where I grew …

For tablet readers Volkskrant publishes special tablet editions these Christmas days, with stories you might have missed before and a few new extras. You’ll need to download the tablet app for it, but then you will be rewarded. Today, on Boxing Day, the tablet edition is filled with reflections that fits the end of the year: a collection of all stories of Fokke Obbema’s popular interview series about the meaning of life. Supplemented with a selection of readers’ reactions, an interview with the photographer of the project, Jitske Schols, and an interim review of Fokke himself after three months interviewing: ‘I …

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, December 24About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our existence? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews Gerard Bodifee, astrophysicist and philosopher, and he tells him that the ethical awareness of people grows’Photography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read all the articles online 》

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, December 3About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our existence? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews Funda Müjde, actress, and she tells him that being grateful is her best medicine against depression’Photography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read all the articles online 》

Lykele Muus (1987) is a Dutch actor and writer.

Media: VolkskrantPublication date: Monday, November 12About: After a cardiac arrest, which caused him to float between life and death, journalist Fokke Obbema goes in search of answers to that ancient question in the series Zin van het leven: what is the meaning of our existence? In this episode Fokke Obbema interviews Jolande Withuis, sociologist. “Life does not make any sense. That gives endless opportunities.”Photography of this series: Jitske Schols MORE TO SEE ⬤ Read all the articles online 》