Archive

Continuing my ‘About the photo’ series1, while also continuing the build of my Instagram feed [https://www.instagram.com/delenslovesyou/]. Looking at the likes and comments on the posts so far, I’m pretty sure most of the 26K+ followers are bots or non-active profiles. Or people just don’t like my stuff. But that’s kind of hard to imagine. Sure, a little self-depreciating humor is fun every now and then but in reality, I’m really proud of, and confident in, my work. I realize it might not be f

I have this note that I’ve been keeping for about a year(?) now. It’s called ‘Vrije associatie’ or, ‘Free association’ and I use it to write down literately anything that does not have an immediate place to go to otherwise. Any idea, any random thought, any question, anything that I want to remember; I write down there. It’s a good tool to remember stuff without having to think about it all the time. I know it’s right there and if I ever need inspiration or whatever, I can just scroll through i

I told you I’d be back with original thoughts, right? Well today you can enjoy a new ‘behind the photo’ [https://www.instagram.com/p/COQlgfAL9Dh/]1. As a reminder, I try to approach the stories as if I’m seeing the photo for the first time myself, as if I didn’t take them. If that seems weird to you then I encourage you to try it. It’s a good exercise of looking more closely. Without further ado: A pyramid! Sort of. Not really, now that I’m looking at it more closely. I see the triangular

I mean, daily writing is great and all but I don’t have that much to say all the time. I’ll be back with more thought out ideas tomorrow. Probably. Or maybe not but I will definitely be back.

Who knows what can happen when you set out to shoot high buildings in black and white? I do! You end up shooting close ups of wet leaves in beautiful Fujifilm color [https://www.instagram.com/p/COLijmjFPk5/]. With a little help of my vision. Not by to brag but, I feel like I’m getting quite good at post-processing these days. I really feel like I’m nearing a solid balance of luminosity, saturation and hues that suit my taste. As illustrated by my next few words: “Oehhh I like those details. Th

Staring at the empty screen. Nothing. Looking outside for inspiration. Still nothing.  But then it hits me. Nothing, isn’t that also something? An absence of thought, or a presence of inner peace? I’m not sure. I’m Jon Snow1. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. I know nothing. ↩︎

I wrote a few words to accompany Viewfinder 030 [https://mitchellens.ink/shop]. Feast your eyes and tickle your mind with the ingenuity of my writing below: “This is one of those typical boring shots that you don’t pay much attention to at first. I mean, what exactly am I looking at? Well indeed, what are you looking at? What is that big thing in the bottom right corner? What forms those lines? What is the perspective of the shot, am I looking to the side, or down? Maybe up? But then, ah! Tho

Aahhhh all I need is a little sunshine. Luckily that’s just what our great planet is granting me today. The tables are turning, the tides are changing. My bike, once referred to as ‘vuurflits’, has turned into a beautiful ‘nachtschaduw’ with its new paint and polished parts. The wait is for the final bits to come in to make this thing come together nicely. I can’t wait to do long sunny rides again. Until then, it’s long sunny hanging-around sessions for me. Aahhhh all I need is a little sunshi

I did another instagram post [https://www.instagram.com/p/COBIzU-HUSJ/], which also marks my first background story accompanying my fine art prints. I’ll be adding it to the product page right after writing this Monologue. I try to approach these stories as if I’m seeing the photos for the first time myself. Allowing my to eyes wander and myself to wonder about the image. As I take a good careful look at all the elements in the frame, I just write whatever surfaces. It’s not your typical backgr

Okay so, quick recap: the One Two One test book was definitely underwhelming. I’m redoing it and I’m making a proper photo book out of it. I’m also making it a square, as I should’ve done all along. This does mean that I have to redo the entire layout in the square format to make it fit. It won’t be too much work though, as I now already know what my sequencing will be. I also won’t be needing to write anything. It should be breeze. Or a least more of a breeze than designing the original idea.

I started posting to Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/delenslovesyou/] again, which is funny considering my plea for leaving the platform [https://mitchellens.ink/im-thinking-about-quitting-instagram/] a few weeks ago. The thing that changed is: I have something to sell now. Nevertheless, I am automating the process as much as possible. Which means I’ll be scheduling posts so I won’t have to deal with the platform too much. As my initiation, I’ll be promoting my fine art prints [https://mi

I bought another domain name today. Maybe even two. It’s like I’m collecting the things. In the process I forgot to shower and now it’s 5 PM and I haven’t set a foot outside. Let’s start with that shower first. Now that that’s done, what else? Maybe take a good look at the One Two One test book that arrived today. Hmmm, my first impression: it’s a little underwhelming. Perhaps I did not choose the correct form to do the project justice. Let me sit on that for a while. Now what? Try to hang the

It’s a glorious day. I finished the first drop of prints in my store. I’ve made a few minor mistakes during the setup a few days about but it’s all nicely set up and functional now! I was also looking forward to receiving the One Two One test book today but that didn’t happen. Fingers crossed it arrives tomorrow. I must say that the processes to make these things are highly rewarding and fulfilling. Though something I’m historically bad at, I’m not afraid to openly share my work with people as

I’ve been keeping track of the basket next to our house and its deterioration process. Don’t ask me why, I just do. It started out pretty random as I thought the thing looked visually appealing already. Then the net started to slowly come off and I just could helpt but check up on the thing on an almost daily basis. Now, for some unexplainable reason, the net managed to attach itself to the back of the thing. Basically, I’m just looking for an excuse to embed this Twitter thread I’ve been maint

What more can I say? It’s my birthday baby1. No big introspections from me at this time. I have enough of those every day this year. Here’s a quick photo to capture the day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Read: ‘baybay’. ↩︎

Most days I feel pretty uninspired but I still soldier on with these monologues. Because, even when I have no inspiration, I still enjoy the process of writing a few words every day. I might even go as far in saying that writing has become a lot more fun in general. I guess the mere exposure effect1 also applies to things you compulsively do. I already can’t wait to turn some of these quick notes and loose thoughts into proper essays. Perhaps somebody will then start reading them2. Concurrentl

Further plans and wishes. Build out my website until it can financially support my photography. Maybe even financially support me. But mostly, grant me the freedom to continue creating. That’s what it’s all about. More projects [https://mitchellens.ink/projects], more products [https://mitchellens.ink/shop], more time for myself, less things to worry about. See different places. Actually see them. Live a full life. Not necessarily an eventful one. Not much else.