Credits original photo; Tamara Miranda
1. What’s your favourite Amsterdam neighbourhood to shoot?
As a photographer, my work area is Amsterdam-Noord, where I have lived since 2005. Amsterdam-Noord has all the elements that I would like to capture as a photographer. Namely diversity in culture, people, nature and architecture. Noord is an exciting part of the city. There are so many contrasts. You will find beautiful and ugly things there. You see urban features in a village environment. It remains fascinating. When I talk about Amsterdam, then that is – unlike many other people – Amsterdam-Noord, that is my Amsterdam.
2. Which secret spot would you recommend (now not secret anymore)?
The best spots are found when you are walking. I often combine foreground and background, usually in combination with text or something typographic, but a story has to emerge! I find the best spots by, for example, combining texts on stickers up close with something contrasting in the background, which reinforces the word or gives it a new meaning. The best spots are found around fences, signs, lampposts, so everywhere where people leave texts.
3. What’s your most memorable streetphotography experience from the past year?
My most memorable street photography moment of this year is that I said goodbye to Instagram for well-known reasons. I have now embraced Pixelfed and hope that more photographers will do the same. It feels a bit like starting over. I notice that changing your audience also changes the selection of your posts and therefore ultimately the choices you make as a photographer.
4. Which type of images are you currently shooting?
I am currently making a photo series of all the typical city landmarks that make Noord so typically Noord in preparation for a series of tourist postcards and a book about Noord.
I am keeping the project a secret for now, so no new images of my work on socials.
I am keeping the project a secret for now, so no new images of my work on socials.
5. Which (street)photographer inspires you?
I really like the raw portraits of Bruce Gilden and Pascal Ollegott,
I also like to be inspired by photographers who capture the city or the street without the presence of people, such as: Math Roberts, Len Speier, André Kertész and Laurent Bertrais.
Guido is featured in the 2nd edition of State of Amsterdam
Copyright of each photo featured belongs to Guido Romeijn