Joel Tjintjelaar is an award winning B&W fine-art photographer, born in Jakarta, Indonesia and raised in the Netherlands.

His interpretation of black and white photography as a fine art is quite unique as he uses absence of colour to put an unveil the very essence of every single person, object, situation or scenario and emphasize on the emotional experience they create. His work has been published on various magazines and online websites and has won multiple prizes.

Joel Tjintjelaar’s photography stands out for its artistic quality and technical excellence, making him a respected figure in the world of fine art photography. His contributions as an educator further cement his influence and legacy in the field.

Style:

Tjintjelaar specializes in black and white photography, using the absence of color to emphasize form, light, and shadow. He also often employs long-exposure techniques to create ethereal and surreal effects, particularly in his work. His images frequently showcase a minimalist aesthetic, focusing on simplicity and clarity. Tjintjelaar has a keen interest in architectural subjects, capturing buildings and structures with a unique perspective that highlights their geometric and abstract qualities. His architectural images often emphasize lines, shapes, and forms, creating a striking visual impact.

Biographical Context:

Joel Tjintjelaar was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, and moved to the Netherlands at a young age.  He never really felt like he was at home when he lived in the Netherlands. This sense of displacement and living in his mind as a “fantasy” is reflected in his surreal, atmospheric black and white images that transport the viewer to dreamlike realms.

Psychological:

Though he studied criminal law and worked in IT, Tjintjelaar always harbored artistic passions like architecture, music, and writing. These diverse creative interests are evident in his architectural photography that blends technical precision with emotional expression.

5 characters:

-High in contrast

-black and white

-good composition

-simple and clean

-sharp

My favorite picture:

I chose this as my favorite picture because it really transforms familiar architectural scenes into surreal, atmospheric visions that transport the viewer into a dreamlike realm beyond objective reality. This picture emphasize shapes, lines, textures, and luminance contrasts to evoke deeper feelings and meaning.

How it inspires:

I think this photo gave me a lot of inspiration as of what type of architectures i should be looking out for when taking this set and also inspired me to keep this set of  photos clean and simple.

All my photos:

all set 1

Blue selection:

blue set 1

For my blue selection i just looked out for pictures that were fairly well composed and good focus points. I also tried to chose photos that had big contrasts in shadows and highlights so it would look better when I turn them black and white.

Green set:

green set 1

For my green set I looked for pictures that potentially connects to my vision and reflects my inspired photographers pictures well. Red set:

red set 1

Red set:

For my Final set I made sure these pictures were the best in terms of fitting my vision for the start of this project and the strongest pictures out of this set. All of these pictures fulfill the 5 characters of Ansel Adams black and white landscape photos high in contrast ,black and white, good composition and sharp.

Initial thoughts: i want to explore high contrast black and white pictures with shadows in both landscape and architecture.

Researching the Starting points.

Ellsworth Kelly:

Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015) was an American artist known for his abstract paintings, sculptures, and prints. He was associated with the minimalist, hard-edge, and color field movements. Ellsworth Kelly, primarily known for his abstract paintings and sculptures, also experimented with photography, particularly focusing on shadow play and the interplay between light and form. Kelly was fascinated by the shapes and patterns created by light and shadow, often capturing these fleeting moments in his photography.

In his shadow photography, Kelly explored the simplicity and beauty of everyday objects and their shadows cast against surfaces. He found inspiration in thegeometric shapes and abstract compositions that emerged from these shadows, reflecting his broader interest in minimalist aesthetics and formalism.

Kelly’s approach to photography echoed his artistic philosophy, which prioritized visual purity and the exploration of form, color, and space. Through his shadow photography, he highlighted the overlooked beauty in the mundane and celebrated the ephemeral nature of light and shadow.

László Moholy-Nagy:

László Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946) was a Hungarian artist and educator, known for his significant contributions to the fields of photography, typography, painting, sculpture, and design. He was a leading figure in the Bauhaus movement, which revolutionized art and design education in the early 20th century. László Moholy-Nagy was known for his innovative work with photography, particularly his experiments with light and shadow. One of his notable contributions in this area is his exploration of what he called “photograms” or “photogenic drawings.”

A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The areas of the paper covered by the objects remainwhite, while the surrounding areas darken. Moholy-Nagy used this technique to create striking compositions that played with light, shadow, and form.

Moholy-Nagy’s photograms often featured everyday objects, such as paper clips, wires, and household items, arranged in dynamic arrangements. By manipulating the placement of these objects and varying the exposure time, he was able to create abstract, otherworldly images that challenged traditional notions of photography.

Ernst Haas:

Ernst Haas (1921–1986) was an influential Austrian-American photojournalist and color photographer, considered one of the pioneers of color photography as a legitimate art form. He was born in Vienna, Austria, and began studying medicine before his interests shifted to photography during World War II.

Haas was more renowned for his pioneering work in color photography, his ability to capture emotion and movement, and his innovative use of light and color to create dynamic and visually striking images. While shadows often played a role in his compositions, they were just one element among many that contributed to the overall impact of his photographs.

That said, Haas did have a keen eye for light and shadow, and his photographs often exhibit a strong sense of contrast, which can sometimes result in dramatic shadow play. His use of light and shadow helped to add depth and dimension to his images, enhancing their visual impact and contributing to their emotional resonance.

In summary, while Ernst Haas did not specialize in shadow photography per se, his work often featured shadows as part of his overall exploration of light, color, and composition.

Mindmap:

vision:

In this photography project, I aim to delve into the captivating dance between light and shadow, uncovering the hidden narratives and evocative atmospheres within. Each photograph will serve as a window into the unseen dimensions of our surroundings, where shadows take center stage, revealing their emotive depth and enigmatic allure. Through carefully crafted compositions and nuanced use of light, I intend to evoke a range of emotions, from nostalgia to intrigue, inviting viewers to contemplate the beauty found within the shadows.

statement of intent:

In crafting this set of photos, i will like to immerse the audience in a world of heightened drama and emotion. By leveraging high contrast and embracing the monochromatic allure of black and white, I aim to evoke a visceral response from viewers, drawing them into the heart of each composition. Through the interplay of light and shadow, I seek to create a dynamic visual narrative that captivates the senses and sparks the imagination. Every stark contrast becomes a conduit for storytelling, imbuing each image with depth and intensity.