honorable mention
Susanne Middelberg netherlands
Photo © Susanne Middelberg
title
Soar
On the one hand, infinite space, tranquility and therefore freedom. On the other hand, infinite emptiness without ground, extreme anxiety. Fear of getting no air and to disappear.
portraits, which explore themes of vulnerability and human complexity. After initially studying
modern dance at the Higher School for Arts in Arnhem, she transitioned into photography,
graduating in 1998 from the Academy for Visual Arts. Middelberg has since established a career as
a freelance photographer, specializing in portrait and theater-dance photography. Her work often
captures the dualities within people—strength and fragility—and she believes that showing
vulnerability in her subjects fosters connection and understanding.
Middelberg's photographic style is described as "intense, honest, and picturesque," and she is
particularly inspired by the human condition. Her approach focuses on revealing the layers of
personality in her subjects, aiming to touch viewers through this emotional depth. She has received
numerous awards for her work, including prizes from The Canon Master, the Monochrome Awards
and the Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris.
In addition to her portraits, Middelberg has been commissioned for various projects, including work
for theater posters. She has exhibited her work in galleries across the Netherlands and
internationally, including in New York and Boston. Her projects have earned her a solid reputation
in the photography world, winning accolades like the MUSE Photography Awards for her
"Daylight" series, where she emphasized natural light and raw emotion to portray her subjects.
Middelberg cites Jan Saudek, Stephan Vanfleteren, and Richard Learoyd as major influences on her
work. Her philosophy as a photographer is to remain authentic and continuously learn from others.
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entry description
Water, the Sea always invokes the feeling of infinity to me. Infinity in space, time and without weight.On the one hand, infinite space, tranquility and therefore freedom. On the other hand, infinite emptiness without ground, extreme anxiety. Fear of getting no air and to disappear.
about the photographer
Susanne Middelberg is a German photographer known for her powerful and emotionally richportraits, which explore themes of vulnerability and human complexity. After initially studying
modern dance at the Higher School for Arts in Arnhem, she transitioned into photography,
graduating in 1998 from the Academy for Visual Arts. Middelberg has since established a career as
a freelance photographer, specializing in portrait and theater-dance photography. Her work often
captures the dualities within people—strength and fragility—and she believes that showing
vulnerability in her subjects fosters connection and understanding.
Middelberg's photographic style is described as "intense, honest, and picturesque," and she is
particularly inspired by the human condition. Her approach focuses on revealing the layers of
personality in her subjects, aiming to touch viewers through this emotional depth. She has received
numerous awards for her work, including prizes from The Canon Master, the Monochrome Awards
and the Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris.
In addition to her portraits, Middelberg has been commissioned for various projects, including work
for theater posters. She has exhibited her work in galleries across the Netherlands and
internationally, including in New York and Boston. Her projects have earned her a solid reputation
in the photography world, winning accolades like the MUSE Photography Awards for her
"Daylight" series, where she emphasized natural light and raw emotion to portray her subjects.
Middelberg cites Jan Saudek, Stephan Vanfleteren, and Richard Learoyd as major influences on her
work. Her philosophy as a photographer is to remain authentic and continuously learn from others.
back to gallery
