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elus1v — bob cools

Published: 2006-06-25 09:37:56 +0000 UTC; Views: 918; Favourites: 13; Downloads: 48
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Description Interview session with Bob Cools, still known as 'the mayor' over here even though it's been over ten years since he was the mayor in Antwerp. He was in charge of the city from 1982 (five years before I was born) untill 1994, under his administration the city prospered. Just to name one thing, Antwerp became Cultural Capital of Europe in '93. He's a really interesting guy and has lots of stories to tell. He's over 70 now but that doesn't stop him: two years ago he got his PhD degree at the university, with a work that touches probably the most important problem in current West-European society: immigration and integration problems.

He had a tiny bureau in a tiny apartment in one of the worst blocks in a not-so-cool neighbourhood of the city: his career certainly hasn't spoiled him. A true socialist. I have some other pictures from before and after the interview, but I think these go kinda well as a series.

90 2.0 and 50 1.2, ilford XP2

ps. Sorry for the big file, I wish there was another way of presenting them like a series on DA... ie like a slideshow as can be seen on flickr, RFF etc. Oh well. Deal with it!
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Comments: 15

Nobodyloves [2010-04-20 02:50:42 +0000 UTC]

Your amazing work is featured here

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EC6456 [2007-01-31 16:18:25 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous work!

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adriennelydia [2007-01-29 23:40:31 +0000 UTC]

Great series. You can tell the guy has character.
I enjoyed looking through your gallery

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veca [2006-06-26 17:14:18 +0000 UTC]

oh, yeah, i heard for this man, great person, when i came to antwerp to live in 1994 he was just about
to go off, vlaaams blok won the local election so they put their own man in charge...
you captured him so beautifly...
the pics looks like the frames from the movie...i love that

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elus1v In reply to veca [2006-06-27 09:17:46 +0000 UTC]

thanks for the comments & the fav, I really appreciate that!

so what's your story - you're Bosnian but you lived over here for a while? for studies or?

anyway, you have some very nice shots in your gallery, i really like the chimney ones and 'untitled'.

take care!

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veca In reply to elus1v [2006-07-02 00:08:00 +0000 UTC]

yeah, i lived in a'pen as a refugee, waiting the war in my country to stop, learnig vlaams, going to school...i'm still visiting a'pen
from time to time, still have a lot of friends there...

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lcbruns [2006-06-26 01:23:28 +0000 UTC]

your portraits are stunning! you really capture the spirit of the subject...a trait that i admire!

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elus1v In reply to lcbruns [2006-06-27 08:28:06 +0000 UTC]

thanks laura! you have a way with people as well.. i like your featured deviation!

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mis-match [2006-06-26 00:22:32 +0000 UTC]

boring gallery you say?
pffffft
more like inspirational and emotional

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equivoque [2006-06-25 19:31:38 +0000 UTC]

i especially like the second photo down...

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sisqo4u [2006-06-25 18:46:07 +0000 UTC]

really great .. each photo stands by it's own .. and the lighting is another waaoo .. good use of tools

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elus1v In reply to sisqo4u [2006-06-26 09:41:22 +0000 UTC]

I was lucky, there was a big window to our left and lot's of soft light coming in... Thanks!

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BassDerek [2006-06-25 18:23:11 +0000 UTC]

I really like this series. In fact, I've always liked photos in a series, when executed properly. Being that the essence of photojournalism is to tell a visual story, the series aspect here allows that to transcend to another level. The lighting/exposure is done nicely, the detail kept and the lighting creating interest in the subject. The expressions/emotions portrayed seem to go along with your description of the man.

Just well put together man.

p.s. gotta love the 2.0 and 1.2, the DOF just completes the package

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osmiashe [2006-06-25 10:22:48 +0000 UTC]

great!
fantastic shadows!

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elus1v In reply to osmiashe [2006-06-25 14:20:36 +0000 UTC]

thanks a lot man, i appreciate the comment & fav!

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