Introduction To catch the ineffable When people forget to pose themselves as the person they think they need to be, they seem to reflect a precious realness that is both sensitive and universal to me. The subtle movements and facial expressions that go along with the transformation of thoughts - sometimes paused with a memory or feeling - is a pure experience that I am inspired to capture with my camera. When people make a connection with themselves or with someone else, I sense something ineffable; too intense to be expressed in words. To see authenticity unveil itself is something beautiful which I am always grateful to be a witness of. The uniqueness of such moments cannot be created, staged, directed or manipulated. There must be a natural harmony, which arises when all what is needed to connect - mutual trust and respect - coincide with human nature. In my autonomous work I try to combine intuition with coincidental meetings; strangers who sometimes become close friends. It is my aim to spend real time with the people I meet, the energy of the image manifesting itself in the natural surrounding of a person accompanied by the available light in the room. To discover the potential of love, relationships and our own climate of thought is an endless journey that will inspire me for many years to come. I try to collect moments of truth and my wish for you is that you will sense something of that which is ineffable. Marleen Noordergraaf (1977) studied photo journalism and started off as a writer. She developed her passion for photography while working for a newspaper in South Africa. After establishing herself as a professional photographer with reportages in South Africa and India, she broadened her field of interest by initiating several autonomous projects, which show a more artistic approach of photography. Her work is characterized by personal involvement, disclosing a natural, undisturbed reflection of people and places. Reportages San people (Schmidsdrift, South Africa) • Project: Dancing Dust • Publication: Marie Claire (South Africa) Kliptown Market (Soweto, South Africa) • Project: Sunrise • Publication: Sowetan Newspaper (South Africa) Bangelore (South India) • Project: Traditional Games • Client: NCDO (The Netherlands) Madras (South India) • Project: Families • Client: Terre des Hommes Boarding School (South India) • Project: Go-Getter • Client: Terre des Hommes (The Netherlands) Portraits Rebecca Bijker • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marike Jager • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Patrick Lodiers • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cindy Pielstroom • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jansi • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan Douwe Kroeske • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paul Rosenmöller • Publication: IS • Client: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Autonomous David & Victoria (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Anika & Daniel (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Anonymous (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Julie & Helmund (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Vincent & Hannah-Lisa (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Momo (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Ionela (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Doz (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Anika (Vienna, Austria) • Project: Zärtlichkeit (Tenderness) • Support: EIKON, Internationale Zeitung für Photographie Art Projects Art Projects As artistic director of the foundation Openblik (Openview) I develop interactive art projects that typically involve the participation of children and adults. In my art projects I explore new methods of communication, stimulating others to express that what is of importance to them. Using photography, film, sound and interactive media, I try to interpret the beauty of personal expression in every day live. At present I am working on a new community art project called ‘Ik Laat Jou Zien’ (I Will Make You See). It’s about detailed and intimate observations of people seen through the eyes of children and adults. Can we communicate our appreciation of those around us in a personal and intimate way?  The results of the projects will be exhibited at the 2007 edition of the Oerol festival, the international 8mm festival and the SHOOT-ME film festival in the Netherlands. Mijn Geheime Plek (My Secret Place) In 2005 I closed a secret pact with 115 children of the North Sea island Terschelling, which forms the natural stage of the European theatre festival Oerol. Together we explored the importance of having ones own secret place. The adventure resulted in a magical exhibition held on eight (secret) locations on the island. The children photographed their own secret place to inspire others to remember the ones they had as a child. Some of them allowed me to (blindfolded) visit their secret place where I could take some macro shots that would add to the adventurous nature of a secret place. Seven of the children recorded an audiotape, telling their audience about the reasons for having a secret place. During the festival, passers-by received a personal performance and were handed a map, which helped them find the secret locations of the exhibition. The pictures shown here are just a small part of the total collection of secret place photographs that the children and me made during our adventure. More impressions will become available at the future Openblik website. My Secret Place (Oerol Festival, The Netherlands) Top: Secret Place Jan-Thijs (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Arco (Arco) Top: Secret Place Jan-Thijs 2 (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Arent (Arent) Top: Secret Place patrick (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Dieder (Dieder) Top: Secret Place Tijs (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Johan (Johan) Top: Secret Place Max (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Mark (Mark) Top: Secret Place Max 2 (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Rinske (Rinske) Top: Secret Place Bart (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Steyn (Steyn) Top: Secret Place Bart 2 (MN) • Bottom: Secret Place Tijs (Tijs) Copyright notice All rights, including copyright, in the contents of these web pages, including all photography, are owned or controlled for these purposes by Marleen Noordergraaf. In accessing Marleen Noordergraaf's web pages, you agree that you may only download the content for your own personal non-commercial use. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store (in any medium), transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change in any way the content of these web pages for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of Marleen Noordergraaf. Credits Design and production: Beelders - graphic communications, The Netherlands (http://www.beelders.nl). 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