xxx ♥ – Hang Youth

projects

Since the 2020 Corona pandemic I started documenting random encounters in the city of Amsterdam. The city I live in and the city I love.

In November 2021 the pandemic hits hard. The much anticipated concert of Dutch band Hang Youth was scheduled the day a stringent Covid lockdown became in force – noticed only two days in advance.

The venue Paradiso pushed the sold-out show to afternoon, just an hour before lockdown. Fans took their chance, unknown when the next opportunity to go out would arise.

Hang Youth billed the afternoon as The Last Show on Earth.

Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Concert billed as The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso. The concert has been pushed to the afternoon to meet the COVID-19 lockdown, announced two days before. Stage diving the pit in a sold-out Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Audience at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Singer Abel van Gijlswijk at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Audience at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Audience on stage at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Audience at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni
Hang Youth Concert, The Last Show on Earth in Paradiso - documentary photography by Bram Belloni
Frontrow audience at The Last Show on Earth by Dutch band Hang Youth in Paradiso.
Amsterdam, November 2021 – Photo: Bram Belloni

The concert was a blast.

About the series

In the series xxx ♥ – Amsterdam encounters I document the city through random encounters on the streets and in places, with fellow Amsterdammers.

Editorial portraits for New Scientist Magazine

publications

For New Scientist magazine I have been assigned to do editorial portraits for the monthly article Opinie Interview.

Tearsheet publication New Scientist Magazine 79, July/August 2020. Interview epidemiologist Gowri Gopalakrishna - interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni
Epidemiologist Gowri Gopalakrishna in New Scientist Magazine 79, July/August 2020.
Interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni (click for bigger image)

In this item editor Jop de Vrieze and me meet researchers, scientists and academics from all sort of specialisms, giving a rather personal view on conducted research methods in their field.

Tearsheet publication New Scientist Magazine 77, May 2020. Interview energy transition expert Auke Hoekstra - interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni
Energy transition expert Auke Hoekstra in New Scientist Magazine 77, May 2020. Interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni (click for bigger image)
Tear sheet publication New Scientist Magazine 71, november 2019. Interview medical biologist Rik van der Kant - interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni
Medical biologist Rik van der Kant in New Scientist Magazine 71, november 2019.
Interview by Job de Vrieze, editorial photography by Bram Belloni (click for bigger image)

It is great to work on the same item for a few years now. Also because of the strict requirement by the magazine to shoot in black and white. Which happens not so much nowadays. And forces me as photographer, to reinvent looking in black and white.

Editorial Portrait: Casper Thomas for Folia Magazine

publications

For Folia Magazine, I was out for a portrait of Dutch journalist and author Casper Thomas. Thomas wrote Competente Rebellen (Competent Rebels), a publication about the 2015 Maagdenhuis occupation at the University of Amsterdam.

Picture had to be taken with Maagdenhuis in the background. The situation 10 minutes before shoot:

https://www.instagram.com/p/8gMEYrwNcD/?utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet

Portrait photography on the streets can be challenging; you can almost never have full control of all things in a crowded area. I let things just happen and try to take benefit from the element of surprise.

The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 02 October 2015. Portrait Casper Thomas, Dutch journalist and author Competente rebellen, publication about the 2015 University of Amsterdam Maagdenhuis occupation. Picture taken in front of the Maagdenhuis. Photo: Bram Belloni *DIGITAL ALTERED IMAGE* / Nederland, Amsterdam, 02 oktober 2015. Portret Casper Thomas, journalist en auteur Competente rebellen, een publicatie over de Universiteit van Amsterdam Maagdenhuis bezetting van 2015. Foto genomen voor het Maagdenhuis. Foto: Bram Belloni *DIGITAAL GEMANIPULEERD BEELD* / (c) 2015, www.belloni.nl
Casper Thomas, tear sheet Folia Magazine 06-2015
Editorial photography Bram Belloni for Folia Magazine

And there was, in this case, some digital altering involved.

The result in de publication (click image for larger view):

Casper Thomas, tear sheet Folia Magazine 06-2015
Editorial photography Bram Belloni for Folia Magazine

> Read more: Competente rebellen | Amsterdam University Press
> Read more about: Magazine – Folia