Interview

Susanne Middelberg

Netherlands

Meet Susanne Middelberg, a gifted photographer who captures the soul of portrait images and portrays them in her own way.

1 Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?

I am a professional dancer, photographer and actress. I specialize in portrait photography, theater and dance photography. When I was young I got fascinated by photo's of Jan Saudek and Avedon. Friends of mine showed me the world of the dark room, which felt like magic to me.

2 Where did you study photography?

I studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague

3 Do you remember your first shot? What was it?

I made portraits of my sister

4 What equipment do you use?

Hasselblad and Fujifilm

5 What do you hope to achieve?

I want to show people what touches me in the people I photograph.

6 What compliment inspired/touched you the most?

I once had the honor of making a portrait of actor Lou Landré in honor of his retirement from the theatre. When the photo was revealed his wife came to me in tears. She said: "You have photographed him as he is why I love him. " That was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said about one of my photos.

7 What inspires your unique storytelling?

People. Humanity. Strength. Vulnerability

8 What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?

Intense Honest Picturesque

9 Congratulations! As the winner of the MUSE Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?

I am very grateful for the recognition. I am also very grateful for the people I get to photograph. The prices are confirmation of what I hope to be able to show to other people.

10 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 MUSE Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

The winning photo's are portraits from my Daylight series. In my portraits I am looking for honesty and vulnerability. I believe that vulnerability makes us nicer human beings and that this makes the world a little more friendly and more understanding. People who show themselves vulnerable give the other the confidence that they themselves may be who they are. I am most fascinated when I can see opposite qualities of a person at the same moment. I find this exciting because people are complex. I hope that the portrait touches something of the viewer himself. In this series, I chose to use only daylight to make the image as natural as possible.

11 How has winning an award developed your career?

Every award helps to make your work visible.

12 Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.

Jan Saudek Stephan Vanfleteren Richard Learoyd

13 What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?

I think one of the things I learned the most from was when people made me feel like they didn't believe in me. That made me have to prove to myself that I could do it.

14 What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?

Always be yourself and never give up.

15 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

Always be yourself and never give up.

16 How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?

Being humble. I always want to keep on learning. And everybody has something to teach me.