Too bad we can't do the double interview right now, but I decided to post my answers of the interview anyway. Big thanks to the interviewer, Judi. This was really fun girlie!!!
Enjoy!
INTRODUCTION
Why are you doing this interview? Why did you think you would be good candidate for an interview?
When I suggested  Judi to interview her, the idea of a double interview came to my mind. I thought we might had some things in common, and this would be a good way to find out if that was the truth or not. I was happy she accepted the idea.
I also thought it would be fun for you guys to get to know me a little bit more. I have no idea if that is the truth, but if you don’t like it or if you think I’m not interesting at all, then there is a small x in the top right corner to click me away ;-)
BACKGROUND – About Hanneke
Give me a brief summary of Hanneke...who is she?
I live in the south of the Netherlands, together with my sweet hubby and our two cats; Elmo, my little friend, and Bowser, a grumpy old cat.
My hubby has a 7 year-old son, his name is Vito.
My parents moved to Belgium last year, a 20-minute-drive for us.
My sister lives in the same town where we live, together with her husband, 3 daughters, two dogs, some chickens, goats, deers and a horse.
I have a small group of great, fantastic, special friends. We used to hang out together 2 or 3 times a week, but because our lives have changed, we see eachother once a month now.
I’m a quiet girl, and always have been active in a creative way. Before I started with photography, I liked to paint, draw murals, write poetry and short stories. I started to write a book, but never finished it.
What do you do for a living?
I work on a special school with special kids, as an assistant-teacher. All the kids are here because they have some kind of special problem. That can be a learning problem (dyslectic, NLD etc.) or a social – emotional diagnose (autistic, ADHD, problems at home).
I work together with a teacher in the youngest group, the kids have the age of 5-7. This schoolyear has just started. Most of them have had a rough time on their other school, so the first thing we want is to make them feel comfortable in our group and work on their self-esteem After that, we’ll start focussing at reading and maths, but with a very slow learning program and lots of repeating.
I’m doing this for 7 years now, and it has been a lot of fun. We have a great young enthousiastic team.
I’m starting real slow with my own small business, but it’s hard to do when you have a (almost) fulltime job. First I want to finish my study to become a professional photographer. After that I hope I can quit my job at school and I hope I can start my own business.
Take us through a typical day in your life, be it a mundane Mom kinda' stuck at home thing or out and about on a shoot.
6:15 – snooze
6:24 – snooze
6:33 – snooze
6:42 – wake up hubby, get out of bed, shower, get dressed, cup of coffee, first cigarette, check mail and DPC quickly
7:45 – drive to school
8:15 – arrive at school, chat with colleagues, prepair for the coming day
8:30 – kids come in to school, they can play a bit
9:00 – start school
- skip -
15:00 – school’s out
15:15 – cigarette and coffeebreak
15:45 – meetings, filling in observation forms, chat with colleagues
17:30 – drive back home
18:00 – back home, usually hubby is busy cooking dinner, we talk for a while about our day. After that I check my mail and sit down at the computer for a while
19:00 – dinner, most of the time we look one of our favorite tv-series (right now it’s Dawson’s Creek, but we also like Lost, Prison Break and Smallville)
20:30 – some time for ourselves, computer, taking photo’s, or a date with friends, family etc. When we stay home, there are lots of options; watch a movie together, go out for a movie or a drink, shooting photo’s, completing assignments, photoshopping, working for my study, or surfing the internet.
01:00 – back to bed for a new day!
Are there any tatoos we don't know about and if so can you elaborate?
One tattoo of mine is visible at my self portrait entry.
The other one is a bit less visible, it’s under my belly button at the right. I was in Turkey with some friends and we saw a tattoo-shop. I said to my friends, for fun: “Let’s go get a tattoo!” and they said, to my surprise: “OK!”. Half an hour later I was laying down on a tatto-table in a dirty room (his material was clean!). It was a very impulsive action and I’m not sure if I’d do it again in a foreign country, but I have no regrets. It reminds me of a great time with my friends!
When are you coming to the states so we can party?
Well, I think I have to dissapoint you. We first want to see Asia, all of it. But, we have to save lots of money and we’re not good at that. So, if the beer’s cold in 30 years, I’ll be there! ;-)
How do you get your eyes to bulge like that?
Bulge? Do they? I didn’t know, it’s just the way I look!
Right-handed or left-handed?
Right-handed.
What are 3 things you love eating and drinking and could not live without?
Chocolate, chewing gum and pasta
Coffee, ice-cold water and orange juice
What led to biteme as a username? It's awesome!
To be honest, before I was on DPC, I didn’t really know what it meant! I used to have a blog with my pepper-shot as a header, and I thought it would be nice to write “Bite me!” next to it. My new username was born!
Does biteme bite others?
Only my hubby ;-)
Why are you such a ‘muts’. >:-)
Because sometimes I can be a stupid girl, but I don’t care!
How does a guy win the heart of a MUTS?
He has to be honest, have the same sense of humor like me, let me do my own things every once in a while, love me and accept me the way I am, with all my positive and negative things and support me in the things I want to do and what I want to acchieve in life. Hubby fits the profile.
What is your favorite sound?
All sounds on the beach. When I close my eyes laying down in the sand, listening to the waves, the seagulls, children laughing and screaming, I really feel relaxed. Too bad the beach is a 1 1/2 hour drive from my place, and I don't go there often.
What color is your bathroom? Did you pick the color? Why?
My bathroom is white, because it just was white and I like it that way. My toilet is pink, because I like pink.
How many languages do you speak? What's your favorite?
Two, Dutch and English, Dutch is my favorite, but I’m starting to like English as well, even though sometimes I have problems to express myself.
Are you a sarcastic person?
Sometimes, but only with my best friends. It can look like rude for people who don’t know me, and I don’t like it when people judge me wrong the first time.
If you could live during any time period which would you choose and why?
It would be in the year 3000. I’d like to know how the world changed, if the world is still there. Are cars flying? Did people change? Are there robots that look like human you can buy and use at home? World peace? Stuff like that. I’d like to photograph it and come back to the year 2006, to show you guys how things worked out; did they screw things up or did the world become a better place?
If you bought something at a store, and the clerk gave you too much change back, would you keep it and say oh well, their mistake, or would you give it back, and why?
I’d give it back, I’m an honest person. Too honest sometimes. If you want the truth, come to me. If you don’t want to hear the truth, skip me. Sometimes my friends hate me for that ;)
Where is your escape place in the world? You know...the place that you go to when things are just too much. It could be physical or mental?
When things are too much I like to go to my attic. My studio is there and a big couch is standing in the corner. I lay me down, close my eyes and fucus on my breathing. That’s relaxing. If that doesn’t work, my hubby will hold me and tell me everything is gonna be ok. He’s always right :)
What fairytale character do you relate to...and why? (Please don't say Chicken Little!)
Pfiew, that’s a tough one. I think it would be Tinkerbell, but without the magic dust.
Just like Tinkerbell, I like to take care of people, listen to their problems and trying to find an answer. That’s the main reason my job is one with people. i’ve always had the urge to help people out, in any kind of way.
Tinkerbell got jealous because Peter Pan met Wendy and spent more time with her. I can be jealous too, allthough I don’t like to admit. When a friend of mine has a problem and goes to someone else but me, or spends lots of time with someone else, I start wonder why and I look green.
When Tinkerbell took the poison Captain Hook made for Peter Pan, her little light went off and darkness surrounded Neverland and daylight was gone. I didn’t drink any poison, but my light was off for a while, when I was a teenager. I don’t know if everything got ok with Tinkerbell at the end of the story, but my lights went on again and I found back my own daylight.
You don't reveal much about the personal life of Hanneke...You come across very private and yet there are snippets of a wild Hanneke....why do you hide her?
I’m a quiet person and I don’t like to talk much about myself and I never liked it. I don’t know why that is, but it’s just something deep inside of me and it’s just in my character. I don’t think that will ever change.
I like DPC, no, I love DPC, but I’m not on DPC to reveal myself. The main reason and only reason is for photography; to learn from other people. Ofcourse, it has become some sort of part of my life, I like to hang around in the forums and chat a bit and it has become really fun. But I’m not opening up, and there’s a good reason for that.
I started visiting chatsites a couple of years ago. Because I opened up too much, people were trusting me more and were telling me their problems. Something happened and it almost got me depressed.
I told myself I’d never open up like that anymore. Ofcouse I’ve met a lot of mew people via internet and they know lots about me. But that’s only when I trust them for 100%.
The English language is a barrier, and I think that’s good for me. It prevends me a bit more to open up in the forums, and I’m happy with it like that.
The wild Hanneke you’re referring to, is an act. Photography brings a person out of me I didn’t know before. The Hanneke in real life has no real wild side, so there’s nothing to hide, because it isn’t there al the time.
You are a very pretty lady...with lots of attitude....That can be seen as a threat to some as well as attractive to others...does that bother you and how do you deal with it?
Hmm, I don’t see myself as pretty or attractive, more like “different”. The word pretty is a term the media shaped and formed. If you believe them, you’d be pretty if you have size skinny, big breasts, a clean and spotless skin, long legs and a nice formed ass. I think I have to dissapoint you when I say I don’t have anything like that. And I don’t care. I’m happy the way I am and I wouldn’t want to change that for the world. Maybe that’s an attitude, I don’t know.
I don’t see myself as a threat to others, I think everyone has their own, unique, beautiful way of being, and it’s just what kind of person you like to see.
What one place on this planet have you not been able to visit yet (on the surface - not the core or anything ridiculous) and have made it a goal to do so before you die, and why?
Iceland. Do I really have to explain why? ;-)
What is your goal in 'LIFE'?
Be a good person for the people who are in my heart, make a living out of photography and live a happy life.
Are you happy?
Yes. I used to be unhappy when I was a teenager, but now I’ve found my soulmate; my hubby, and my passion; photograpy. I couldn’t be happier.
HARDWARE
What cameras have you owned before? And what is your preferred weapon and why?
I have a Nikon F55 (film) which was the reason to start photography.
I have a Canon EOS 300D but the shutter broke down. I wanted to let it repaired, but I didn’t yet. Right now I use my EOS 30D and I love it.
I also have a 2-eyed Lubitel (6x6 cm film) and I like to use that one too once in a while. Back to basics.
My preferred weapon is my Canon EOS 30D for the ususal shooting, and my Lubitel for nostalgic shooting.
What is your dream kit and why?
A Hasselblad with a digital backing and all lenses and accessoiries available. A girl can dream, right?
SOFTWARE
What software do you have and what software do you mainly use out of them all?
Only Photoshop CS2.
What is your preferred piece of software and why?
Photoshop CS2. Because it’s the only thing I have.
IMAGES
Are you doing more photo series? How is that different than taking singular photos?
I think series are charming. When I’m working on one, it just rules my life for a while. All I can think of is my little project, how to improve the idea and making plans to shoot it.
My “Feet in the Hague” series were the most fun series to do. It was for an assignment for school and it took me 2 weeks to fully develop and prepair the idea. I love that. It feels like the whole issue of photography, working towards a shoot, actually shoot it, process the whole thing, print it out and be in awe of your own work. The opinions of other people are so important, it can make your series glow in success, or it can bump it right into the ground. I was happy my series got a great judgement, not only by my teacher, but also here on DPC. Even though you have to shoot most of the time for yourself, it’s pretty awesome when other people love your work as much as you love it yourself.
I don’t know why it’s different with series then with singular photos. I can’t really explain why, but I do know there is a difference.
Would you model with another woman in an erotic manner?
No. I figure some people would like to see the results of that, but it’s a no-go. I want to have total control when I’m in front of the lens, without other people around. Haha, me, posing with another nude (!) woman, that would make me so nervous, I’d be shaking all over. You’d need a shutterspeed of 1/500 to get that without blur!
What was your all time favorite photo to shoot?
That’s another tough one. I told this in the forums a while ago, and I’m gonna tell it again, because I still feel it this way.
This one was special, because it was a perfect way to give the parents a memory, and for me a way to deal with the situation. I know that sounds weird, but in fact, it did help me some way. The weirdest part was that I could click a button in my head, block my emotions and keep shooting. I never thought I could do that, because usually I’m a very emotional person. At home, while editing the photo’s, the tears were coming..
Why so many self portraits?
Because it’s still hard for me to communicate with models, I still have to learn that. When I’m in front of my own lens, I’m in total control. Besides, I’m always available when I have a new idea.
GENERAL
Photographers are passionate people...some people see them as eccentric....artiste like. Do you agree? And if so...what makes you seem eccentric to others?
I can’t really agree with you. The passion is there, that’s true, but the photographers I know in real life (friends and from my study) all have different styles and they’re not all eccentric at all. To be eccentric has to fit with your own style and character. I think only the eccentric photographers are the ones that will be discussed, and that’s maybe why people think all of them will be that way. But that is not true; there are a lot more lovely photographers in this world we don’t know about yet.
Hanneke, the photographer, is eccentric. While I’m photographing, a new me comes out. One who likes to do different stuff, experiment with different props and let her creativity out. I’ve never experienced a piece of character like that, but I really like it.
Hanneke, the wife and friend, is not that eccentric. She’s just a normal, quiet girl, with a bit of attitude, but not as much as the photographer inside of her.
Photography has had the same rules for centuries...should these be changed? What new rules should be brought in?
To be honest, I think it would be best to throw all rules out of the window. We don’t need a bunch of photographers who do everything the same, just because that’s the way it should be. In my opinion, photography is about being creative in all kinds of ways. Of course, you’d have to know the basics, like settings and lighting, but when you know them, you can go experiment with everything. I mean, why would you put away your wide angle when you want to shoot a portrait? Because you learned you need at least 50 mm to avoid distortion? Come on, be creative, go crazy, learn from your mistakes and try creating your own style.
Which "rules" of photography (eg: rule of thirds etc) do you most often break on purpose?
I have no idea, I don’t really shoot with the rules in my head.
What is the most important thing about photography?
For me it’s having fun, and getting an image on screen or paper, just the way I had in mind.
What would be your best post processing tip for beginners?
I still think it’s hard to post-process, and, in my opinion, it’s not the most fun part of photography. I still have a lot to lean.
When I have to name one tip, it would be: keep your hands off of the autolevels / curves / contrast. The computer can’t think for you and never will.
Have you won any awards or been featured anywhere? And with what images? Have you won any prizes...if so, what did you do with them?
Have you been published? If so, where?
If you exclude my first and only blue ribbon, all the answers are no.
I did have an exhibition in a restaurant in May and June this year, and there’s gonna be another one in a small gallery next year in February. Exciting and nervewrecking if you ask me. I’m a perfectionist and I want everything perfect. The first time that didn’t happen, but I’m a quick learner, and next time it will be perfect.
You built your own website...tell us about it. How long did it take you and what goals do you have for it?
I wanted my website to be simple and clean, with the main colors black, white and red. My hubby taught me how to build websites a couple of years ago, and with lots of practice, it’s pretty simple now.
It took me 3 days to get my website the way it is right now, and I’m pretty happy with it. Creating the thumbs took me the longest time.
My goal is to show my work to the world as an online portfolio. I don’t have a lot of visitors, but when I’ve set up my own business, I want to expose and spam a lot more ;)
What projects are you working on?
At the moment I’m working on a couple of projects. One is from the daughter of my sister, and the other one is for the cover of a Dutch singer. It’s still in progress, so I can’t tell about it yet.
When you are stuck for ideas...where do you go?
To the toilet. It helps, really!
What is the silliest thing you have done whilst on the job (photographically I mean)?
For DPC? That should be Shrek III. Never again.
If you suddenly became super rich and had nothing but time to shoot (and all access passes to anywhere you want) what would you shoot?
I’d want to spend some time with all the kings and queens and their families. Then I’d photograph them, not the way they are photographed usually, stiff and boring, but the way they are, just as human as we are. I think that would be a great series, and I’d see something of the world. Under one condition; hubby must come with me.
After seeing such an array of most unusual and unique self-portraits, one has to wonder where do you draw inspiration?
I’m a dreamer, a thinker and an observer. There aren’t much things I don’t see, smell or hear. The smallest thing in the world could trigger my fantasy. When I have an open mind at that point, ideas start ratteling through my mind. In a couple of seconds I've rejected 10 ideas and I come up with one good one. It just hits me. If I have moments like these, the world could fall apart and I wouldn't even notice.
If you could talk to one famous photographer who would it be?
Mark Laita
I love his work and I’d like to know what kind of techniques he uses. When I saw his work the first time, I knew I wanted to do commercial photography.
Which photographer impressed you during the Germany GTG? I know, you can't compare them, really, but tell us about them.
There were a lot of great people at the GTG and they actually all impressed me. Maybe because it was awesome to meet them and talk to all of them.
Maybe it’s obvious, but  Joey Lawrence really impressed me the most. The way he looks at things and persons and creates the photo his own way, really intruiged me. He’s INSIDE the shoot and I think when a bomb explodes next to him, he wouldn’t even notice. I can only have respect for the talent he has at his young age, he knows what he wants.
How do you feel about your work? Are you your own worst critic or are you just AWESOME!?
I’m a perfectionist and my own worst critic. But after that, when it’s done and I’m satisfied, I can say my work is awesome.
DPC
Of all the pictures you have taken, show us your 5 favorites, but more so, explain why those are your favorites.
1.
This is my hubby's son, Vito (named after Vito Corleone). He is a very special individual with heavy autism. He can't speak, and has an emotional age of ± 2 years.
This photo has always been a favorite for me. He was just looking into his own world when I took this shot, so I had ± 15 minutes to adjust my settings & composition. You can tell he's the best and most patience model I have had in front of my lens.
He always gives me the feeling nothing but love will be on his side, no questions asked. Thinking about him (we see him ± once a month) and looking at this photo gives me the feeling of pure love.
2.
This was a non-planned shot, and I am so happy I got this as a result. Not only because it’s an adorable photo, but also because intuitive photography is usually a very hard thing to do for me. Normally I have to have everything planned, have got to have the picture in my mind and execute the idea. This one was different. My niece grabbed the stethoscope, stood there, and BAM, I took the shot without thinking what I was doing. This shows me I can get out of the concept and respond at the moment. It was a one-timer, never happened again ;)
3.
This was one photo from a series, “Feet in the Hague”.  Arti-Elvi was my model and she did a fantastic job. Her patience, commitment and great company made it a great day.
I chose this photo because this was the one from the series I wanted to pop out in the series. I had this idea in my mind from the beginning I thougt about these series, and I’m happy about the way it turned out.
The atmospere really does it, at least that’s what I think. It shows grief, pain, and sorrow, but also it shows a woman who is willing to move on with her life, even though lots of terrible things have happened.
4.
This photo is one of the first ones I made with my 300D. I was playing around, trying different things, exploring my camera. I wasn’t into photography for a long time then (almost one month) so this result was pretty exciting for me. I still like it, even though it’s not a very interesting image, but because it was a first-timer. It showed me I could spend hours and hours on one photo, without getting bored or frustrated.
5.
When I thought about this idea, I didn’t even know there could be a great fuss about it. I thought it was a funny way to be a rebel, and it never came to my mind people would find this disturbing. When the voting began, and comments came in, I had a blast. I loved the comments, just to find out the differences between different places in the world.
I am proud of myself making a technical good photo, making people look again, shock them, getting emotions out of them. Allthough I can be a quiet girl, I like to shock people, get responds, make them think about a photo, about the differences in the world and cultures.
Name 5 photos on DPC that inspire you, in order of preference.
1.
This is a recent image from Arti-Elvi. I picked this photo, not only because the subject is so emotional and rebellish and sweet and different, but also because I’m SUPER-proud of Elvi. We’ve known eachother for quite a while now, and I’ve seen her grow into photography. She’s become a great photographer with her own style and creative ideas, she’s a freaking special girl, she knows what she wants and I can only respect that from the bottom of my heart. I am very very glad to know her!
2.
Unfortunately this photo from  jeffzoet isn’t viewable anymore, but this inspires me to do more with digital art. The idea is so simple, yet so powerful.
3.
This was my first favorite on DPC and I still love it. It makes me smile everytime I see it. The moment is perfect, and I can only respect the woman behind the camera, Goodman has got a great eye for images like this.
4.
A perfect moment, the framing is superb. She's a beauty, the old and used pantyhose and the look on her face gives this photo an emotional feeling. A young girl, so passionate about skating, she doesn't need to pay attention to her outfit to get the thrill she'll have from skating. Emotion is good in a photo, and rlinn3captured it.
5.
Another emotional capture, by xianart, I can almost smell the dirt and feel her pain.
How did you discover DPC?
A friend told me about DPC and I started checking it out. I can remember “Three in one macro”
from Falc was on the frontpage and I was amazed by the high quality of the site.
I decided to look around for a bit until I was ready to participate with the challenges, that took me 2 months.
Why did you join DPC? Do you recommend others to the site and for what reason?
I joined DPC to learn, learn, learn! And I think I did in the past couple of months. All this knowledge from the whole world, together on one site, it’s amazing, and that would be the reason to recommend the site.
Is there anybody on DPC that inspires your personal level of photography and why? What would you do differently then that photographer?
There are so many people, so many great stuff and so many styles that inspire me, I couldn’t think of just one person. All members on DPC combined would make a great pick. And I’m sure it would make a triple blue ribbon winner ;)
You impersonated Shrek in one of your challenges....why Shrek?
Because I have a crush on Shrek. Please don’t tell Fiona… or my hubby!
If you have one piece of advise for one of the DPC members...what would it be?
Stop whining, start shooting.
Why do you enter challenges and what is your goal?
I enter challenges because I want to be challenged. I want to make a photograph related to a theme, with a time pressure and a price to win. I know, it’s just a blue, red or yellow gif-image, but I’ve noticed it means a lot in this community. And I can tell, I’ve won a blue ribbon!
Where did you come up with the idea of fruit torture?
I have no idea, I think it was just a click in my head.
Are we going to see any more pinned/studded otherwise tortured fruit?
Maybe, when I have the inspiration and ideas.
What's the most amount of time you've spent on a challenge entry? And how did it score?
This was my entry for the Bits and Pieces challenge, and I’ve spent 7 to 8 hours to get this shot. It scored a 6.996 and I earned a Blue ribbon with it.
FINAL QUESTION
What is your new signature?
Oh Judi, bite me!
Message edited by author 2006-09-05 15:03:05.
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