personal project

Stilte voor de storm

(‘calmness before the storm’)

About the project:
Pre-sunrise series on sleepy chiringuitos in between high season days.

While van-living in Spain I very quickly developed an admiration for the so-called chiringuitos; small beach bars that pop up on along the coast during the summer season. This admiration not only came from its aesthetic appeal but mainly from nostalgic feelings they gave me. Growing up in a beach town in the Netherlands I worked at the Dutch version of those chiringuitos – in this case called strandtenten – during high season. I loved a lot about that job and especially cherished the days where I was scheduled to open the bar in the morning. With a blanket of pre-dawn calmness wrapped around me I would open all doors and windows, de-sand the floors and tables and prepare the terrace for another steaming summer day to come. Gazing into the wideness of the still empty beach I found a lovely feeling of peace in the softness of the yet sun-less sky. In the still stacked beach-beds. The silence. In that calmness before the storm.

Where & when:
Mediterranean Spanish coast, ’24

Specs & status:
Shot on 35mm film. Finished project.

More info:
Click here