Each year, wissner-bosserhoff publishes a new portrait calendar with pictures of seniors from different countries and in different situations. There is a different topic every year and many different photographers have created the motifs for the calendar. This year’s theme was „Family & Friends“ and the photographer was Rienne Wopereis (aka „Fotografiënne“) from The Netherlands, who specializes in seniors photography. We interviewed her for our blog because we wanted to know what motivates her to work with this audience.
How did you come to photograph the elderly mainly?
My preference for seniors began in 2007 with a project during photography lessons at ArtEZ Art College in Arnhem. As models I found an elderly couple who was ready to pose for me. They were both over 90 years old. The photo shoot was so natural and enjoyable that more followed. Or I went there to have a cup of coffee because it was important to me (and still is) to have older people in my life. The stories, life experiences, the insights I get enrich my life and work enormously.
Later, I increasingly worked with older people. One of my first models was Victor. A man with a non-congenital brain disorder. He died in February 2018, but we worked together for almost 5 years. During the course in the Fotovakschule to a professional photographer I made a photo book about him. Despite his limitations, Victor was a proud man of Indian descent, and as he himself often said, „I still have a lot of purpose in life.“ I can only respect him.
Why are senior pictures so special for you?
Because it is so valuable to have a portrait of a loved one „with a few years more experience“. All this life experience that speaks from the faces is beautiful. For me it can be more than a crease! „You should have arrived 40 years earlier when I was still beautiful,“ I often hear. Well, I do not agree with that at all. The time we live in is so fast, young and hip. And older people often do not seem to fit into this time anymore. I want to break that stigma, because even at a somewhat older age much is possible. I would like to take more pictures of older people who can be an example to others.
Rienne Wopereis at work
What was your best project?
During the photography school, I photographed Victor every week! A man with a non-congenital brain disorder. I had already volunteered with him and the homework was a great fulfillment for us when we saw each other. Victor eventually became my final project and I made a book about him that gives insight into his life. With all the restrictions he still had so much life content. That always gave me the urge to go on, no matter how difficult life sometimes is.
What I’m proud of and that I can not ignore is the task for the portrait calendar by Wissner-Bosserhoff. The project was finally made for me! The contact with the customer was very nice. I had a lot of freedom and was able – of course within the theme – to search for the models myself and make arrangements with them.
What’s also a great project is currently my exhibition called ‚Spraakwater‘. I have presented seniors together with an object that they have loved for years. This object is almost always part of a story. The stories are written down by the caretakers. Through the exhibited pictures with these favorite things people come spontaneously into conversation with each other.
Rienne Wopereis (aka „Fotografiënne“) from The Netherlands
