Medisch Spectrum Twente
Van binnen uit (from the inside)
Client: Medisch Spectrum Twente
Client producers: Aarthi Rasiawan, Anne Biemans, Rieneke van ’t Ende, Ton Vogels
Photography & retouch: Jeroen Nieuwhuis
Assistants: Jesse Bosch & Ramon Olthof
Book design: .NLVK
At the beginning of the first lockdown due to Covid in the Netherlands, I saw my agenda being swept empty within a few days. Of course, this wasn’t a good thing but it did open up opportunities for other projects. For example this project for the Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST). Online the MST posted a call for a photographer to document these strange times in their hospital. In the comment section, there were several people who suggested my work for this project. At first, I wasn’t sure my work would be a match because I thought there was a demand for a snapshot/reportage/journalistic style of photography. Something I don’t do but also something I’m not good at. Still, I was curious about it and sent an email asking for an explanation of the project. After sitting with Anne and Ton from the communication department and giving my view of the project supplemented with examples, my work and approach turned out to fit in well with the expectations of the project.
As a result, my two assistants and I spend six days documenting the MST from the reception up to the emergency room. I found it special to see how everyone was able to adapt to something ‘unknown’ so quickly and made sure that it really became a team effort. The photos show a pure, non-posed impression of how everyone at the MST is committed to the maximum for the well-being of the patients. As a homage, my photos are combined with real stories and interviews into a beautiful book and exhibition to remind everyone what we are fighting for.
All 6000 copies are given away for free to the staff of the MST. I am grateful to have contributed to a project that gives a glimpse into the turbulent period in which the staff of the MST finds themselves.
