Even before my time at the Art Academy I already had a keen interest in art and history; this often shows in my work. Being inspired by books and movies as well, often a sense can linger on to find its way into my work at some time.
After reading “1812”, that tells the tragic story about Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, I set out to Waterloo to portray re-enactors. Devoting their time to carefully reconstructing events and periods these men and women form a new community, an alliance where nationality and age are irrelevant. Rather than choosing a journalistic approach, I leaned heavily on the 18th-century art of painting. Isolating my subjects, carefully avoiding elements that could be linked to the present times; I wanted to give this series a sense of drama.
There is always a concept of the narrative before I start taking photographs. For every journey, I prepare by collecting information about the area and its history. This enables me to form an idea about the story I want to tell through my work. Then, my focus shifts towards finding the right pictures that fit into the story.
A journey to Antarctica by a tall ship built in 1911 gave me the chance to make a photo series dedicated to the great explorers of the early 1900s.
The slow rate of travelling by sailing ship influenced my way of taking photographs; searching to capture the stillness, harmony and tragedy in the landscape.
In 2018 the quest for Antarctica continued when two men, American adventure-athlete Colin Brady and British Army Captain Louis Rudd, both set out to become the first person in history to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported. Photographing Rudd during his last preparations in a freezing storm in Iceland that lasted for days, gave me a sense of the hardship that this modern explorer was about to face during his solo trek. To honour Ernest Shackleton who trekked towards the South Pole in extremely difficult conditions, leading the 'Endurance' expedition of 1914-16, Rudd's expedition was named “Spirit of Endurance”.
Mail: info@renekosterphotography.nl
What people have said:
“David said that you oversaw the Netherlands photos. They are spectacular—some of the best we’ve had in the magazine in recent memory. Thank you so much for doing this, and, if you have a chance, please pass on our congrats to the photographer.” - David Rowell for The Washington Post.
”Feeze Frame - Recon you could do better? Rene Koster's shot of the tall ship Europa gracefully skimming the waters of Antarctica scooped second prize in the ' Iconic ' section of the Travel Photographer of the Year competition." -Sunday Times Traveler.
“It’s only paradise if your idea of paradise is intrepid exploration into far-flung corners of thickly snowed mountainous, rugged landscapes of unmistakable but dangerous beauty.
Which is exactly our kind of paradise”. -Getlostmagazine
/ Shots Magazine - USA; The Portfolio Issue
/ PrivatAirMagazine
/ Shackletonlondon
/ Sailing Journal.
Interview Nieman’s Foundation:
5(ish) Questions: René Koster and a stunning voyage to Antarctica
The Dutch photographer took "a journey of longing, to a time that once was; a heroic saga, filled with hardship and adventure, in an infinite, barren land”
In the competitive world of professional photography, René Koster takes a back seat to his subjects. His photos don’t scream out, “Hey, look how clever I am!” but rather they whisper, “Psst, this is how it is.”
The Dutch travel and portrait photographer is a master of light, composition and aesthetic subtlety, giving us photos that look mostly super natural, and sometimes supernatural.
He doesn’t dominate his pictures with gimmicks like tilted horizons, coerced expressions or digital manipulation that push the photographer’s style front and center. When I look at his photographs, I say, “Wow, that’s a far-out place!” or “God, what a wonderful face!”
The visual storytelling site Maptia recently featured the photographs Koster took during a voyage to Antarctica aboard the 1911 tall ship the Bark Europa. Koster says his intent was to travel back “to a time that once was … searching for stillness, harmony and tragedy in the landscape.” He found glacial stillness, and more, in a remote place where early 20th century photographers and explorers of the South Pole moved agonizingly slowly toward, and sometimes away from, survival.
When you look at Koster’s gallery, try not to click through it like you’re on Facebook or Instagram. Slow down and explore each photo at full-screen size. Try to feel the stillness and harmony that he sought. Some of these pictures are OMG! Others are hushed, like the plastering of new snow on a red wall and the towering monuments of ancient blue ice.
Koster is a visual explorer who treasures the finished images as well as the life-affirming experience of making them. I asked him to tell us about some of the stuff we don’t see in his photos. For his response to the question, “Was it quiet enough to hear the snowflakes falling on your parka?” he turns completely inward to the sound of blood coursing through his veins.
article by: Don Bartletti
Read here the full story: Harvard's Nieman Foundation
Nationalgeographic.com / The Washington Post Magazine / The New Yorker / The Washington Post / The Daily Telegraph / The Guardian / Financial Times / Lensculture / Maptia / The Rake / Sunday Times Travel Magazine / Time Magazine – Asia Edition / Conde Nast Traveller Spain / ThePlaidZebra / TheWeatherChannel /Avauntmagazine / Get Lost Magazine / Privat AirMagazine / DeMorgen / Ignant / Fubiz / National Geographic Traveler / Classic Boat Magazine / Outside Magazine / Salt / Photogrvphy Magazine / Lonely Planet / Sailing Journal / Skipper / Skippers Voile&Océan / Sidetrackedmagazine / SputnikNews / Nautique / krant van de aarde / Fotoblogia / Waves&Woods / Explore Magazine / Shackletonlondon.com / The Great Outdoors / Gestalten / Hp de Tijd / RobbReport / Psychologie Magazine / Reis&Magazine / Heijmans.nl / Natuurmonumenten / Voiles et Voiliers / Lense.fr / Yahoo.com / Wideoyster / Nationalgeographic.co.uk / The Observer / BBC / NOS / Nationalgeographic.nl / Lonely Planet UK / msn.com / Imagination.it / ft.com / Catalist / Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazine.
‘Photographer and travel enthusiast René Koster fulfilled his dream and explored Antarctica aboard The Bark Europa – a ship built back in 1911. Inspired by the voyage and the stories about great expeditions of the past, the artist crafted an incredibly awesome project named Antarctica.’ - Sputnik News
‘Photographer Rene Koster was early on fascinated with the photographs of Frank Hurley, who documented Shackleton’s monumental journey. Not content with just looking at others work, Koster boarded a tall ship and made the journey to Antarctica himself.’ - The Washington Post
Awards & Nominations
Nomination Photography Grant - Nature 2017 ; Work from the project ‘Blossom’
Nomination Photography Grant - Story Telling 2016 ; Work from the project ‘Antarctica’
Travel Photographer of The Year; ‘Four girls on a balcony’ from the photo documentary ‘Dutch Beach’, jury’s favourite image
Travel Photographer of The Year; work from ‘South, in the footsteps of Shackleton’ runner up
London Photographic Association; portrait work from the “1900” project, highly commended
Nomination Caribbean Travel Writer Award
Nomination Scandinavian Press prize
Nomination Aad Struijs Persprijs 2019 for film New York; ‘Keep Your Splendid Silent Sun’
Nomination Malta International Photo Contest 2018 -Top 15 Nature - ‘Brown Bear’
Editors Pick The Independent Photographer, portrait photographers award 2021 'Paola’
Book: Annual Report Provincie Noord-Holland, story Wierringerrandmeer
lensculture The Washington Post
National Geographic