Interview with photographer John Geven
Tuesday 11 December 2018, 15:51 by Michelle Peeters | 11,766 views | 8 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
John cannot hold the camera himself. He was seriously injured in 1989 at the age of nineteen after diving into the water at E3 beach in Eersel. He hit his head head-on against a pyramid of sand and could no longer feel anything. He broke his neck and was largely paralysed.
He then had to focus entirely on his recovery, which was far from easy. He remained severely disabled. To be able to sit up again and move his hands and arms, he had to work incredibly hard.
Spinal cord injury
Due to his partial spinal cord injury, he actually only has two functioning muscles left in his arm. With a C2/C3 injury, ventilation is often needed. With C4, you can move your shoulders. With C5, you can use your arm flexors. With C6, you can use your wrist extensors. With C7, your triceps work.
Below that, from the T level onwards, the fingers start working again. So in practice, he can only move his arms and wrists. His fingers no longer work either.
Fortunately, he had a very good surgeon and neurologist who used a new technique in Heerlen to fix his neck at the front instead of at the back. He was very happy about this because it meant his neck remained more flexible, rather than being completely fixed, which would have left him barely able to move his head.
Even operating a keyboard is difficult. He usually types with a pencil. He effectively has two different hands. He eats, writes and types with his right hand. He had surgery on his left hand so that he could pick up heavier things.
He no longer has the required strength, but the muscles are now somewhat tighter, so heavier things stay in place better. The fingers on his right hand are less tense, so heavy things simply slip between them, but he uses that hand for other things, as mentioned above.
After his recovery, he had attended retail school, the plan was to take over his parents' business, a wine shop. He also wanted to go to the Olympic Games because he was performing very well at clay pigeon shooting.
He ended up working in his father's wine business. But these ambitions became very difficult, if not impossible, because of his disability. He also developed a passion for photography. His friend Stephan Janssen, who was a hobby photographer, back in the analogue days, sometimes used the spacious warehouse on the Spegelt in Nuenen for photo shoots, with John by his side.
John watched Stephan at work and was inspired by this. Because of his disability, he could not carry out the photographic actions himself, which he found particularly frustrating. He expressed his creativity through painting and drawing and took courses.
When digital photography later arrived, John saw opportunities to take up photography as well. Do what you enjoy, sell the business, his father said. In 2002 and 2003, he sold his companies.
Adapted photo studio
But how do you become a photographer without feeling in either hand? His disability does not even allow him to hold a camera. Yet he decided to choose a passion that was new to him: photography.
In 2000, John ended up at Eindhoven University of Technology through a contact. For three years, 45 students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering worked on an adapted photo studio. A small studio in the centre of Nuenen. In 2003, he took his first photograph.
The TuE students designed the following equipment for him:
* Automatic lighting control
* A roll carousel
* Tripod with electric column
The PLC programme for the lighting control no longer works. It was programmed for an old Windows PC, which has of course since been replaced. John was then able to work with a TuE licence, but reprogramming the programme would now be very expensive.
Only the roller system still works. Eight background rolls on a carousel system, similar to a revolver, can still be selected and automatically rolled out and in. The tripod with electric column, which allowed John to take photographs from a height of three metres, is now simply available from most photography shops.
Mobile robotic tripod
Because he has no feeling in his hands, he takes photographs using a mobile robotic tripod with a digital camera mounted at the front. He presses the cable release with his mouth.
The adapted studio is no longer needed, however, with all the staff and interns walking around. They now carry out most of the photographic work.
Self-made
He has never actually taken a photography course. He is a self-made photographer. Through his projects for the Bart de Graaff Foundation, he got the chance to observe several celebrated photographers at work and ask them anything he wanted.
He observed, among others, Erwin Olaf, Carli Hermes, Govert de Roos, Patricia Steur, Hans de Vries, Sjaak Ramakers and Wouter Jansen at work.
Hero to Zero
He has since exhibited in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam with the project Hero to Zero, a series of thirteen diptychs inspired by his life. They show real events, but are also warnings from the photographer.
Thirteen well-known Dutch people were photographed in a diptych: in their ultimate Hero moment and in their ultimate Zero moment. In their most exuberant and vulnerable pose. Thirteen well-known Dutch people took part in the series.
As well as Irene Moors, Chris Zegers, Ruben Nicolai, Chantal Janzen and Tren van Enckevort, from Rowwen Heze, his former neighbours Tanja Jess and Sophie Hilbrand were also captured on camera.
The Dutch celebrities spontaneously agreed to take part in the exhibition. The photographs were special, confronting and vulnerable, and a book was also published in 2008.
John created the photo series in 2006-2007 as his final project, completing the collaboration, for the Bart de Graaff Foundation. This foundation helps disabled people start their own businesses and supported John in making his ambition to become a professional photographer a reality.
John Geven Studio's
In 2008, he and his wife Nicole started John Geven Studio's in Nuenen. Over a number of years, his company has grown into a versatile business with seven employees.
As his company also includes a cookery studio where cooking workshops are held, one chef is employed: René Jansen. He has since become so familiar with all kinds of photographic techniques that, alongside his work as a chef, he is also regularly employed as a studio assistant. He also photographs his own dishes with a Hasselblad in his own product photography studio.
That photographic knowledge came in handy when lead photographer Loet van Eijndhoven suffered a complicated leg fracture and had to spend a year recovering. There are also a host and hostess, an image editor and two photographers employed. His wife Nicole handles the administration and bookkeeping.
His studio complex is impressive, to say the least, and is one of the largest photo studios in the Netherlands, 620 m2 and seven metres high, including the cookery studio. One of the three photo studios is so large that it can be used for product photographs of gliders, lorries, cars or agricultural machinery.
John and his skilled team can count KLM, Philips, Jumbo, DAF, VDL, Matrix, WPS and various advertising agencies among their clients.
Conceptual photography
His portfolio ranges from product, sports and lifestyle photography. John: What particularly appeals to me is interacting with people, who I want to show at their best. And this despite never having held a camera.
John observes a lot. You learn most by looking. The celebrated photographers he was allowed to ask anything taught him a great deal. Above all, that you really have to do what you want, and that you can set your models' interests aside for a moment.
Some photographers even go so far as to claim 'that you mainly have to bring your own rotten mind to the surface' to get the best photographs.
He particularly enjoys conceptual photography. He understands it. He understands people in pain, even when it is not visible. This is naturally also due to his own experiences after his accident. He always discusses with his clients what he can apply, what their 'Hero and Zero' might be.
Yet it is often commercial photography that there is demand for. This naturally has to be done appropriately. The framework of what they want is often already explained. That is why he always has a cup of coffee with his clients before the photo shoot.
An example of entrepreneurship
Despite his fragile health, John keeps many plates spinning. He is a photographer, creative entrepreneur, product developer, councillor in his village of Nuenen and, recently, chairman of Rotary Club Nuenen. A disability is essentially in your head, but the extent of your disability does determine what you should want and how far you can go.
John is a real example of entrepreneurship, of someone who pursues his goals even when they seem impossible to achieve. He does not judge quickly and sees opportunities everywhere.
Partly because of his social involvement, he received a royal decoration in 2009, at the age of 39. His motto: Never become a Zero, stay a real Hero!
His father, Rini Geven, also received a medal for the many years he had contributed to the Nuenen community. He always supported and encouraged his son. When John was in intensive care, he was already going through the building plans for his future business premises with him.
When his sister committed suicide in 2010 because of severe mental health problems, they managed to overcome this tragedy too. A model of resilience.
Curriculum Vitae
- August 2005 exhibition 'all folks' during the Folkwoods Festival;
- August 2007 exhibition 'Hero to Zero' at the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam;
- March 2008 exhibition 'Hero to Zero' at Eindhoven University of Technology;
- Articles 2006-2009: Cursor, Eindhovens Dagblad, Brabants Dagblad, PF Professioneel Fotograaf, Digi Foto pro;
- TV: Je zal het maar hebben, Life and Cooking, CapAwards 2008;
- 2008: publication of the book 'Hero to Zero';
- Municipal councillor in Nuenen;
- (Co-)organisation of the Folkwoods festival, Bloem & Tuin and various cooking workshops in his own studio;
- Jury member of the Vincent van Gogh Photo Award;
- Selected for the World Photographic Cup, together with Joost Keet;
- 2018: Chairman of Rotary club Nuenen;
About the author
Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.
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8 comments
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Huub wrote on Tuesday 11 December 2018 at 16:16 | replyVery nice article that shows that if you really want to achieve something in your life, it is possible with great perseverance and willpower.
Translated from Dutch. -
Huub Keulers
wrote on Wednesday 12 December 2018 at 10:24
| reply
I met John Geven once years ago in his studio through a Dupho gathering. An incredibly inspiring man. John's story is beautifully worded, Michelle! Compliment.
Translated from Dutch. -
Wil Smits wrote on Wednesday 12 December 2018 at 11:14 | replyVery beautifully put, I too once got to meet John, a very open and warm person. and very beautifully put.
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Alexander vd Dussen wrote on Wednesday 12 December 2018 at 11:21 | replyBeautiful and inspiring story. I also come from Nuenen and can still remember the wine shop well from my childhood. Given all the challenges John has had to endure, I have deep respect for showing what he has achieved.
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Frank Leautaud wrote on Wednesday 12 December 2018 at 21:57 | replyThe story is beautifully written. I used to play tennis with John in Nuenen. I can still clearly remember the day of his accident. What a sad moment. I have a lot of respect for John!!
Translated from Dutch. -
fam.Priem wrote on Thursday 13 December 2018 at 09:42 | replyImpressive to read, but above all the fantastic photos and a lovely warm family .
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Roos wrote on Thursday 13 December 2018 at 20:16 | replyVery interesting! Well written!
Translated from Dutch. -
Donald Willemsen
wrote on Tuesday 18 December 2018 at 10:35
| reply
Impressive! Emotional for me too!
Translated from Dutch.
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