TITLE: "A quiet tribute to the human behind the character."

In this portrait series, I portray people who move me through what they do — actors, dancers, writers, performers. People who bring stories to life on stage, on screen, or on the page. They inspire me not only through their craft, but even more so through who they are.
What matters most to me is the personal connection I share with them, and the mutual willingness to truly connect.
I invite them into my studio, away from their usual surroundings, so I can show them simply as human beings — without roles, without distractions. In this intimate setting, I can fully focus on the person in front of me. I seek honesty and vulnerability in my portraits. It is precisely that vulnerability that makes us human. It opens the door to empathy, to softness, to connection.
What fascinates me most is capturing the coexistence of opposing qualities within a single person. Strength and gentleness. Confidence and doubt. Light and shadow.
I look for a raw simplicity — a sense of humanity and authenticity.

AUTHOR: Susanne Middelberg (Netherlands)

Susanne Middelberg
After completing a modern dance education at the Higher school for Arts in Arnhem, she graduated in 1998 from the Academy for Visual Arts, from the photography department.
Since then she has worked as a freelance photographer making independent work and by order of magazines and theater dance posters.
Susanne specializes in portrait and theater- dance photography.


Awards:
2017 Trierenberg Super Circuit 2017 - gold
2017 Monochrome Awards 2016 -Portrait - 2nd Place Winner
2016 Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris- People/Personality: silver
2016 Ipoty International Photographer of the Year -Portrait- 3rd Place Winner
2016 Monochrome Awards 2015 -Portrait - 3rd Place Winner
2015 International Photo Awards, Category Self-Portrait: first place
2014 Monochrome Awards 2014 - Portrait Honorable Mentions
2014 and 2013 Gold Medal for the Trierberg Super Circuit 2014 and 2013
2013 Nomination for the Pf Portfolio Price
2012 Gold Medal of Excellence for the Trierberg Super Circuit
2011 Canon Master
2008 Nomination for for the Pink Ribbon Award
2008 City-award for the Month of Photography.

Exhibitions :
2017 Deelen Art, Rotterdam
2015 “Voor de Camera”, four photographers Raadhuis De Pauw, Wassenaar
2014 Solo exhibition with her Wonderwomanserie at Soho Photo gallery in Soho, New York
2014 Solo exhibition with her Wonderwomanserie at Galerie van Slagmaat Woerden, NL
2014 Portraits at the Fence in Boston
2012 Photoville, New York .
2012 Gallery United Photo Industries, New York
1998-2011 Further exhibitions at the Holland Dance Festival, Cadance festival in the Hague, Reflex Modern Art Gallery in Amsterdam, the Art Location in Hildesheim, Hollandsche Virgin in Gouda, galerie Fontana Fortuna in Amsterdam.

Publications:
Publications have appeared in SHUTR magazine, Photo Digitaal, Fotografie, Pf, Focus Magazine, GKF fotografen 2009/2010 and 2011/2012, Ballet- Tanz, Kvk- Kunstenaarswijzer, PANL Photography Annual of the Netherlands and “your most precious possession” published by PANL.