Pieter
ten Hoopen

Pieter ten Hoopen

biography

Dutch photographer and director, member of the VU’ Agency since 2008, based in Stockholm (Sweden)

Born in 1974 in the Netherlands, Pieter ten Hoopen initially intended to work in forestry, for which he moved to Sweden in 1999. After a few years, however, he turned to photojournalism and trained at the Nordens Fotoskola. He established himself as a freelance photographer in 2002.

He produces numerous photo and/or video reports for the press or NGOs, documenting the consequences of natural disasters, political conflicts or societal demands throughout the world, in Colombia, Pakistan, Russia, the United States, Egypt, Kenya, Sweden, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan…

However, he moves away from the classic forms of photojournalism and proposes a visual writing at the border of documentary and artistic: “It is the narrative form that interests me, because it is above all about telling a story. We can meet many different subjects, but each story has its own personality, its own temperament. And that means respecting the singularity of that story while offering your own vision of the subject.”

It is with this singular approach that he travels in 2015 and 2016 to Bangladesh, Zambia, Burkina-Faso, Jordan, Colombia and Haiti to meet very young mothers and draws for the NGO Plan International a subtle and benevolent portrait of this particular motherhood with its many faces. Childmothers is published on a dedicated website and was presented as a traveling exhibition notably hosted by the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in 2017.

In parallel to these commissioned works, Pieter ten Hoopen has developed personal long-term projects such as “Hungry Horse“, a project carried out over more than 10 years in the small town of the same name in the depths of Montana, which represents all the desolation of deep America. The film accompanying the photographic series was presented at the Rencontres d’Arles 2014 and nominated in 2015 for the Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

Regularly published and exhibited internationally, Pieter ten Hoopen is the author of six monographs, and winner of, among other prestigious awards, the Mario Giacomelli Memorial Prize (2008) and 4 World Press Photo awards including the first ever “Story of the year” award for his series “The Migrant Caravan” (2019).

Series

The Migrant Caravan, 2018

Series | The Migrant Caravan documents one of the largest caravans of migrants in recent history, with as many as 7,000 travelers, including at least 2,300 children, according to UN agencies.

Industrial and Ecological Impacts on Alaskan Fisheries, 2018

Series | The port of Sitka, Alaska, has been the home of one of the most important herring derbies on the North Pacific coast for over thirty years.

Childmothers, 2015

Series | Every year, about 2 million girls give birth before the age of 15. This corresponds to 5 500 girls a day, who progress directly from childhood to motherhood.

Mayo Photo Studio, 2014

Series | In a refugee camp on the outskirts of Khartoum, Pieter ten Hoopen portrayed Sudanese patients and staff at a humanitarian clinic far from the constant conflict.

Testimonies from the North Caucasus, 2013

Series | The Caucasus Mountains near Sochi, host of part of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The North Caucasus, the site of one of the most deadly conflicts in Europe, is located in this mountain range.

North-East Congo DRC, 2012

Series | In the North-East of The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC Congo), two regions are neglected by the authorities in Kinshasa.

Jukai Forest, The Ocean of Trees, 2012

Series | In 1960, Seicho Matsumoto wrote the novel "Tower of wave", where a couple of lovers commit suicide in the Jukai forest in Japan. This story gave rise to a wave of suicides in that particular place and people came from far away to end their lives.

Tokyo 7, 2012

Series | During my time working as a photographer after the devastating tsunami in 2011 in Japan, I became completely fascinated by this country, especially Tokyo. Despite the devastation, the Japanese were calm and collected and they showed almost none of their private sorrow.

Child Wedding in India, 2012

Series | For over 200 years Vadia in Gujarat has been a town infamous for young girls’ prostitution. Because no one is willing to marry them, they end up in prostitution at the age of 12.

Japan: Tsunami Aftermath, 2011

Series | In March 2011, Japan experienced the largest earthquake in its history. A few hours later, a tsunami was to devastate the northeast coast of the island.

With the Afghan Army, 2010

Series | To the east of Kandahar, the Shoraback base in the Afghan province of Helmand is home to 4000 soldiers of the Afghan National Army. A portion of these troops are members of a commando trained by American soldiers.

The Iraqi Oil, 2008

Series | “In a pitch-dark hotel room in Basra some of Iraq’s biggest oil and diesel smugglers revealed their business dealings. They talked openly of secret transport routes and corrupt contacts with politicians. They gave us the answer to our question: what has happened to Iraqi oil?"

Kitezh, the Invisible Town, 2007

Series | The year 1200 the city Kitezh in Russia got attack by the Mogul army. Under the attack the city became invisible. From this day no one knows where the city and its people went. Once a year people from all over Russia come to visit this place.

Hungry Horse, 2007

Series | During a cold winter in the year 1900 two horses ran away. The horses were named Tex and Jerry and lived in the wilderness. After a month the horses returned dying of hunger.

After the Earthquake in Balakot, Pakistan, 2005

Series | On October 8, 2005, an earthquake struck the northern regions of Pakistan. Kashmir and North West Frontier Provinces were the most affected.

Huntington Disease, 2002

Series | Their oldest son had just died. When I visited the Bengtson family two years ago Michelle was nursing her husband Jim and their youngest son Austin, before leaving for work.

The Migrant Caravan, 2018

Series | The Migrant Caravan documents one of the largest caravans of migrants in recent history, with as many as 7,000 travelers, including at least 2,300 children, according to UN agencies.

Industrial and Ecological Impacts on Alaskan Fisheries, 2018

Series | The port of Sitka, Alaska, has been the home of one of the most important herring derbies on the North Pacific coast for over thirty years.

Childmothers, 2015

Series | Every year, about 2 million girls give birth before the age of 15. This corresponds to 5 500 girls a day, who progress directly from childhood to motherhood.

Mayo Photo Studio, 2014

Series | In a refugee camp on the outskirts of Khartoum, Pieter ten Hoopen portrayed Sudanese patients and staff at a humanitarian clinic far from the constant conflict.

Testimonies from the North Caucasus, 2013

Series | The Caucasus Mountains near Sochi, host of part of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The North Caucasus, the site of one of the most deadly conflicts in Europe, is located in this mountain range.

North-East Congo DRC, 2012

Series | In the North-East of The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC Congo), two regions are neglected by the authorities in Kinshasa.

Jukai Forest, The Ocean of Trees, 2012

Series | In 1960, Seicho Matsumoto wrote the novel "Tower of wave", where a couple of lovers commit suicide in the Jukai forest in Japan. This story gave rise to a wave of suicides in that particular place and people came from far away to end their lives.

Tokyo 7, 2012

Series | During my time working as a photographer after the devastating tsunami in 2011 in Japan, I became completely fascinated by this country, especially Tokyo. Despite the devastation, the Japanese were calm and collected and they showed almost none of their private sorrow.

Child Wedding in India, 2012

Series | For over 200 years Vadia in Gujarat has been a town infamous for young girls’ prostitution. Because no one is willing to marry them, they end up in prostitution at the age of 12.

Japan: Tsunami Aftermath, 2011

Series | In March 2011, Japan experienced the largest earthquake in its history. A few hours later, a tsunami was to devastate the northeast coast of the island.

With the Afghan Army, 2010

Series | To the east of Kandahar, the Shoraback base in the Afghan province of Helmand is home to 4000 soldiers of the Afghan National Army. A portion of these troops are members of a commando trained by American soldiers.

The Iraqi Oil, 2008

Series | “In a pitch-dark hotel room in Basra some of Iraq’s biggest oil and diesel smugglers revealed their business dealings. They talked openly of secret transport routes and corrupt contacts with politicians. They gave us the answer to our question: what has happened to Iraqi oil?"

Kitezh, the Invisible Town, 2007

Series | The year 1200 the city Kitezh in Russia got attack by the Mogul army. Under the attack the city became invisible. From this day no one knows where the city and its people went. Once a year people from all over Russia come to visit this place.

Hungry Horse, 2007

Series | During a cold winter in the year 1900 two horses ran away. The horses were named Tex and Jerry and lived in the wilderness. After a month the horses returned dying of hunger.

After the Earthquake in Balakot, Pakistan, 2005

Series | On October 8, 2005, an earthquake struck the northern regions of Pakistan. Kashmir and North West Frontier Provinces were the most affected.

Huntington Disease, 2002

Series | Their oldest son had just died. When I visited the Bengtson family two years ago Michelle was nursing her husband Jim and their youngest son Austin, before leaving for work.

The Migrant Caravan, 2018

Series | The Migrant Caravan documents one of the largest caravans of migrants in recent history, with as many as 7,000 travelers, including at least 2,300 children, according to UN agencies.

Industrial and Ecological Impacts on Alaskan Fisheries, 2018

Series | The port of Sitka, Alaska, has been the home of one of the most important herring derbies on the North Pacific coast for over thirty years.

Childmothers, 2015

Series | Every year, about 2 million girls give birth before the age of 15. This corresponds to 5 500 girls a day, who progress directly from childhood to motherhood.

Mayo Photo Studio, 2014

Series | In a refugee camp on the outskirts of Khartoum, Pieter ten Hoopen portrayed Sudanese patients and staff at a humanitarian clinic far from the constant conflict.

Testimonies from the North Caucasus, 2013

Series | The Caucasus Mountains near Sochi, host of part of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The North Caucasus, the site of one of the most deadly conflicts in Europe, is located in this mountain range.

North-East Congo DRC, 2012

Series | In the North-East of The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC Congo), two regions are neglected by the authorities in Kinshasa.

Jukai Forest, The Ocean of Trees, 2012

Series | In 1960, Seicho Matsumoto wrote the novel "Tower of wave", where a couple of lovers commit suicide in the Jukai forest in Japan. This story gave rise to a wave of suicides in that particular place and people came from far away to end their lives.

Tokyo 7, 2012

Series | During my time working as a photographer after the devastating tsunami in 2011 in Japan, I became completely fascinated by this country, especially Tokyo. Despite the devastation, the Japanese were calm and collected and they showed almost none of their private sorrow.

Child Wedding in India, 2012

Series | For over 200 years Vadia in Gujarat has been a town infamous for young girls’ prostitution. Because no one is willing to marry them, they end up in prostitution at the age of 12.

Japan: Tsunami Aftermath, 2011

Series | In March 2011, Japan experienced the largest earthquake in its history. A few hours later, a tsunami was to devastate the northeast coast of the island.

With the Afghan Army, 2010

Series | To the east of Kandahar, the Shoraback base in the Afghan province of Helmand is home to 4000 soldiers of the Afghan National Army. A portion of these troops are members of a commando trained by American soldiers.

The Iraqi Oil, 2008

Series | “In a pitch-dark hotel room in Basra some of Iraq’s biggest oil and diesel smugglers revealed their business dealings. They talked openly of secret transport routes and corrupt contacts with politicians. They gave us the answer to our question: what has happened to Iraqi oil?"

Kitezh, the Invisible Town, 2007

Series | The year 1200 the city Kitezh in Russia got attack by the Mogul army. Under the attack the city became invisible. From this day no one knows where the city and its people went. Once a year people from all over Russia come to visit this place.

Hungry Horse, 2007

Series | During a cold winter in the year 1900 two horses ran away. The horses were named Tex and Jerry and lived in the wilderness. After a month the horses returned dying of hunger.

After the Earthquake in Balakot, Pakistan, 2005

Series | On October 8, 2005, an earthquake struck the northern regions of Pakistan. Kashmir and North West Frontier Provinces were the most affected.

Huntington Disease, 2002

Series | Their oldest son had just died. When I visited the Bengtson family two years ago Michelle was nursing her husband Jim and their youngest son Austin, before leaving for work.

videos

Childmothers, 2016
—
Childmothers is a joint initiative between Plan International and UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, to highlight the issue of very early motherhood. Girls who give birth before they turn 15 years of age have increased risks of complications and death from pregnancy and childbirth compared to other age groups. They are very often out of school, married, and may live with serious health complications from their pregnancy or delivery – some do not survive. Yet, child mothers are often invisible in national and global statistics, and overlooked in development interventions.

Kitezh-Vladimirskoe, 2016
—
The year 1200 the city Kitezh in Russia got attack by the Mogul army. Under the attack the city became invisible. From this day no one knows where the city and its people went. Once a year people from all over Russia come to visit this place. Today there is a lake on the place the city once was. The lake is situated just beside the small town of Vladimirskoe.

Some people from this town say they have seen the City of Kitezh coming up from the water around midsummer.  Other people have seen an armed guard walking around the town.

Few of the tourist visit the city of Vladimirskoe. The daily life is hard for many in this area. Alcohol abuse and the unemployment rate is high. Around midsummer the weather is hot and the nights are long. The people are spending their time outside until early morning.

The busses with tourist are coming to search for the invisible city of Kitezh. The most who leave Kitezh after a visit don’t even know the name of Vadimirskoe.

Vladimirskoe is mostly known for “that little village beside Kitezh the invisible city”.

North Caucasus, 2013
—
The Caucasus Mountains located near Sochi, Russia will host part of the Winter Olympics due to commence on the 7th of February 2014. The same mountain range is also home to the North Caucasus, the site of Europe’s deadliest conflict. Two devastating wars in the republic of Chechnya after the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the violence spreading across the whole region. Although the military operations officially ended in earnest in 2009, some 700 people have been murdered in the last year in this small multi-ethnic, multi-religious corner of Russia.

Interviews

Au chevet du monde
Le Château d’eau
—
Interview by Jean-Marc Lacabe, 2018

Pieter Ten Hoopen comments on his three series, “Haiyen, 365 days after”, “Hungry horse” and “Tokyo 7”. These three series are presented under the name “Au chevet du monde” at the Château d’eau Gallery.

Pieter ten Hoopen – Nikon Ambassador
Nikon Europe
—
2017

Pieter Ten Hoopen, from Sweden, is an internationally renowned filmmaker and documentarian.
Pieter works to give voice to those who might otherwise lack it in his signature style that is in between photojournalism and art.

Hungry Horse (2/2)
VU’
—
2016

Pieter Ten Hoopen presents his film and book based on his early photographic series “Hungry Horse” at the occasion of an exhibition held at The Agency VU’ Gallery from November 4th 2016 to January 7th 2017.

Hungry Horse (1/2)
VU’
—
2016

Pieter Ten Hoopen presents his film and book based on his early photographic series “Hungry Horse” at the occasion of an exhibition held at The Agency VU’ Gallery from November 4th 2016 to January 7th 2017.

Exhibitions

Au chevet du monde
—
Le Château d’Eau, Toulouse (FRANCE)
—
From June 28 to September 19, 2018

More information

Hungry Horse
—
Galerie VU, Paris (FRANCE)
—
From November 4 to January 7, 2017

More information

Hungry Horse
—
Les Rencontres d’Arles, Arles (FRANCE)
—
From July 7 to September 21, 2014

More information

books

Hungry Horse

Max Storm - 2015

Tokyo 7

The Bearded Lady - 2012

Stockholm

The Bearded Lady - 2011

Hungry Horse

Max Storm - 2015

Tokyo 7

The Bearded Lady - 2012

Stockholm

The Bearded Lady - 2011

Hungry Horse

Max Storm - 2015

Tokyo 7

The Bearded Lady - 2012

Stockholm

The Bearded Lady - 2011

awards

World Press Photo Story of the year, nominee

For his reportage « The Migrant Caravan »

2019

Photographer of the year, Sweden

2010

World Press Photo Prize in the Portraits category, 2nd Prize

For his reportage « Singles »

2019

Award of Excellence in the “Portrait Series” category of the Picture of the Year

2009

Memorial Mario Giacomelli Prize

2008

World Press Photo Prize in the “Daily Life, Stories”category, 1st Prize

For his reportage “Kitezh, the invisible town”

2008