Nieuwjaarsduik, the ultimate dive

Winter swim is a tradition that I thought to be widespread only in Scandinavian countries. That is the huge mistake! After seeking help on New Year's Eve from my best friend - Google, I realized that the most happening version for winter swim is the New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik). The amazing part is that it would take place at a location 20 minutes away from where I stay. Every 1st of January, the Pier at Scheveningen Beach bears witness to some 10,000 people that will fulfill their annual tradition by diving into the North Sea at 12 noon sharp!

This morning, the streets appeared cold and quiet with the aftermath of firecrackers littered all over the city. It was really beyond my imagination to think how anyone would really go and dive in the icy cold water. Like...how? In fact, the sunny weather was just great for cuddling in bed! So, there goes another mistaken assumption.

20 minutes later, I arrived at the pier and walked into an excited crowd. Some were wearing orange beanie with the word Unox embroidered in front. Guess what does Unox do? Unox, the event's annual sponsor, is a sausage factory and they provided a canned pea soup in the goodie bag. How thoughtful.



Prior to the kick off, DJ blasted upbeat music with usherettes leading the crowd for a warm up party dance. It was just another lively post NYE street party. There were families, friends, couples, grannies, grandpas, children and puppies. Occasionally, I walked into some swimmers with impressive outfit - the kings and queens, policemen and pole-dancers or both, superheroes and alike. I was truly inspired by the madness and courage of these people. So, my new year resolution for 2010 includes getting fit for the cold and my new year resolution 2011 is topped with doing the new year's dive!


Unox rocks


Sisterhood


Headstart!


Make it twice

According to holland.com:

The dive began in 1965 at the initiative of Jan van Scheijndel, who was an English Channel swimmer. In that year seven people took part in the plunge. Over the course of time the New Year’s Dive has grown into a massive event and is sponsored by the Unox sausage factory. In 2007 the event had to be cancelled for the first time in 39 years due to bad weather conditions.

He made it, did you?

For more information visit: www.unoxnieuwjaarsduik.nl.

Simple but impactful

Sometimes, it's the simplest rule that makes all the difference.

Jerusalem-based Senior Photo Editor Sharon Perry showcasing some of the best Reuters images from The HolyLand with side notes on the photographic angle used by each photographer. It has served as useful refresher for me!

Watch following video for voice-added presentation!


(via Reuters Blog)

Go Team Hoyt!

There are so many times a day I put myself small, stopping at where I could have made a difference, big or small, to people. However, I'll never know what is the outcome of my action if I never do it. So, do it, experience it, and do it again. That will be my cycle of action from now on.

If you think you "can't", watch this and ask yourself the question again.



Jo supports Team Hoyt

Headshot

(via)

Argentinian photographer, Catalina Bartolome, shot a couple of interesting photos portraying women who all cover their faces with unusual household items. It's idea like this that keeps photography lively and interesting! And don't get the message wrong - women are so much more than these!!

With the rest of Catalina’s work, here.

Photography Between the Sheets

(via - Photography Between the Sheets: Love Hotel Series by Grace Kim. Visit this link for more pictures. )

New York native photographer Grace Kim caught glimpses of aftermath of visiting pay-by-the-hour hotels in Seoul. It questions what's left after the absence of love for a couple. Well, at least this is what I get out of it. It's the emptiness that gives me an eerie feeling.

And Grace's take on this project is:

“Love hotels in South Korea are commonly known to be where lovers go to carry on secret affairs. I was given access to photograph the rooms of a love hotel in Seoul after couples had checked out and before the rooms had been cleaned. Korean culture has many rules and formalities that have always felt very restrictive to me, so I was intrigued by the idea of being where I shouldn’t be and observing things I shouldn’t be observing — remnants of love affairs that were presumably forbidden as well. Absence of color, like the absence of identity, extracts the bed from their original context and realism, leaving space for personal projections and imagination.”

Excerpt from Flavorwire: Works from the “Love Hotel” series — including three 40″ x 60″ prints – will be on display at Melanie Flood Projects through October 7. Under the Glass Bell, A Dream is photographer Grace Kim’s first solo exhibition. The gallery is open by appointment only; email for more information or attend the opening on Wednesday, September 9, from 7-10 pm.

If you're in New York, there you go:

186 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11205