Abstract nominee

It’s a blue world.

“Water dreams all fantasies”

Planet earth will survive mankind, following the catastrophic environmental disaster in the near future. Due to the rising temperature, the polar caps will melt and the increase in water will flood the earth.

This future and the increase of water is imagined in the series “It’s a blue planet”.

I am a retired neurologist/neuroscientist and have always been fascinated by nature.
Photography has been my hobby. Curious as I am, I was looking for ways to explore
uncharted areas and found my ultimate challenge in microscopy of crystals. The nice thing is
that you have to make them yourself and subsequently photograph them through the
microscope in multiple ways.
Awards:
Nominee FAPA, 2023, Series: It’s a blue world. 2024, Series: Sand grains. 2025: Village below
a starry night.
Cupoty 2024, 3 photos shortlisted. https://www.cupoty.com/studio-art-shortlist-6
Cupoty 6 finalist (2024), category Studio art. https://cupoty.us18.listmanage.
com/track/click?u=f4664c8c066399c62b674e98d&id=387090cabf&e=2e5e05d8ac
1839 Photographer of the year contest, 2024. Discovery of the year (gold), Category
Abstract. Lush trees and inhabitants:
https://1839awards.com/entry/lush-trees-and-inhabitants
1839 Photographer of the year contest, 2024. Bronze, category abstract. A remote ironloaded
planet.
https://1839awards.com/entry/a-remote-iron-loaded-planet
Cupoty 6 finalist (2024), category Studio art. https://cupoty.us18.listmanage.
com/track/click?u=f4664c8c066399c62b674e98d&id=387090cabf&e=2e5e05d8ac
Publications:
PF, April 2023, Rubriek Debuut, Titel: Na ons de zondvloed.
https://pf.nl/debutant-fotograaf-machiel-zwarts/
Interview: In Beeld, Nederlands centrum voor Vrije fotografie, 115, februari 2024, Droom en
Drive, p. 10-13.
https://fotobonddigitaal.nl/in-beeld-115/droom-drive-machiel-zwarts/
Professionele Fotografie (FP), #5 2025, Rubriek Debuut, Kristallen: een caleidoscoop van
kleuren en vormen. P. 68-69.
https://pf.nl/open-call-voor-debuut-in-pf-6-2025/
Book: The Crystal Garden, © Machiel Zwarts, Nijmegen, 2025
Photography, cristals, microscopy, text and lay-out: Machiel Zwarts