How does light hit the city of Amsterdam?
In this book, late Robby Müller captures just how, together with a narrative by wife Andrea Müller
Saying that I am an emotional person is an understatement. Often, I cry at nothing. Perhaps the water ripples seemed really reflective that day, or flowers looked highly saturated and swayed even more beautifully than usual. Inevitably in those moments, tears are brought to my eyes. I often feel stupid. But I’ve grown to know that that’s alright.
It is no exception for words.
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This morning, I opened a book I bought in June.
Amsterdam Photos
by Robby Müller
68 pages
30 x 41cm paperback softcover
Published by: Roma Publications (Amsterdam)
Text by: Andrea Müller-Schirmer and Bianca Stigter
Designed by: Linda van Deursen
I was reading the introduction of the book and realised it was someone else’s recount of him and his photos. How beautifully written, I thought. And the way life was described through the words of someone else’s about the late cinematographer Robby, brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of how deep life could be, yet so simple, all together.
Honestly, these are the moments I live for. it is almost as if my surroundings disappear and I finally come face to face with myself again – I know who I am. I know the life I love. I feel my soul inside of me. This feeling only lasts for a maximum of 10 seconds though. I try to hold on to it for a little longer.
Robby Müller was a Dutch cinematographer. Known for his use of natural light and minimalist imagery.
All 63 photos in this book were taken on film, accompanied by texts by his wife, in both English and Dutch. She talks about how the light of Amsterdam was seen and captured through his eyes.
In these photos, the world looks as if it has come to a standstill. Quiet, you could almost feel the breeze on your face. Looking almost like a still from a movie, that was the magic of his photographs – that is being able to capture everyday life as if it were all one big fat movie.
The book was made up of newspaper paper. Together with how thin and frail the material was, this book feels like a fragile, delicate, precious, romantic memory, archival and recollection of Robby Müller through the heart of his wife, Andrea Müller.
The book is also of a large format (30 x 41cm). Bringing attention to all the details of the photos. So beautifully shot. Not to mention, the colours...
The photos in the book were also selected and published every Monday on the Dutch newspaper, Het Parool in the year 2019-2020.
These were my favourite pages. The colours on the top picture and the lack of colour seen in the BNW photos feel so melancholic.
Robby Müller died of vascular dementia at the age of 78. But his photos live on forever. That’s the power of photography to me. Every fleeting moment goes by with the blink of an eye. But photos? They preserve that one blink for eternity to come.
The book ends with a very lovely and fitting image + text that I will not reveal here as it is more impactful seen in person.
For all that would love to gift yourself this lovely book, it seems like Amsterdam Photos by Robby Müller can still be purchased here.