OLE Krรถger
2013
CH ANTILLY World C u p
Let me tell you all a story. One so easily told in person yet seemingly impossible to explain fully in writing. A story of fear, doubt, loss but more importantly of strength, perseverance and of the hero each and everyone one of us carries within. To render this correctly we step out of bounds and in to the tale of an individual attempting to fight the same battles we encounter. Let me tap into your imagination and attempt to diminish whatever disbelief you may have instilled into a crevice of your heart.
Cover by MICHAL Kverka
IN THE MIDST O
My funds are insufficient if wealth was to be m those below would be
ERIK CHATEAU
Erik Chateau
JEEROEN | GO BEYOND Jeroen Elings
MICHAL KVERKA Michal Kverka
HYBRID FOTO
Ami Helge
OF GREATNESS
t, so trust me when I say: made from these pages, the first to benefit.
HELEN E GROSE PHOTOGRAPHY Helen Grose
HASSELHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY Christiaan Drenth
PHOTOMONKEY Ole Krรถger
I
A heavy uncontrolled breath echoed behind every footstep like thunder follows a lighting storm. With every exhale more panic and fear found its way into Aaron’s body. The thought of being beaten and every blow leading up to that defeat made his legs move out from under him. Trying to outrun an enemy only he could envision, Aaron moved further and further away from where he once was or at some point was trying to get to. With no living soul insight and not a sound to be heard for miles the only witness of his cowardliness would be him and him only. Like a purposeless vessel he conveyed deeper into the mist, the nothingness, the meaningless. And with it becoming ever more impervious to reason, sense or any guidance. He was heading straight for the exit and wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. The handle was just in front of him, the bright green exit sign illuminated his face and both his hands instantly flung forward. Strange, because so did his feet. Not to kick the door in but because he had come to an abrupt stop and was left motionless afloat in midair.
MICHAL Kverka
OLE Krรถger
AMI Helge
JEROEN Elings
Helen Grose
MICHAL Kverka
JEROEN Elings
Helen Grose
ERIK Chateau
ERIK Chateau
CHRISTIAAN Drenth
II
It was as if a rope had been attached to his back and now, at this crucial moment, it had run out and stopped him dead in his tracks. The exit was no longer there, instead he was looking at a crossroad marked with two distinctive choices. Get out or get back in. A decision he had already made or so he thought. It seemed this strange reencounter with these two options brought doubt back into his made up mind. And it was doubt that changed the off switch he was just about to flip into a buzzer. One that blew a familiar sounding horn somewhere behind him. As he turned his eyes widened, his pupils were fully dilated and his breath was nowhere to be found. An entire forest had appeared from out of nowhere and with it came a feeling of calm, joy and excitement. Still not quite sure of what had just occurred and while rubbing his eyes he took a step forward. The leaves beneath his feet crunched but did not surprise him. He straightened his arm trying to touch a nearby tree, ready to be awakened from this dream. But instead, when his fingertip touched the bark, it started drifting away, floating up towards the now bright sky along with all the other trees. Along with the weight that had been on his shoulders, the weight that had held him down for so long. When his gaze finally came down he was looking at a thin patch of the greenest grass he had ever seen. But this was no ordinary grass, this was a path, a runway, a push into the right direction. Aaron knew what to do. He was removed of all fear and certain of his actions. This was no longer a leap of faith but a move of revelation.
OLE Krรถger
ERIK Chateau
ERIK Chateau
Helen Grose
Helen Grose
Helen Grose
JEROEN Elings
ERIK Chateau
ERIK Chateau
ERIK Chateau
AMI Helge
ERIK Chateau
Helen Grose
III
Now at full speed Aaron felt unstoppable, invincible, so powerful no one would ever be able to slow him down. If he were to go any faster he’d be flying over the grass, the grass which had now become his ladder to success. Right upon till a hand had taken hold of his shoulder, he’d been certain of his ability to overcome anything. But right after that first grip, a second, third and countless other hands had taken hold of him, removing any momentum he had build up. Which seemed but mild a punishment compared to the four hands that followed. One after the other, covering his mouth, eyes and ears. Stripped from his senses and mobility, Aaron was once again surrounded by darkness and felt the familiar misery closing in. Yet something was different about these shadows, this midnight gloom, these black walls. This time there was no exasperation, no heavy weight pressing down on him. He could fight this, he would beat this. He felt like he could tear down the curtains of black. And so he did. With all the courage he could muster Aaron grabbed into what he thought was thin air. Surprisingly enough he got hold of something and without hesitation tore it down. He could hear the fabric ripping from the sockets and as it fell down all around him, he embraced the sunlight now coming through the window he was facing. Overwhelmed with relief and bliss he opened his eyes and looked at what must have been the most beautiful sight he had every seen. Knowing now that the end truly does justify the means, Aaron smiled and, for the first time in his journey he knew how lucky he was.
AMI Helge
OLE Krรถger
AMI Helge
ERIK Chateau
OLE Krรถger
ERIK Chateau
JEROEN Elings
CHRISTIAAN Drenth
AMI Helge
The ones that make it complicated. Never get congratulated