No Place Like Home

• Prize
• Photographer
  Wout Overkamp, Netherlands

The series No Place Like Home, is an X-ray view of the modern human life, exposing its
(dis)connection with nature.

This project sprouted from my fascination and discontent with modern human life and our
accustomization to the comforts of it. Wealth has never been as high as in present times,
while the condition of the earth has become more critical. In our safe homes we have
everything we desire, but we do not see – or choose not to see – the impact our lifestyle
has on the environment. Don't we forget what our real home is? Are we still connected to
nature and thus ourselves?

The photographed individuals are living their everyday life, occupied with themselves and
unaware of the beauty surrounding them. My goal was to capture contrast and harmony in a
single photo, as a metaphor for the present position of humans. With technology we have
distantiated ourselves from nature, but that won’t stop us from being a part of the circle
of life as living organisms.

The things we assume to be normal can become abnormal when we change our perspective. By
changing the context around the photographed individuals I hope to question ‘the normal’.
By substituting the home environment I want to make people look with new eyes and think
about their lifestyle. Much of our behavior is considered to be normal, but could also be
observed as absurd, depending on the perspective.

To get to the locations where the models were photographed, sometimes hour-long hikes were
required, making the creation of this series a way to connect with nature and myself, too.

Awards GUP New Dutch Photography Talent 2013