The deliverable for this project is to create one poster that tells a compelling family story. This poster should capture the essence plus emotions using visual elements to engage the audience. The goal is to convey the story in a way that resonates then connects on a personal level.

I asked my father which family story would be interesting. It’s worth noting that we have been researching our family tree for many years. He shared the story about Klaas Goudka. I decided this would be the story to tell. The process began with research: What will I include? How will I present it? I also discovered information about his parents then gathered more details about his family.

I think my father plus I revised the text at least eight times. We often debated what Klaas might have felt or left unsaid plus where pauses should be placed. A lot went into this.

I chose locations like the Hondsbossche Zeewering in North Holland for the dike photos while aiming for a timeless look. I was fortunate to have perfect weather. For the prison scenes, I visited the Koepel prison in Haarlem. Now repurposed for people plus companies but surrounded by old buildings. The bed in the photo was exactly what I needed. To depict Klaas’ long journey, I chose a forest path at Anna’s farm in Hilversum while finding the perfect spot there as well.

The cheese sandwiches posed a challenge. I researched the type for bread plus cheese they might have used while opting for a simple period-appropriate sandwich then making ship’s rusk from flour plus water plus salt. Cheese cubes felt the most authentic for the composition.

A lot went into this project from selecting period-appropriate clothes to matching colors. People were grouped according to the fashion at the time. For Klaas as a soldier, I referenced SchoolTV to see a Dutch foot soldier from 1800. Creating the family required them to look similar but not identical. The constable’s uniform also needed accurate research. For the animated food, I used a self-made wood texture then enlarged hands to create beer plus pea soup.

After all the work, this is the final animation. I am very pleased with how I was able to tell this story then represent my family so well. I would like to thank everyone who helped me with this project.

FOTODOK, 2023
Disciplines: Visual Storytelling, Photography, Animation, Historical Research