In the North Sea, about 70 kilometres from the German coastline, lies Heligoland. The small Island spans a mere 1.7 km in diameter, with only 1200 inhabitants. Because of the island's remote location, the choice to leave it behind is never taken lightly.
The island was the first place on earth to be the focus of systematic studies on bird migration and serves as a breeding ground of close to 400 bird species. The combination between the island's location and weather conditions causes significant variations in local bird population throughout the year.
The project explores the contrasts and similarities between the migratory people and birds of Heligoland, and focuses on the inevitable choices every islander comes to face.
Where have all the songbirds gone?, Maarten Boswijk, Self-publushed, Utrecht, 2013 Eventually, When the roads get better, Maarten Boswijk, Vesselina Nikolaeva, Self-publushed, Utrecht, 2011
Maarten Boswijk (b.1988, Rotterdam, NL) received his BDs in Documentary Photography from the Utrecht School of the Arts in 2012. His work consists of long-term social documentary projects in which he explores deviating communities. In an attempt to put the western standards in perspective, he seeks places where people have a very distinct relationship with their environment. His projects are often self-published in the form of a book. He was published in NEW Dutch Photography Talent 2013, exhibited at the Naarden Fotofestival 2013 and received two honorable mentions from the Photo Annual Awards. Maarten currently resides in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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