via panam

I had the incredible opportunity to direct a Dutch TV-show titled “De Panamericana Road Trip,” which followed a group of Volvo enthusiasts as they embarked on a monumental journey. Their mission? To ship their classic Volvo to Buenos Aires and embark on a breathtaking 16,000-kilometer road trip across South America.

Over the course of six weeks, we traversed the diverse landscapes, starting from Buenos Aires in Argentina and making our way through Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and finally Colombia. As I directed the show, I seized every little opportunity I had to capture the essence of our adventure through photography.

What truly left an impression on me during this expedition was the remarkable resilience of humanity in the face of diverse living conditions. From the surreal landscapes of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city where the sun never sets in summer, to the arid expanse of the Atacama desert, known as the driest place on earth. Whether navigating the challenging terrain of the Altiplano, the towering mountain range straddling the Chile-Bolivia border, where altitude sickness loomed, or exploring Lake Titicaca, home to the Uros Indians and their unique reed raft homes.

Throughout it all, one thing remained abundantly clear: humans possess an innate ability to adapt and thrive in any environment. No matter the extremes, we persist, showcasing our resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. For better or worse, we truly are everywhere, embracing the challenges and beauty of our planet with unwavering determination.

December 2011 – January 2012