Noorderlicht looks back with satisfaction on a very successful and well attended opening for the 19th Noorderlicht International Photofestival Terra Cognita. The beautiful weather, enthusiastic visitors and presence of over 40 of the participating photographers from all corners of the world were the right ingredients for a perfect day.

The lectures on Sunday were well attended too. The high point was the lively presentation by Jörg M. Colberg, writer of the influential blog Conscientious. Among the things he touched on were the nonsense involved in many of the 'is photography dead?' discussions (in his opinion, absolutely not!), the potential – and gaps - of internet as a mega-photo archive, an what it means that today's children will soon have tens of thousands of photos of themselves.

Jörg Colberg and his 'Photography Threat Level Advisory'

Every Sunday afternoon lectures take place at Museum Belvédère. They are in Dutch, and free to attend once you have purchased a ticket for the museum. 

• 9 Sept, 2 pm: Misha de Ridder - Unreal Realities.
• 16 Sept, 2 pm: Paul Bogaers - Mental Photography.
• 23 Sept, 2 pm: Korrie Besems - Invented past & Landscape of Cockaigne.
• 30 Sept, 2 pm: Gerco de Ruijter - Almost Nature.
• 30 Sept, 3.30 pm: Club Donny - About personal experience with nature in the urban environment. 
• 7 Oct, 2 pm: Matthijs Schouten - The image of nature in different cultural traditions.
• 7 Oct 3.30 pm: Peter Brinkman - Eco Cathedrals.

© Misha de Ridder

Get aboard for a bus tour of photography, along a rural route through the beautiful Friese Wouden, with their characteristic ‘coulisse’ landscapes. There are three different routes.

Saturday 8 September - Gallery route

> bus tour visiting seven satellite exhibitions

Saturday 9 September and Sunday 16 September - Church route

> bus tour visiting exhibitions in six old churches

Saturday 15 september - Museum route

> bus tour visiting three Terra Cognita museums 

The Noorderlicht Express

Noorderlicht has prepared a film programme especially for this festival. It provides extra background information about several of the participating photographers. In this way you will have an opportunity to get acquainted with the photographers, the theme and, of course, the medium of photography in still another way.

The film programme is to be seen every day during the festival period in Museum Dr8888 in Drachten. With contributions by:

• Meike Nixdorf 
• Peter Solness
• Simon Roberts
• Rena Effendi
• Zhao Renui | Simon Roberts
• Michael Floman
• Hiroyuki Masuyama  
• Scarlett Hooft Graafland
• James Withlow Delano
• Thomas Wrede
• Susannah Sayler & Edward Morris
• Graeme Williams
• Erik Jan van de Geer
• Gerco De Ruijter

Simon Roberts and Scarlett Hooft Graafland

Every Sunday afternoon this old cloister organises concerts in its beautiful garden. They begin at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.. There are also guided tours at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. 

2 Sept.: The Groningen ensemble De Haip

> Entrance: € 10,-

9 Sept.: Gerrit Breteler (vocalist) and Clara Rullmann (grand piano)

> Entrance: € 15,-

16 Sept.: Concert Folk Ensemble EDIS

> Entrance € 10,-

23 Sept.: Concert TRIVERSA 

> Entrance: € 10,-

30 Sept.: Herman Meijer (grand piano) & Bart Mol (baritone) in concert

> Entrance: € 10,-

7 Oct.: Piano concert by Hristo Petrov

> Entrance: € 10,-

Garden concerts at the cloister.