Visual Storytelling
Editorial and Commercial
René van Bakel has been a passionate storytelling photographer since he started his professional career about 20 years ago. That means he is capable of creating complete, high-quality photo stories. An ability one acquires by mastering all fields of photography at a very high level, not just one. René has worked in more than 70 countries, in which he was able to develop the necessary skills and his work has been published in major global media such as National Geographic, New York Times, Le Figaro, Vogue and many more.
René also works on assignment. His vast experience enables him to help you visualize your story! To show your audience what matters for you, your company or your publication. Wherever, worldwide, commercial as well as editorial.
Specialities:
Portraits, home stories, architecture, travel/art/culture, events, horses, nature/wildlife, fine art photography
Location:
Based in Vienna and Eichgraben (Lower Austria), Austria. Able to take on any kind of photographic assignment in any location where needed.
Bio:
René van Bakel, born in the Netherlands in 1966; lives and works in Vienna. 1992 graduated vocational education photography. 1993 Press office of Dutch Ministry of Defense photographing for (inter)national media and internal magazines/newspaper. Traveled in many war and crisis areas (e.g. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, the Arabian Gulf) produced features in over 70 countries worldwide. 1995 Winner Photoarm Sibiu, international award for war correspondents (reportage on Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina). 1998 commercial/portrait studio near Eindhoven (NLD). 2002 created travel, lifestyle, culinary, art, culture, scientific features and exclusive portraits for media. First mainly in Italy then globally. More than 20 years experience as a photographer, writer and book author. 2009 nominated for the prestigious Austrian “Objektiv Photography Award”, category “Art & Culture” (portrait of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). 2012 founded the agency ASAblanca in Vienna together with Gerhard Hinterleitner. 2018 René has sold his shares in ASAblanca to Gerhard Hinterleitner to be able to focus more on his book projects, photographic assignments and his family.
Selected Publications:
New York Times, LA Times, VOGUE Germany, Le Figaro (France), Liberation (France), GEO, National Geographic, Forbes, Bloomberg Markets New York, The Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Sunday Times, Preview Dubai, Stern, Newsweek, Capital (G+J), Universum Magazine, Der Standard/Rondo, das Profil, News, Woman, Die Presse, Die Zeit, Wienerin, Servus Magazine, Falstaff, Der Tagesanzeiger, Freizeit/Kurier, Algemeen Dagblad, G-photo world news (Japan), US Air Force, SQ-Magazine, Life Style Magazine, The Art of Living, Executive Magazine, Residence, Doctors without Borders, UNICEF
Selected Clients:
Superfund, Vapiano, ÖBB, AIT, Ö-Post AG, Agrana, Magna Steyr, FFG, BMVIT, Rolex, Austrian Airlines, Spanish Riding School Vienna, TNT, DHL, NÖM, ÖBF, Merkur, Stiegl, Gösser, Nike, VDL Group, Philips Medical Systems, ING, Rabobank, Campina, Fokker, Schiphol
Selected Portraits:
Andrea Bocelli, Fernando Botero, Queen Beatrix, President Bill Clinton, Sharon Stone, King Willem Alexander, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Stefan Ruzowitzky, Frances Mayes, Pamela Anderson, Pope Benedict XVI, Marlies Schild, Hannes Reichelt, Michael Ostrowski, Barbara Stöckl, Dominic Meyer, Heinz Kinigardner, Robert Palfrader, Simply Red, Nena, Kris Kristofferson, Patty Smith, Julia Dujmovits, Gerda Rogers, Florian Scheuba, Nadja Bernhard, Rudi Rubinek, Nicole Beutler, Dörte Lyssewski, Christian Konrad, President Heinz Fischer, The Weather Girls
Selected Books:
„SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL 450 years“ photographic volume (Edition Lammerhuber) 2015 click here for the book !
„Mein Waldviertel“ 2014 Culinary/Travel/Culture about the Austrian Woodquarter. Published by Styria Books/Pichler Verlag (www.styriabooks.at)
„So schmeckt das Weinviertel“ 2013 Culinary/Travel/Culture about the Austrian Wine Quarter. Published by Styria Books/Pichler Verlag (www.styriabooks.at)
„Tussen hamer en aambeeld“ 1996 (Between hammer and anvil) about the critical situation both the people of Srebrnica and the Dutch battalion found themselves in shortly before the massacre of Srebrenica in 1996.
„Care provided“ 1994 about the care being provided in Goma to the 1 million refugees of the war between the Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994.
Selected Awards:
★★ Commercial Photographer of the year 2019 – Central Europe (CV Media Innovator Awards)
★★ PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS Awards 2016
★★ One Eyeland International Photography Awards 2015
Both for his book: SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL 450 years
★★ international award for war correspondents for his reportage on Srebrenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina). 1996
Exhibitions:
- Cortona | Italy at La Fortezza del Girifalco 2019
- Vienna | Austria The Etruscan Spirit 2018
- Vienna | Austria (Objektiv) 2009
- Fabbriche di Vallicho (Lucca) | Italy 2004
- Deurne | Netherlands 2003
- Cannes | France 2002
- Eindhoven | Netherlands 2001
- Arnheim | Netherlands 1999
- Sydney | Australia 1998
- Den Haag | Netherlands 1996