In December 2009 we launched one central website about Dutch photographers since 1839. The website is an online encyclopedia which contains basic information about Dutch photographers. Currently this is information about 40.000 photographers collected by The Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD) and the Nederlands Fotomuseum (Rotterdam). Fotografen.nl is a living website which will be maintained by professionals but also with the help of website visitors who can add remarks.
Fotografen.nl is an initiative of the Nederlands Fotomuseum en the RKD.
Wikipedia about photographers
Fotografen.nl is a ‘search-and-find’ database: one search for a phtographer, finds basis information (about his life and work, but also information about copyright) and links to other websites. So it is not a portfolio website. Every photographer can be part of Fotografen.nl as long as there is a minimum of information online available, there will be no criteria used for quality. Website visitors can also help by adding remarks.
Adopt a photographer
Experts, members of the Nederlands Fotogenootschap like Nationaal Archief and Spaarnestad Photo are involved in controlling and complementing information. They ‘adopt’ photographers, keep the basic information of the photographers up-to-date and receive messages when others changed their adopted photographers. Visitors can add photographers to a list of favorites and receive messages when their favorite phtographers are changed. The home page shows photographers who are currently actual, are searched for of favorite of many visitors. This way the website will remain up-to-date.
Wide range
The Nederlands Fotomuseum uses the Internet to spread knowledge about photography for everyone. This is realized by gathering information, setting up portal websites and developing new (web) products. The museum is cooperating with many other institutions and professional to realize this initiatives. Examples of other initiatives of the Nederlands Fotomuseum are: www.photostart.nl (activities), www.daguerreobase.org (daguerreotypes) en www.fotografiebibliotheek.nl (library).