Donker Utrecht

Donker Utrecht. Zo heet de serie foto’s van Utrechtse plekken na zonsondergang van fotograaf Merijn van der Vliet. Een serie die hij begin 2011 startte en waarvan het einde nog lang niet in zicht is. Het merendeel van de foto's maakt hij in het zogenaamde 'blauwe kwartiertje', de schemerperiode waarin de lucht in korte tijd intens donkerblauw kleurt en er een perfecte balans ontstaat tussen hemellicht en kunstlicht.

Donker Utrecht is a unique brand initiated by photographer Merijn van der Vliet. Fascinated by the perfect balance between skylight and daylight during ‘het blauwe kwartiertje’, the brief period (about fifteen minutes) in which the evening sky colors intense dark blue in a very short time. This magical moment after sunset gives the urban impressions a deep contrast of unprecedented brightness, focus in color, detail and contour. Utrecht is a city in the center of the Netherlands.

Through the photographs, (which are) taken out of a carefully chosen viewpoint, the city views have a surprising three-dimensional effect. The city unfolds an unexpected stillness and enters into a dialogue with the spectator.

The project is a tribute to Utrecht and the beauty and intimacy of the evening twilight. Merijn has started with the authentic reproduction of his city in 2011. He has generated finances, to show these photos on a special website and to self-publish these postcards, by an extraordinarily successful crowdfunding action using internet, facebook and twitter.