What were you thinking?
An exercise in empathy
We all know the power of images. But words can change the way we read a photograph entirely. Can you think of a surprising, moving, or funny caption to go with the photos below?
More info under project info
Feel free to add your own suggestions to this interactive thought experiment!
Work in progress
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Although as an artist and photographer I often work alone in my studio — my happy place — I've lately been collaborating with others more regularly. Precisely because I'm no longer in full control, I find myself pleasantly surprised by the energy and creativity that emerges from the interaction.
Which made me wonder: how far can I take this? Could I, for instance, create something together with my newsletter readers and website visitors? Would the result be more than the sum of its parts? Could I make the image, and leave the interpretation to the viewer?
Perhaps I'll think later — as you might be thinking right now — "What were you thinking?" But I'm curious nonetheless, and as always, up for an experiment. Are you?
To you the question: what were the subjects thinking at the moment the photo was taken?
A selection of the most surprising, touching, or humorous imagined monologues and dialogues will be featured here. And I'll add my own musings, of course. Whose thoughts are whose doesn't really matter. The image is autonomous, yet shifts in meaning with every new text placed beside it. And — fun fact — AI can't really do this (yet).
A new photo is added every month. Are you joining in too?
Groningen, the Netherlands (2026).
Come on!
The art is not in the banana.
Every colour is a political act.
The way I see you...
You are art too. But I don’t say that to everyone. And you do have to do something with it.
I can’t do anything about you being so small, can I?
Odense, Denmark (2025).
Safety first.
Is the Knäckebröd gone already?
No, Bobby stays with me.
Give me silence, and I will endure the night.
What a shame!
Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2026).
It's not easy being green.
Redheads rule the world!
In 200 metres, turn left onto Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
Fly me to the moon 🎵
The flygskam is real.
Groningen, the Netherlands (2026).
Too warm, too wet, that Dutch weather is doing my head in.
Nothing is fixed, everything is in flux.
x² + y² = r²
Crap.
Work in progress
-
Although as an artist and photographer I often work alone in my studio — my happy place — I've lately been collaborating with others more regularly. Precisely because I'm no longer in full control, I find myself pleasantly surprised by the energy and creativity that emerges from the interaction.
Which made me wonder: how far can I take this? Could I, for instance, create something together with my newsletter readers and website visitors? Would the result be more than the sum of its parts? Could I make the image, and leave the interpretation to the viewer?
Perhaps I'll think later — as you might be thinking right now — "What were you thinking?" But I'm curious nonetheless, and as always, up for an experiment. Are you?
To you the question: what were the subjects thinking at the moment the photo was taken?
A selection of the most surprising, touching, or humorous imagined monologues and dialogues will be featured here. And I'll add my own musings, of course. Whose thoughts are whose doesn't really matter. The image is autonomous — yet shifts in meaning with every new text placed beside it.
A new photo is added every month. Are you joining in too?
Feel free to add your own suggestions to this interactive thought experiment!