We are all made up of contrasts.

Our feminine and our masculine; the Ying & Yang; our light & our darkness. This is our journey of creating a photo documentary portraying humans with albinism & vitiligo. To raise awareness and unify all beings.

Because our differences make us the same.

P

To be the first to know about new developments about this project, please subscribe to our mailing list:

    Or, if you can help us reach a wider audience, need more information or just want to give us a digital *high five*

    Get in touch
    How it started

    DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY

    Even nowadays it is unbelievable how difficult it is to find real diversity when working with modeling agencies. Although things have slowly started to change for the better, we are definitely not there yet.

    We set out to find the most extraordinary faces of the world to change industry norms and stereotypes.

    What back in March 2018 started with an initial intention to show the beauty of our differences, evolved over time into wanting to tackle a worldwide social problem.

    Through talking with our models we learned about the hardships they needed to go through just because of the color of their skin. These stories were shocking to us.

    The more we heard, the more we wanted to shine a light on this issue.

    B

    This project brought us from South Africa, Zanzibar and the United States to Brazil and showed us how Albinism and Vitiligo are treated around the world.

    Unfortunately, a different physical appearance still leads to discrimination and injustice in many places worldwide.

    This stigma comes from people being uneducated about these skin conditions. Albinism and vitiligo are widely misunderstood as a contagious disease. Which can lead to isolation and thereby social, psychological, and professional damage.

    “There are myths that people with albinism do not die, they disappear, and if one has sexual intercourse with a person with albinism, their HIV status is cured. Or that when you drink the blood of a person with albinism, you will have supernatural powers. ”  – Mazibuko.

    Even to this day, some witchcraft doctors in Africa spread the false belief that Albino human body parts can bring wealth and good luck, which results in violent attacks and murders.

    T
    Authenticity vitiligo albinism
    Coiffure Awards Dames 2020
    new insights

    LEARNING CURVE

    We were impressed by how, despite difficulties, each and every portrayed individual has tapped into their authentic beauty. By not only fully accepting who they are but also raising their voices, they became true inspirations of confidence.

    Coming from mostly white privileged backgrounds ourselves, we are navigating a world unknown to us. Learning step-by-step as we go.

    It was interesting to see how our project got picked up and shared immensely by the Black Lives Matter movement. We feel grateful to have been able to contribute in this way. And thankful for the new knowledge about this topic it has brought us.

    But we also realized that just creating
    pretty pictures is not enough.

    We want to do more.

    B
    The next step

    A FUNDRAISER

    We can truly say that we became richer and wiser persons in our hearts by dedicating our time and efforts to this project. Besides, we feel honored to have been able to give our ‘work of contrast’ models the stage they deserve.

    And even though we needed to reach deep into our own pockets to be able to fly across the world to make these photo shoots happen, we feel grateful to be in a position to do so.

    So now, it is time to give back.

    Through the use of crowdsourcing, we now want to raise donations for a good cause related to Albinism and Vitiligo. Some of these photos will soon be for sale to contribute to the charity of our choice.

    We are currently looking into where these funds would end up making the most impact.

    KEEP ME UPDATED
    w
    About

    The team

    Before starting ‘The work of contrast’, each of us had already been using our creative gift as a tool to create awareness and change for a better world.

    So when we met, the three of us soon found out to be creative soulmates that complement each other on a personal level as well as workwise.

    Our friendship led to a mission to join forces to capture authentic appearances.

    Work of contrast - Michelle van Dijk

    MICHELLE VAN DIJK

    International photographer born in the Netherlands, but raised in South Africa.

    Her background combined with traveling the world, learning from different cultures, visiting indigenous people, and seeing the reality of racial injustice, basic needs for survival in third & first world countries, and female racism injustice – led her on a mission to create impact through the art of photography.

    Work of contrast_Juliette den Ouden

    JULIËTTE DEN OUDEN

    International hair & make-up artist and founder of JDO-Group.

    Committed herself to teach and help others by starting an Academy and supporting the unemployed with training and education. As an ambassador for ‘Hairdressers Without Borders’ she travels to third-world countries to empower victims of abuse or extreme poverty to become self-sufficient by teaching them her craft. 

    Work of contrast Zilla van den Born

    ZILLA VAN DEN BORN

    Digital artist and retoucher
    fascinated by fake realities.

    The power of Photoshop made her realize how filtered and edited photos can change our perception of the world or even damage one’s self-esteem.⁠ As a social experiment, she created a 5-week holiday to create awareness about the risks of editing software, which went viral all over the world.

    The work of contrast

    An overview of the individual parts of this project

    Over the past 3 years we have done 8 shoots that each contributed with their own unique visuals and story to the unifying ‘Work of contrast’ project:

    Team credits

    Photography Michelle van Dijk
    Make-up & hair Juliëtte den Ouden
    Retouch by Zilla

    Our beautiful models Lara Bawar, Mara Bawar, Sheila Bawar @lara_mara_sheila
    Sanele Xaba (Boss Models South Africa) @sanele_xaba
    Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu (IMG Models) @daberechi
    Nontobeko Mbuyazi (Models International South Africa) @madam_ntobe
    Tilila Oulhaj (Models 1) @808tilly
    Yvesmark Chery @yvesmark.chery
    Kokie Childers @kokeadile
    Moostapha Saidi @moostapha_s
    Gideon Allen @gideon__allen
    Fiifi Sarpong (Boss Models South Africa) @iifiannan_

    The stylists we’ve partnered with Kristi Vlok @kristivlok
    Patricia Cedeño @patriciacedenoo
    Ky Bxshxff @kybxshxff
    Jody Scott

    Big thanks to Evert van de Braak

    Work of contrast

    Capturingauthenticbeauty.

     B

    We are all made up of contrasts.

    Our feminine and our masculine; the Ying & Yang; our light & our darkness. This is our journey of creating a photo documentary portraying humans with albinism & vitiligo. To raise awareness and unify all beings.

    Because our differences make us the same.

    P

    To be the first to know about new developments about this project,
    please subscribe to our mailing list:

      How it started

      DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY

      Even nowadays it is unbelievable how difficult it is to find real diversity when working with modeling agencies. Although things have slowly started to change for the better, we are definitely not there yet.

      We set out to find the most extraordinary faces of the world to change industry norms and stereotypes.

      What back in March 2018 started with an initial intention to show the beauty of our differences, evolved over time into wanting to tackle a worldwide social problem.

      Through talking with our models we learned about the hardships they needed to go through just because of the color of their skin. These stories were shocking to us.

      The more we heard, the more we wanted to shine a light on this issue.

      B
      Authenticity vitiligo albinism

      This project brought us from South Africa, Zanzibar and the United States to Brazil and showed us how Albinism and Vitiligo are treated around the world.

      Unfortunately, a different physical appearance still leads to discrimination and injustice in many places worldwide.

      This stigma comes from people being uneducated about these skin conditions. Albinism and vitiligo are widely misunderstood as a contagious disease. Which can lead to isolation and thereby social, psychological, and professional damage.

      “There are myths that people with albinism do not die, they disappear, and if one has sexual intercourse with a person with albinism, their HIV status is cured. Or that when you drink the blood of a person with albinism, you will have supernatural powers. ”  – Mazibuko.

      Even to this day, some witchcraft doctors in Africa spread the false belief that Albino human body parts can bring wealth and good luck, which results in violent attacks and murders.

      T
      new insights

      LEARNING CURVE

      We were impressed by how, despite difficulties, each and every portrayed individual has tapped into their authentic beauty. By not only fully accepting who they are but also raising their voices, they became true inspirations of confidence.

      Coming from mostly white privileged backgrounds ourselves, we are navigating a world unknown to us. Learning step-by-step as we go.

      It was interesting to see how our project got picked up and shared immensely by the Black Lives Matter movement. We feel grateful to have been able to contribute in this way. And thankful for the new knowledge about this topic it has brought us.

      But we also realized that just creating
      pretty pictures is not enough.

      We want to do more.

      B
      Coiffure Awards Dames 2020
      The next step

      A FUNDRAISER

      We can truly say that we became richer and wiser persons in our hearts by dedicating our time and efforts to this project. Besides, we feel honored to have been able to give our ‘work of contrast’ models the stage they deserve.

      And even though we needed to reach deep into our own pockets to be able to fly across the world to make these photo shoots happen, we feel grateful to be in a position to do so.

      So now, it is time to give back.

      Through the use of crowdsourcing, we now want to raise donations for a good cause related to Albinism and Vitiligo. Some of these photos will soon be for sale to contribute to the charity of our choice.

      We are currently looking into where these funds would end up making the most impact.

      KEEP ME UPDATED
      w
      About

      The team

      Before starting ‘The work of contrast’, each of us had already been using our creative gift as a tool to create awareness and change for a better world.

      So when we met, the three of us soon found out to be creative soulmates that complement each other on a personal level as well as workwise.

      Our friendship led to a mission to join forces to capture authentic appearances.

      Work of contrast - Michelle van Dijk

      MICHELLE VAN DIJK

      International photographer born in the Netherlands, but raised in South Africa.

      Her background combined with traveling the world, learning from different cultures, visiting indigenous people, and seeing the reality of racial injustice, basic needs for survival in third & first world countries, and female racism injustice – led her on a mission to create impact through the art of photography.

      Work of contrast_Juliette den Ouden

      JULIËTTE DEN OUDEN

      International hair & make-up artist and founder of JDO-Group.

      Committed herself to teach and help others by starting an Academy and supporting the unemployed with training and education. As an ambassador for ‘Hairdressers Without Borders’ she travels to third-world countries to empower victims of abuse or extreme poverty to become self-sufficient by teaching them her craft.

      Work of contrast Zilla van den Born

      ZILLA VAN DEN BORN

      Digital artist and retoucher
      fascinated by fake realities.

      The power of Photoshop made her realize how filtered and edited photos can change our perception of the world or even damage one’s self-esteem.⁠ As a social experiment, she created a 5-week holiday to create awareness about the risks of editing software, which went viral all over the world.

      The work of contrast

      An overview of the individual parts of this project.

      Over the past 3 years we have done 8 shoots that each contributed with their own unique visuals and story to the unifying ‘Work of contrast’ project:

      Team credits

      Photography
      Michelle van Dijk
      Make-up & hair
      Juliëtte den Ouden
      Retouch
      by Zilla

      Our beautiful models Lara Bawar, Mara Bawar, Sheila Bawar @lara_mara_sheila
      Sanele Xaba (Boss Models South Africa) @sanele_xaba
      Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu (IMG Models) @daberechi
      Nontobeko Mbuyazi (Models International South Africa) @madam_ntobe
      Tilila Oulhaj (Models 1) @808tilly
      Yvesmark Chery @yvesmark.chery
      Kokie Childers @kokeadile
      Moostapha Saidi @moostapha_s
      Gideon Allen @gideon__allen
      Fiifi Sarpong (Boss Models South Africa) @iifiannan_

      Stylists
      Kristi Vlok @kristivlok
      Patricia Cedeño @patriciacedenoo
      Ky Bxshxff @kybxshxff
      Jody Scott

      Big thanks to
      Evert van de Braak

      If you can help us reach a wider audience, need more information or just want to give us a digital *high five*

      Get in touch