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Sem Presser (1917-1986) was a photojournalist from Amsterdam. Here is a thread of some of my favourite Presser pics. 
Beginning with a self-portrait from 1950.
Beginning with a self-portrait from 1950.
Today we seem to be tweeting pictures of cows. Here's a cute shot by Sem Presser, from 1950. Genre pictures like this seem to be second nature to the Dutch. 
A thread of pictures by a photographer who's new to me: Sem Presser.
A thread of pictures by a photographer who's new to me: Sem Presser.
Surrender of the 25th German Army in Hotel de Wereld, Wageningen, 5 May 1945. As a photojournalist Sem Presser documented the war in Holland, France & Germany.
Canadian troops liberated much of Western Holland.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-and-the-second-world-war/westholl
Canadian troops liberated much of Western Holland.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-and-the-second-world-war/westholl
Sem Presser
Street Scene in Algiers, 1959
See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
Jo Stafford or Patsy Cline? Let's go with Jo this morning:
Street Scene in Algiers, 1959
See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
Jo Stafford or Patsy Cline? Let's go with Jo this morning:
Sem Presser
Crashed KLM airplane 'Wagtail' (Fokker F.XXII PH-AJQ)
Schiphol Airport, 14 June 1935
Here's a very early photograph, possibly before Presser was officially working for a news agency. He was only 18.
Crashed KLM airplane 'Wagtail' (Fokker F.XXII PH-AJQ)
Schiphol Airport, 14 June 1935
Here's a very early photograph, possibly before Presser was officially working for a news agency. He was only 18.
A later shot, from 1978, by Sem Presser, who began using colour in the 1950s. The sign says "leave entrance free".
Sem Presser
A nun photographs girls in bikinis
Dead Sea, Israel, 1971
A nun photographs girls in bikinis
Dead Sea, Israel, 1971
This thread of photographs by the Dutch photojournalist Sem Presser is brought to you by Dixan Soap Powder: "Endlich alles in einem Paket" ("Finally everything in one package").
This shot from Zurich is one of my favourites. What an eye!
This shot from Zurich is one of my favourites. What an eye!
Back to Sem Presser's war photos:
Captain Killick with British troops in the Battle of Arnhem, September 1944
Captain Killick with British troops in the Battle of Arnhem, September 1944
Sem Presser
Fleeing civilians with household effects & white flag during the Battle of Arnhem
Bronbeeklaan, September 1944
Fleeing civilians with household effects & white flag during the Battle of Arnhem
Bronbeeklaan, September 1944
Sem Presser
Street scene with Memhardstrasse tram stop
Russian Sector Berlin, 1948
Street scene with Memhardstrasse tram stop
Russian Sector Berlin, 1948
Sem Presser
Sleeping evangelist on bench, Australia
Sleeping evangelist on bench, Australia
Horse carriage with hay, Spain, June 1959
Amazing effects of sun & shade from Sem Presser. I'm adding to a thread of the Dutch photographer's work.
Amazing effects of sun & shade from Sem Presser. I'm adding to a thread of the Dutch photographer's work.
A prison interior in Antwerp; an undated photograph by Sam Presser.
Presser was younger than both Henri Cartier-Bresson & Robert Doisneau. I would say that he was closer to Doisneau generally, but there's a real HCB vibe about this shot.
Presser was younger than both Henri Cartier-Bresson & Robert Doisneau. I would say that he was closer to Doisneau generally, but there's a real HCB vibe about this shot.
Sem Presser
Self-portrait with crocodile, Australia, 1962
Now he's in Philippe Halsman mode :)
Self-portrait with crocodile, Australia, 1962
Now he's in Philippe Halsman mode :)
In 1951 Sam Presser settled with his wife Joke in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, in southern France. This shot of a dog at a villa in Cannes is from the same year. It made me think of Henri Cartier-Bresson's famous 1932 shot: Place de l'Europe, Saint Lazare station.
In Paris they walk like this...
Sem Presser
Champs Elysées, 1950
Sem Presser
Champs Elysées, 1950
Sem Presser
Girl jumping off a dune
The Netherlands, 1944
Once again Presser is very much aware of the shadows.
Girl jumping off a dune
The Netherlands, 1944
Once again Presser is very much aware of the shadows.
Sem Presser
Manufacture of artificial eyes
The Netherlands, 1949
Accidental surrealism
Manufacture of artificial eyes
The Netherlands, 1949
Accidental surrealism
Sem Presser
Children in the street
Amsterdam, 1950
Another of my favourites, in this thread of photographs by the Dutch photojournalist.
Children in the street
Amsterdam, 1950
Another of my favourites, in this thread of photographs by the Dutch photojournalist.
Le Corbusier by Sam Presser
Marseille, 1951
I'm seeing some of these photographs for the first time. This one blew me away! A great example of aspirational portraiture.
Marseille, 1951
I'm seeing some of these photographs for the first time. This one blew me away! A great example of aspirational portraiture.
Sam Presser
Eddie Constantine & Brigitte Bardot pose for photographers
Cannes Film Festival, 1955
I should mention that these photographs are from the database of the Maria Austria Institute. More than 3,700 prints by Sam Presser!
https://www.maibeeldbank.nl/
Eddie Constantine & Brigitte Bardot pose for photographers
Cannes Film Festival, 1955
I should mention that these photographs are from the database of the Maria Austria Institute. More than 3,700 prints by Sam Presser!
https://www.maibeeldbank.nl/
Self-portrait of Sem Presser, 1930s
Sem Presser
Self-portrait with traffic cop
Rokin Amsterdam, 1930s
Self-portrait with traffic cop
Rokin Amsterdam, 1930s
No, these aren't henchmen of Ernst Stavro Blofeld lined up in their white Porsche convertibles. This is Sam Presser's shot of the Dutch National Police Corps in their fancy rides.
Sem Presser
Paris, 1950
The master of the shadow...
Paris, 1950
The master of the shadow...
And Sem Presser was the master of the shadow in colour as well. This is an undated photo from Florence (late 1950s?)
Veenhuizen prison, 1960
A wonderful photograph by Sem Presser
A wonderful photograph by Sem Presser
Sem Presser
'Work in progress' Tabua area, Portugal, 1967
If this were in Holland or France, I'd suspect a set-up. But Presser was on assignment, or holiday, in Portugal, so he might have just come across it.
'Work in progress' Tabua area, Portugal, 1967
If this were in Holland or France, I'd suspect a set-up. But Presser was on assignment, or holiday, in Portugal, so he might have just come across it.
