Talking with Marcel Borgstijn
Good morning beautiful people! And happy Tuesday! I do hope you are having an amazing summer and you’re relaxing, maybe reading my articles on a beach with a fresh beer in hand 😉.
Today’s appointment is with a new episode of Inside the Photo. My guest this month is Marcel Borgstijn.
My journey into photography began alongside my professional life, working for an e-commerce company, but it evolved into something much more personal and meaningful. What started as a creative outlet has become a powerful medium for storytelling and connection.
I publish a weekly newsletter featuring interviews, photo projects, and essays that dive deep into the stories behind the images, kind of what you’re doing with this interview series. Additionally, I produce a quarterly photography magazine showcasing portfolios that challenge conventional narratives and celebrate diverse voices in photography.
My approach is both methodical and intuitive, much like the subjects I’m drawn to photograph. I believe in the power of visual storytelling to bridge understanding between different ways of seeing and experiencing the world.
Marcel is an incredible artist. Talented photographer, engaging writer and, not less important, the author of a beautiful magazine, Darkroom Magazine in which I’m honored to have been featured with my work. His black and white images always give me a sense of melancholy and stillness and they make me feel sort of calm and relaxed.
© Marcel Borgstijn
This image represents a pivotal moment in my photographic journey. The spark that ignited a project exploring autism and neurodiversity.
What you see here isn’t just a self-portrait; it’s a visual metaphor for the autistic experience. The geometric grid creates a structured framework, those “boxes” that often define how society organizes the world. Yet within this rigid structure, there’s a figure looking outward with perfect clarity.
The black and white reflects the way many autistic individuals describe their thinking; clear, direct, without confusing gray areas. The stark contrast mirrors the clarity that can exist in autistic perception, where things are often beautifully straightforward rather than muddled by social complexity.
The positioning suggests that what might appear limiting to others can actually provide structure and clarity for autistic individuals. The straight lines and geometric precision speak to the appreciation for order and pattern that characterizes much autistic thinking.
This photograph became the foundation for examining neurodiversity—not as something to be “fixed,” but as a different and valuable way of experiencing our world. It’s about seeing autism not as a barrier, but as a unique lens through which extraordinary clarity and insight can emerge.
This is a powerful image. The strong contrast with deep blacks and nearly clipped highlights is perfect to convey the message and the strength of the whole project. This is a great example of storytelling, of how an image can serve to describe something way deeper than just a beautiful picture.
I recommend you follow Marcel on his website and you subscribe to his newsletter, always packed with great content.
Thanks a lot, Marcel, for sharing this image and what’s behind it!
Take care and talk soon!