Paul van der Stap enjoys a passionate career as a documentary photographer and filmmaker since more than 25 years and made numerous documentary photobooks, exhibitions and films. His work has been published in various magazines, among which ei8ht photojournalism and Third Text and the Dutch daily de Volkskrant. Paul’s photographs are also included in museum collections in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Paul focuses on the visual space of everyday life in communities. How people live their lives is a story in depth and breadth about the loves, frictions and cracks of humanity. In Paul’s work the humanist spirit lives on, expressing values such as empathy, solidarity, humour, and mutual respect.
'You have to focus on what you are doing, not just as a photographer, but as a human being', says Anders Petersen. Paul could not agree more.
In his current and long term project This Bittersweet Life he portrays the intriguing communities of Transnistria, the poorest corner in Europe.
