That's my philosophy when working on interactive, photography and video projects.
Today's technological opportunities allow for true creative thinking.
Back in the days we were trained in and working for print, TV or radio. Medium based. But today, we have the opportunity for lateral thinking when it comes to media. Why choose a channel up-front, when your idea turns out to be told more powerful otherwise? Online is tools galore. Define your key message and choose the medium that fits your story best.
That is true mean-free-thinking.
And that's where I come in.
But who are you?
Are you a
editor-in-chief
PR guru
online strategist
journalist
social media editor
marketeer
working in
news
online media
non-profit
creative industries
culture
wanting to
create mind-blowing productions
improve your visual communications
change your perspective on publishing
add interactivity to your web platform
break fixed patterns
have a coffee
news
online media
non-profit
creative industries
culture
create mind-blowing productions
improve your visual communications
change your perspective on publishing
add interactivity to your web platform
break fixed patterns
have a coffee
How I can help you
or: what I'm good at

Interactive
Story first, medium later. That's my philosophy when working on web-based stories. Resulting in a multimedia longscroll, an interactive photo series, a series of video portraits and many more.
Go to interactive projects
Videography
When pictures are put in motion, things get even more impactful. Its ability to hit the heart as well as the head is what I love about video. Frame by frame video takes you on a journey through storyland.
Go to video projects

Photography
The ability of humans to deal with, build upon, take advantage of or simply enjoy the world they live in, is what intrigues me. It is what I love to capture.
Go to photography projects
Other
With a background in advertising, non-profit and media I have learned the tricks of many trades. Let me think along with you on new publishing concepts, journalistic innovations or business ideas. I can write or edit your copy. And design your corporate style.
Go to other projects
Do you have a story to tell? Here's mine
With a background in advertising, non-profit and media I have learned tricks of many trades. Fifteen years ago I started as a copywriter in advertising. Great job: concepting for campaigns, writing for the limited millimetres of newspaper ads, first 30 second commercial on TV. Winning a prestigious advertising award. Wow.
/ Mixing up skills
But my curiosity lured me out of my comfort zone. I did a master in Cultural Sociology which opened up horizons. It allowed me to mix up creative and academic skills. A giant leap forward, from a personal perspective.
It was time to use my talents for a higher goal. The international NGO War Child offered me a playground to put this blend of interests, ideas and capacities into practice. Main objective: to make more compelling, visually enriched productions.
/ About being italic
Same challenge, broader scope. As a multimedia producer at RNW I created engaging online journalistic productions. "You are italic", they told me. And that's why they hired me.
I was able to utilize my passion for photography and visual storytelling when developing interactive photo stories, multimedia concepts, a visually strong corporate website and a training project nurturing young photographic talent.
/ Unconventional ideas
I like being italic. Not to fit in perfectly. To break fixed patterns. To challenge clients to choose the best medium for the message. Unconventional ideas have shaped my career. Let's create some more.
/ Mixing up skills
But my curiosity lured me out of my comfort zone. I did a master in Cultural Sociology which opened up horizons. It allowed me to mix up creative and academic skills. A giant leap forward, from a personal perspective.
It was time to use my talents for a higher goal. The international NGO War Child offered me a playground to put this blend of interests, ideas and capacities into practice. Main objective: to make more compelling, visually enriched productions.
/ About being italic
Same challenge, broader scope. As a multimedia producer at RNW I created engaging online journalistic productions. "You are italic", they told me. And that's why they hired me.
I was able to utilize my passion for photography and visual storytelling when developing interactive photo stories, multimedia concepts, a visually strong corporate website and a training project nurturing young photographic talent.
/ Unconventional ideas
I like being italic. Not to fit in perfectly. To break fixed patterns. To challenge clients to choose the best medium for the message. Unconventional ideas have shaped my career. Let's create some more.
Awards and recommendations



Vooral met zijn grote creativiteit en inzicht in online communicatie heeft hij velen overtuigd van het belang van het werk van War Child."

"Michiel Bles is een ragscherpe copywriter. Scherpe blik. Scherpe pen. Tevens op het gebied van concept development en multimedia. Een multitalent!"

"Michiel heeft bij RNW een substantiële bijdrage geleverd aan de ontwikkeling van de online portfolio. Binnen het team was hij ondermeer verantwoordelijk voor het conceptualiseren van de nieuwe website RNW.org. Zijn ervaring bij War Child kwam van pas bij de kanteling binnen RNW naar meer doelgroepgerichte communicatie en online interactie.
Zijn passie voor de fotografie leidde bovendien tot een samenwerking met NOOR (...) Ik heb Michiel leren kennen als een zeer betrouwbare, kwaliteitsbewuste collega, met wie het prettig samenwerken was."

International projects I have been involved with
Skills
- I switch fluently between:
- • Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, Illustrator and Dreamweaver
- • Final Cut Pro X and After Effects
- • WordPress, Prestashop, Creatavist, ThingLink, Storify, StorymapJS, Tableau, CSS, and some Javascript
- • Writing for the web, NVJ Academy (Dutch Association of Journalists), March 2015
- • RNW NOOR Academy, workshop image editing and visual literacy by NOOR images, September 2014
- • Multimedia en data visualisation conference 'Tell your story on the internet', Belgium, May 2014
- • Masterclass Storytelling; formats, models of learning, persuasion and creativity by Turan Ali (RNTC), March 2014
- • Advanced English writing skills at Fairfield college, March 2014
- • Advanced photography course, Photography Academy, Amsterdam, November 2013 - Januari 2014
- • Center for Safety and Development, safety and security course on field safety, emergency first response and dealing with aggression, Apeldoorn, May 2008
I work as a part-time lecturer online photo and video journalism
at the Fontys University of Applied Science.
Fontys is one of four journalism academies in
The Netherlands. I teach students in
web-based photo and video journalism.