About
Aeterneum
Photographer & Filmmaker — The Netherlands
Aeterneum is the work of Justin Polanen — the name means "eternal." The idea is simple: a photo or a film is one of the only ways to actually hold on to a moment.
I picked up a camera to help promote a family business, and it turned into something bigger than that. I'm self-taught — everything I know came from doing it, not studying it.
Sport is where I keep coming back to. I grew up watching it, especially kickboxing, and shooting it lets me put that into something instead of just watching from the sideline.
Every project starts with a call sheet. I plan it out with the client beforehand so nobody's guessing what the day looks like, and I work with what someone can actually afford rather than pricing them out. I also act, so I understand framing and performance from both sides of the camera.
Based in The Netherlands. Shooting professionally for about two years now.
Sport, first
Competition, training and everything around it. It's where most of my work still comes from, and where I'm sharpest.
Broader than sport
Businesses, brands, events and personal projects — the same eye for a real moment, applied outside a stadium.
People, always
Every shoot involves a conversation first. Understanding what someone actually needs matters as much as the camera.
Have a project in mind?
Tell me what you need — sport, brand, event or a story worth documenting. I'll get back to you within a few days.