PRESS
ENQUIRIES

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 23 April 2019 – Nikon Europe B.V. welcomes award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer Marsel van Oosten and fashion photographer Marie Bärsch as new Nikon European Ambassadors. As experts in their field, Marie and Marsel join some of the most talented and influential Nikon photographers working in Europe, admired for their passion, energy and commitment to visual art.

Marsel van Oosten

After graduating from the Academy of Arts in Art Direction, Dutch-born Marsel started his career in advertising, with an acclaimed TV commercial for a Dutch nature conservation organisation solidifying a love for the natural world and a concern for the environment.

Marsel’s photography started as a means of escaping fast-paced advertising-life. It was during a trip to Tanzania and close encounters with the animals of the Serengeti that a particular passion for wildlife photography became apparent. Five years later, Marsel left advertising to become a full-time photographer, and hasn’t looked back.

Marsel comments, “My images are a personal, artistic interpretation of the natural world. While we enjoy the planet, it’s important to remember that it is fragile. I hope that my images will make people appreciate the natural wonders of our world and create more awareness for the importance of conserving it, both for ourselves, and for future generations.”

Marsel’s unique approach to composition, lighting, colour and perspective has seen the photographer decorated with many prominent titles, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, and International Nature Photographer of the Year.

Kit-wise, Marsel relies on the robust nature of Nikon’s D5 for the majority of his wildlife work, incorporating the D850 and the new mirrorless Z 7 for more landscape-focused shots.

Marsel concludes, “Being made a Nikon European Ambassador is a real honour. Its cameras, lenses and ever-evolving technology has enabled me to capture so many special images over the years. For example, I’ve loved putting the new Z 7 to the test recently - the image quality is better than I could have hoped for, with its lightweight body meaning it can join me on my future travels without weighing me down.”

All images are © of Marsel van Oosten 

Marie Bärsch

Based in Leipzig, Marie’s photography celebrates beauty by setting people against atmospheric and exotic surroundings in order to create stunning portraits and editorials. Turning professional in 2013, Marie has spent the last five years travelling across the globe, working for the likes of VOGUE, Women’s Health, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar to capture powerful and expressive beauty and fashion imagery.

Marie says: “My vision is to capture beauty through aesthetics, using people, surroundings and, most importantly, light to deliver something different. To be among some of Europe’s most exciting storytellers and artists is a true privilege.” 

Supporting Marie’s need to work flexibly and quickly, Nikon’s cameras and lenses have formed an important part of her journey into international, high-fashion photography. Her kitbag includes Nikon D850, renowned for its speed, light sensitivity and image quality, alongside the new mirrorless Z 6 and Z 7, with the wide Z-mount bringing new levels of light quality to her editorial images. Her go-to lenses are the AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED, AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G and AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G, recently joined by the S-Line NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S.

“Nikon’s equipment has been with me every step of the way, and now with the introduction of the Z 6 and Z 7, I know that whatever the location set-up, I’ll be able to achieve the right perspective and quality with just a few pieces of equipment.”  

All images are © of Marie Bärsch 

Yvonne Schaefers, Sponsorship, Events & B2B Marcom Manager, Nikon Europe B.V., concludes: “Marsel and Marie, although very different photographers, are connected through their devotion to photography and ambition to create something truly unique. We look forward to continuing these special partnerships through the Nikon Europe Ambassador Programme.”

The Nikon Europe Ambassador Program

The Nikon Europe Ambassador Program consists of talented and influential visual artists, who use the industry's latest technologies and an awareness of social trends to represent the current age.