Carol L. 't Mannetje Olerud FRPS
Carol L. 't Mannetje Olerud FRPS is an active photographer both locally, nationally and internationally. Born in Brisbane, Australia, she moved to The Netherlands in 1985. She is a member of The Royal Photographic Society, she gained her Associate Distinction in 2018. She is now a Fellow of the RPS, she gained her distinction on 27th October 2021. Carol gave a talk with the RPS on her photographic journey and the lead up to her Fellowship. (link below)
During the RPS AGM 2024, Carol received the Fenton Medal Award, in recognition of a notable contribution to the work of the society. Up to four Fenton Medals are awarded every year, for those individuals who have made an excellent or outstanding contribution to the work of the Society.
Carol is also a member of the Royal Dutch Fotobond, where she participates in many groups and clubs. She is the co-ordinator of the National Group Documentary Photography since 2018, Chair of the Regional Photographers Collective Visie+ since its start in 2006. Chairperson of her local group De Verbeelding. Carol is also a member of a local group called LeveL5. Carol was a member of Fotoclub Fotogein for 20 years in Nieuwegein.
She has been part of the group called Master 2 Master from 2016 with Rosa Verhoeve and a few more mentors until end 2021 when they held the exposition 'Next Level Photography' in Monopole in Schiedam.
Since 2020 Carol is the Organiser of the RPS Benelux Chapter.
As a member of the RPS, Carol is also member of several SIGs (Special Interest Groups): Contemporary; Documentary and Women in Photography and the Digital Imaging group. She participates in many activities within these SIGs.
She enjoys entering competitions, taking part in expositions, following mentorships and workshops, talking about photography, making books, going on photo trips with like minded people. Carol also enjoys organising events and hosting Zoom sessions for the RPS.
Carol is joint organiser of the unofficial fellowship peer support group, 'P2P' with the RPS, helping photographers on their journey towards a Fellowship Distinction. This group meets via Zoom every month. The group started in July 2020.
Carol also actively photographs, street photography, documentary and people, working on projects and series. For a very long time, Carol has been taking photos for the local Theatre, DE KOM. Every year she is asked to come in and photograph performances. She enjoys museum visits, travel and family life. Carol also gives talks to photo clubs.
Carol has been awarded Candidate BMK (Kand.BMK) BondsMeesterKlasse of the Royal Fotobond and is a member of the BMK group from 2020 until 2025. You can see her blog and photos elsewhere on this site to gain an understanding of what this is. Carol has held the Candidate BMK Title five times.
Carol has been taking photos for a very long time and has gained a good general knowledge of all it's aspects and genres enabling her to be a jury member to judge in photo competitions, both nationally and internationally.
Photo clubs have yearly themes for their members, Carol has judged some of these, as well as end of year portfolios. With the great variety of work often shown, it's always interesting to meet the photographer behind the image.
In 2020, she was a jury member for an international photo competition - The 12th Holland International Image Circuit 2020.
Carol was a jury member in 2021, on behalf of the RPS Benelux Chapter, for The International Photo Festival in Pelt, Belgium, called 'Lens op de Mens'.
In 2022, Carol was one of three jury members for the Royal Dutch Fotobond yearly photo club competition, Bondsfotowedstrijd (BFW). 120 photo clubs in The Netherlands participated with their 10 best photos, there were 1,200 photos to be judged. All were printed and laid out on tables. The results were presented a few weeks later. See their site:
Also in 2022, the Royal Fotobond celebrated 100 years with, amongst other things, a regional and then national photo competition. Carol was jury member for the Amsterdam Region. The winning photos in the categories then went on to the national competition. She was nominated with a photo in her own region, in the landscape category!
Carol, in 2023, was a jury member for the International Photo Festival in Pelt - 'Lens op de Mens' with a total of 1,279 photos being judged. See Blog about Pelt elsewhere on this site.
Carol presented her street photography tips & tricks in an online talk with 'My Photo Club' titled "Eyes on Hamburg" on 23rd March 2023.
Carol gave a 'live' presentation to the Haagse Photo Club in The Hague on 17th May 2023. Printed photos and a digital presentation were shown.
On 3rd June 2024, Carol gave a Zoom presentation on "Eyes on Hamburg" to Carshalton Camera Club in the UK.
Carol was the jury for Photo Club Flits, in Woudenburg, NL, on 9th January 2025, for their annual competition, 'Minimalistic Photography'.
On 22nd January 2025, Carol gave a Dutch presentation on Street Photography, to Dutch photo club Groei & Bloei in Breda. On 2nd April Carol will return there to discuss their photos on Street Photography which they took on 8th March with a choice of assignments given.
After the RPS Benelux Chapter AGM on 5th March 2025, Carol gave a new Street Photography Talk, with Tips & Tricks, in English via Zoom. The talk was recorded and be seen on YouTube with below link:
Carol is again a jury member for the 2025 International Photo Festival in Pelt, Belgium, 'Lens op de Mens', 1609 photos were judged. The opening is on 8th June 2025.
Carol is happily married to a Swede, together they have three grown children and also since October 2023 a granddaughter joined the family! Carol babysits one day a week which she thoroughly enjoys!!
For more information on the RPS Benelux Chapter see link below: