EXCLUSIVE Difference 10 years makes: Filmmaker shoots people at 50 and a decade later... the results are astounding

Daily Mail​

17-05-2025

A lot can happen in a decade — especially when it comes to your face.
Dutch photographer and filmmaker Jeroen Wolf has shown the drastic effects of 10-years of aging on people's faces in a short film.
He took headshots of 50 of his school friends — once on their 50th birthdays and again a decade later, with stunning results.
Mr Wolf told the Daily Mail that the comparisons were 'definitely confronting' for some of his subjects, and in a small preview he held for the film, some people refused to look when their faces appeared.
Some participants have aged better than others, with milder wrinkles over time.
Along with facial lines, another noticeable difference as the subjects speak is their teeth in the two shots.
Some people have more visible stains at the age of 60.
In their shots capturing them at 60, some of the participants have less hair or their hair has thinned out, which is again, another common sign of aging.
Along with altered appearances, the participants' voices appear lower when they say their ages at 60.
Experts at UT Southwestern explain that age-related voice changes develop as muscle and other tissues in the larynx and vocal cords shrink, thin, and stiffen.
Symptoms of an aging voice can cause a lower pitch in women but they say mens' voices often sound higher.
Meanwhile, other signs include a loss of projection and resonance, reduced volume and a weak or shaky voice.
Mr Wolf explains that he was inspired to start the project after turning 50 himself in 2013 and he went about contacting his old classmates from elementary school.
Originally he was just going to do 50 photos of 50 year olds but then a decade on, he decided to revisit the project and that's where the idea came about to do side-by-side comparisons.
Commenting on the results of his project, Mr Wolf told this website: 'Some people look incredible and some people even look younger.
'Obviously, for some people life has been tougher and if they've been drinking or smoking a lot, it can show.'
Since the start of the project two of the participants passed away and Mr Wolf dedicated it to their memory.
In a short film, each participant in his project can be seen with their two faces at different ages spliced side by side. They then are seen telling the cameraman their ages, both when their are 50 and again at 60
Mr Wolf told the Daily Mail that the comparisons were 'definitely confronting' for some of his subjects. In a small preview he held for the film, some people refused to look when their faces appeared
Commenting on the results, Mr Wolf told this website: 'Some people look incredible and some people even look younger. Obviously for some people life has been tougher and if they've been drinking or smoking a lot, it can show'
He says of the initiative: 'This short film is a portrait of my generation, about the merciless passing of time and for me personally, a rekindling of emotions, friendships, loves. And a way to stay in touch with old friends and acquaintances.
'The viewer may see a bunch of middle-aged faces but I am unable to look at us other than the kids we are - and once were.'
To date, Mr Wolf's video has been watched more than 600,000 times, with many viewers reflecting on their own experiences with aging.
One viewer wrote: 'I'm 53 now and while I love these years, I must say it is a difficult decade.
'Many of us start realizing that we have more years behind us than ahead of us, and often we're saying goodbye to our parents during these years.
'Life becomes more meaningful, beautiful and terrifying! What is clear in these pictures though is that our personalities tend to stay true and we try to find joy and laughter where ever we can.'
Another commenter mused: 'I know that I look profoundly older from 50 to 60, and I saw most of it as due to a rapid aging post-menopause (from hormonal changes), from age 56-60.
'I prepared myself, but was still shocked by it. Even my voice changed. This video was beautiful, and affirming.'
Many viewers also applauded Mr Wolf's concept, with one writing: 'Shockingly refreshing seeing beautiful normal aging people, where their personality shines.
Some participants have aged better than others, with milder wrinkles over time. Along with facial lines, another noticeable difference as the subjects speak is their teeth in the two shots
To date, Mr Wolf's video has been watched more than 600,000 times, with many viewers musing about their own experiences with aging. One viewer mused: 'Shockingly refreshing seeing beautiful normal aging people, where their personality shines'
'Very contrasting in a culture of plastic, made up, wrinkle free and fake illusions. Refreshing indeed. Thank you.'
Mr Wolf told this website that he has been overwhelmed by the response to his video '50 turned 60'.
He concludes: 'I really didn't expect it to get as much attention and I have noticed that there's so much response from all over the world. Aging is universal.
'Lots of people deal with aging in different ways and turning 50 and turning 60 you're really getting into the harder parts of life.
'You really have to say goodbye to youth and people like to talk about it. It can get emotional.'