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Photography

About portrait photography

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This is a blog about portrait photography, without images.

Some days ago I had a wonderful assignment photographing employees at a big advertising agency. It was many persons to be photographed and I built a small studio at the agency and stayed for three whole days. People were put on a schedule. One person every quarter of an hour.

What strikes me is the importance of an image and how difficult it can be to see oneself on a photograph. I had conversations with everybody to discuss the pictures and to find the image that were true to the person. To find the image that they were comfortable with. Sometimes it was very easy, but sometimes it was also VERY difficult. When it was easy it was like, well those are fine. You choose, it is OK with me. No problem! When it was difficult it was like, NO! Delete these!!! I don´t like my nose!  Look at my double chin, can you retouch that in Photoshop? Well, I guess that is how I look. I look like my mother…

It is obvious that the person we see every day in the mirror is different from the same person in a photograph. When you leave the mirror there is no image of you any more, but the picture will stay the same whenever you look at it. At one time two girls came together to help selecting the right picture. That was a great idea! Perhaps one of them said they didn´t like the picture so much but her friend said it was a fine photograph. “You look fine, that is you”. Immediately everything was much easier and it was a simple choice. It is fine to trust a friend.

I also noted that it was more difficult for girls to see themselves then the men. But they also thought they looked fat etc. Taking time for talks they all came up pleased with at least one image. Some said ” I can live with this…”, and they made it smiling.

Being a photographer is hard when the first a person say showing up for a portrait is, ” I don´t like this”. It is just as awful as going to the dentist. !? ( What have we done to deserve theese reputations??? ) I never look good on photographs! So I explain that we will take many exposures, just to choose the best. Blinking is no problem and if you happen to make a strange face, that is no problem at all. But if you only take a few exposures at parties etc. and you blink or make a face. Well, perhaps that is what you will think.

It was great to have the conversations with everybody. Really great. This was one of the most interesting jobs that I have had in a long time because all those conversations. And everybody came up with at least one image that they liked. Personally I think many photographs showed the fine character of the many nice people and fine faces that I met. They all were made in bw. Hope to show you a selection in the future.

😊  Pelle

Photography

Human (t)race

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Shadows on the old school.

Going places is fun and my vision sharpens. I notice small details different from home. The light might be different. I recently wrote about my visit to Horten, Norway. I made some own photographs too. I wasn´t just looking at others.

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Garage wall.

What I notice is this. My own photographs often include traces from other people. Wear and tear, here and there. Sometimes decline. Like this small series for instance. All found in Horten during my short, early morning walks.

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Hmm, what was it? A door I think.

In the early morning, or in the evening, the light is most often more interesting. I set myself in the mood for photographing and I look at the world close to me more intense. But, it is really photographing that puts me in a mood. In the morning my senses are more alert.

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Once it was a door here.

I photograph what other people has left or made unknowing that it could be a nice image. I look at the world in shapes, forms, shadows, and I frame it.

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Dried leaves in a back yard.

I walk the streets, and I look into backyards. My eyes go up and down. I search for patterns, colors, shadows, shapes. Images to be registered with my camera.

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Notice board.

What messages were posted on this notice board in Åsgårdstrand? By who and why? Åsgårdstrand is the place where Edvard Munch lived. Here history becomes present.

I read on a pillow in a shop window. “Today is a gift. That is why they call it the the present”.

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Manhole cover.

Looking down I noticed also the manhole covers looked different from at home. Did Edvard step on this…?

Inspiration, Life, Personal, Photographic Art, Photography, professional photography, Recommendations, Thoughts

Preus Museum

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Last weekend I visited Norway and the Preus Museum of Photography. In 2015 they celebrate their 20th year anniversary. It is Norways National Museum of Photography, and it is situated south of Oslo. Well worth a visit if you are interested in photography.

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Leif Preus (1920-2013)

Norwegian photographer, founder of Preus Foto A/S, and collector. After years in the Navy he established himself as a photographer on Storgaten in Horten in 1956. Then in 196? with the help of the municipality of Horten he expanded to include a photo laboratory which at its height had over 200 employees and more than 40 photo shops across the entire country. Preus also founded the international portrait chain Color Art Photo. In 1976 he opened his Preus Museum of Photography which exhibited parts of what had gradually become his sizable collection of photographs, cameras, and books. Thus he became instrumental in directing attention to the history of photography in Norway. In 1992 he was named an honorary member of Norwegian Association of Professional Photographers. In 1994 the Norwegian government bought Preus Fotomuseum as the basis for the future national museum of photography. Leif Preus was the museum’s first director from 1995 through February 1998. In 2003 he was named Knight, First Class, of the Order of St. Olav for his work.

Here you will find unique cameras, like the one owned by Edward Munch the famous Norwegian painter. His house is not far away from the museum. You will also find images by the great masters and a unique library.

IMG_0390 IMG_0392In the fantastic library you will find some books not to be found anywhere else in the world. Some including original prints.

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IMG_0374If you would like to know more, and I highly recommend you to, visit their site. http://www.preusmuseum.no/eng

Every month a new photographer is presented on the «Wall of Fame» – the innermost wall in the anniversary exhibition From Vision Machines to Instagram. Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) devoted himself to photographing a dying culture, the North American Indians. His images will be displayed during the month of May. These are original prints!

IMG_0335The museum is a living museum and the premises are just beautiful in this harbour area in Horten, Norway. Go there!

Finally I am proud to tell you that I was the first Swedish photographer to exhibit in his museum. But that was years ago.

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😊  Pelle

Photography

More from BBC about photography and arts

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http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32129342

BBC is a good source for information about photography and arts.

Photography Awards reveal first mobile phone winners.

Mobile phones are useful not only for talking, sending messages or taking selfies. It is not about the most expensive camera, the longest lens etc. I like this! Good images are good images. The best camera is said to be the one that you take with you.

Alla böcker

Lykta 2

Monument 2B

No 4

My own images were made in Paris. Not with a phone.

Inspiration, Life, Personal, Photographic Art, Photography, professional photography, Thoughts

More on “What is art”.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-27661889

More interesting from BBC about photography and art. YES, photography is an art form! But like with all art, I don´t HAVE to like it. And when everything is art, nothing is….? Sometimes being a professional within a trade/media that is also used in creating art can be tricky, I must admit. Well, after all, I decide!

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Blogging101, Inspiration, Life, Personal, Photographic Art, Photography, professional photography, Thoughts

Look what I found

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I found this article about photography and images on BBC. Written by Phil Coomes, picture editor.

Many questions and not so many answers. Just like my blog. But thinking and contemplating about things is good, I think.

http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-30190961

Photography

What is this thing called art?

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So, what is this thing called art! Who decides it is worth millions, and can get away with it? Who says that art by others is more worth than yours and mine? And what IS it? As usual I have more questions than answers. Here comes a small, but interesting, language lession. In Swedish the word for art is konst. Could also be used in the context of difficulty. Art is most often expected to include some kind of difficulty or craft that is being mastered. In Swedish, if you say “det är väl ingen konst” ( in Swedish ) you are also saying “That isn´t too difficult”. In other words “that isn´t too difficult, I could probably do that”. And perhaps you could. Art is very much about thinking. When your idea is ready you get it out. Small or large. Interesting is that you sometimes get it out while you are thinking. Or without thinking. What feels right IS right. Torremolinos-3Art is a set of mind. In photography and painting you frame your work. You decide what to put inside your frame, and that is your piece of art. Whatever it is. And we humans like to frame things before we put it on our walls. Expensive, cheap or for free. TorremolinosThese images that I present here are just as much made by others. I saw the shapes and formes and they appeared to me. I framed them with my camera. At the top is the Mona Lisa of Torremolinos. Who did this version, and why? Who and when did they put this letter in the street? When ever they did, I am sure they didn´t thought about taking a photo from it years later. After years of wear and tear. But I did. Torremolinos-9This is street photography, just from the street. The beauty of imperfection… Torremolinos-8Who decides what art is? You and I do! What hangs in the big galleries is something others has decided. But we exhibit there sometimes too. If it is more art than ours? Good question! Are art critics always right? Don´t think so. But after all they are only humans. Torremolinos-7

A tag, someones signature. Could that be someone elses art?

All images found and framed by me in Torremolinos, Spain 2015. Thank you for helping out! Whoever you are and when ever you did.