Went for a ski down to the fjord on New Years Eve with my Nordic muse outside her home on the island of Jeløy. It was a refreshing change in pace from the sort of skiing I’ve become accustomed to here in Utah, where performance, adrenaline, and technology reign supreme over wooden skis, wool sweaters, and simple pleasures.
To be sure, Norway today has one of the most sophisticated ski teams in the world, rumored to spend more on just their nordic wax R&D than the entire US Olympic ski team combined. However, strong vestiges remain from an era when skiing was simply the most efficient way to get around during the dark half of the year (see exhibit A).
Exhibit A: Knud Bergslien's 1869 'Rescue of Haakon Haakonsson'
These photographers called themselves the Nikonians in reference to their collective choice of camera brand. Although my Graflex 4×5 became a brief conversation piece, their considerable brand loyalty was undeterred. Thoroughly courteous, they always offered to step out of my shots – at least until I reassured them that they weren’t interfering. ’Are you sure?’ Yes, I’m sure.
Location: Death Valley
Cabins in Norway are the real deal. They dot the landscape like tiny shrines to Thoreauvian minimalism – usually without running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, or even road access – and usually seem as relaxed and natural in the landscape as a herd of deer. Nothing like the faux-timber monstrosities that awkwardly overpower our landscapes in the west.
Things to remember for when I build my dream cabin someday…
Photos from one of several 2000km road trips through Scandinavia this summer:
By sheer coincidence I managed to experience both of 2009’s solstices in Norway.
Midday sun over Oslofjord
Midnight sun from a ferry in the Lofoten Islands:
Homage to Caspar David Friedrich:
On the roof of Oslo’s new billion-dollar opera house.
Haven’t posted anything lately as I’ve been very busy with a new project that will be launched sometime next week (stay tuned…)
In the meantime, I thought I’d post some images from earlier this week at my girlfriend’s house (in Norway).
Pikes Peak International Raceway, Colorado
Images from an ongoing series…
A few shots from the past few months (or so). Enjoy!
The other side of George, while on assignment for Discovery Channel Magazine last month (H2):
Skiing (mostly rappelling, actually) the Heart of Darkness couloir with CJ in April, taken with tri-x on the xPan:
A couple Type 55 P/N on the Linhof. Downtown SLC construction:
Early summer morning at Alta, 15 minutes from my house (on the Linhof):
From my Graflex Super B 2×3 (6×9cm). Alta, UT:
Provo, UT on the Graflex 2×3″:
Ben Booth leading the Chicago Overhang in Rock Canyon. Hassy 503CW:
Drove up behind Squaw Peak this evening to see the fall colors, but ended up responding to something else. Mainly, I realized how much I miss the mountains above Utah Valley.
Of course, there was some color, too.
