The idea of photograph a person’s essence or inner universe is fascinating and can result in captivating portraits that either reveal old secrets or hint at new mysteries. It is a question of the moment to reveal something interesting and profound about the human condition.
Over the years I’ve developed the ability to look at a scene and identify the quality of light, and how sections of a view will fit together in the frame of a photograph. Yet in my “seconds of composition” mind I always welcome the a unexpected, creative moment, a glimpse of “something” to appear” – to create a photograph with more questions than answers.
Nowadays I’m also more critical in my approach and about each image. I photograph stories on assignment and for my projects, and of course every story has to be put together coherently, but what matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling.
Faroe Islands is a fascinating group of islands in the middle of the North Atlantic. I regularly travel to the place and photographing the people living there. On one occasion I photographed a model posing in clothing by Faroese designer Jóhanna av Steinum. Her designs with strong colors and eye-catching patterns are humorous, speckled with a hint of childish naivety (down left).
Barbara í Gongini is another Faroese fashion designer with a conceptual approach and experimental ideas. My favorite pic become the one from between the takes, when the stylists were busy with the other model and a lot of sheep surrounded my model in a curious expression (large middle).
Inspiration for the traditional Faroese designs has always come from daily life and the natural environment of the islands. 5 000 or even more Faroese women knit in their spare time — that’s 10 to 15 percent of the countries entire population. Many of them likes to blend artistry with business, national tradition with international trends.
