The Quiet Picture

We are a having a great winter weekend here (long weekend - we had Friday off as well). A good amount of snow, frosty trees and 10-15 degrees below freezing. Perfect! I’ve been spending most of the daylight outdoors, sometimes shooting, sometimes skiing, sometimes just walking around and enjoying the conditions. Today I went out on three occasions - first to watch the sunrise, then to ski a couple of rounds, and finally to watch the sunset. Well, sunset was the plan anyway, as there were scattered clouds in the south-west so I figured that the setting sun will light them nicely. Only problem was that I was out too early, because yesterday I had gotten to the right place just at the nick of time so I thought I should give myself a bit more margin. Too much, as it turned out. I was at my planned sunset spot an hour before sunset, so instead of waiting and freezing myself, I decided to walk to another spot. Which I did - but I still had half an hour until sunset and furthermore, it looked like the sunset was not going to be much of a spectacle so there would be nothing to photograph anyway. So I decided to walk homeward and when I got to the church, I followed down the road instead of going via Furuberget. There’s a photo op a small bit down the road and I was hoping that the light would be right, but it wasn’t. So I just walked down to the foot of Furuberget and noticed that the sunset that was not to be was going to be anyway… I could just see the orange glow in the clouds above. But what could I do then? I had Furuberget between me and the sunset. I decided to walk a bit up the mountain anyway to get a view east (not enough time to walk all the way up and then find a subject to shoot), I wouldn’t see the sunset but I would catch the last light on the hills opposite. And glorious it was. The snow covered forests were coloured pink by the last rays of the sun… the only problem was that the hills are only half covered by forests, the other half is cut forest. So there was nothing to photograph. Nothing. I had been right about the sunset but my timing was awful. Then when I had second guessed myself about the sunset, I had gotten it wrong in the worst way. It was an awful lot of walking and nothing to show for it.But let’s be positive - at this rate, I will work out those Christmas chocolates in no time flat!

* * *

The above image is for illustration purposes only (taken at sunrise). It’s the view from the top of Furuberget with Norrbyn in the foreground and Dåasberget at the back. So when I say “the hills are only half covered by forests”, this is what I mean - it’s all patchwork wherever you look, so making photographic use of the high viewpoints is tricky unless you specifically want to include these scars in your image. Sometimes I wonder what this place looked like a 100 years ago… But, having said that, forestry is one of the main livelyhoods in Sweden and I have to admit that sometimes I find those clearings useful myself so I should really just pipe down. After all, none of my viewpoints would exist if the hilltops were covered by forests!

I went out right after sunrise. This the first time since the new snow that I got to see the scenery in daylight and I must say that I love it to bits. This is what I have been waiting for! I wouldn’t mind having a lot more snow, but this will do just fine for now. As I was walking in this wonderland, I was trying to figure out exactly why it is that I love winter so much. I didn’t quite find that answer but I did find out what it is about winter that I love.It’s the way the snow covers everything. It’s the cold air biting my cheeks. It’s the special winter light. The silence of a winter forest. The starry skies. The glow of moonlight. I don’t know why I love all that. But one thing I do know - this is why I love photography in the winter time.

I have finally realised what the secret of a photographic vision is and it’s so simple I can’t believe it has taken me this long to figure it out (see e.g. my blog entry regarding my style). You have to love your subject, this is what should guide your camera. It is one thing to photograph subjects you like or sceneries that pleases your eye, and another thing to photograph something that speaks to your heart. Because, as corny as it sounds, you have to see with your heart. The rest is just technicalities.

And, please don’t laugh at me, but it’s only now that I finally understand the people who happily snap away only concentrating on the subject in total ignorance of the technicalities. All these family snapshots and pictures of pets. They love the subject in the photo, nevermind how the photo is created. And so it is with me - I love winter, so I will do my best to portray winter. I love the intricate detail of wild flowers, so I will do my best in the summer to portray the flora. This is my “why”. This is my vision. This is my “so-this-is-the-point-with-all-this-gear”.

But, even after having said all of this, I can’t resist adding one more thing: The subject rarely makes the image. The photographer does. So we’ve got to keep working on those technicalities as well!

Some random impressions from the last few days of 2005:Planes. Trains. Automobiles. Snow. Food. Cakes. Rutabaga casserole. Chocolate. Family. Pointless discussions. Relatives. Patience. Neighbours. Children. Temper tantrums. Babies. Birth canals. Birthdays. Platitudes. Barbie dolls. Christmas trees. Candles. Childhood memories. Old junk. Arguments. Self control. Ice hockey. Live sports commentary. Bad jokes. Moot points. Daytime soaps. Pointless quiz shows. City lights. Traffic. Sales. Crowds. Queues. Birds. Mouse traps. Ants. Computers. Solitaire. DVDs. Sauna. Health status. Sickness reports. Deaths. Fake smiles. Small talk. Misfit. Ohmygod.

And 22 Pätkis, although who’s counting.

Can you tell that I spent the Christmas and New Year with my parents in Finland?

Lesson learned: Watch out what you say to your parents and older relatives and acquintances. It WILL come back to haunt you.