HOME

I have been shooting photographs of my home for the past 4-5 years. I have many homes, but these photographs are form the neighborhood where I grew up. I have been wanting to do something that felt more intimate to me and also more pretty, and I think this is my dance to be pretty. I have enjoyed the photographs which are pretty the most. I have shot mostly 35 mm digital, but now I have taken out and dusted off the 4 x 5 camera. It is so much fun to use a 4 x 5 because they are so large and you have to be so careful with each frame that you shoot. It costs a lot, so each image is very important, it is also time consuming, so you want to make sure each image is perfectly framed. I haven’t used it for a while in an effort to get back to shooting more freely. However, I feel like the 4×5 definatley makes me think about each image more. Sometimes I find myeslf not even really looking through the lens of the 35mm.

So here are some of the digital photographs I took. I probably won’t be able to scan the 4×5 negatives for at least one week.

Just getting started

Today I visited a few places in Stockholm towards Alby. Here is a photo from that neighborhood. Lots and lots of blocks which were built in the 1950´s during the time when Swedish city planning was based on building neighborhoods that would keep its residences all in one place. They could, work, live and play all in one neighborhood. So in this neighborhood, you find a town center with plenty of shopping.

All is calm–until next week

I just gave a lecture at the Nordic House on photography and musicians. It was my first lecture to musicians. I am usually photographing them, not telling them how to run their lives. It made me think a lot about how valuable and powerful images are. I especially enjoyed thinking about how KISS has created a name and an image for themselves. I doubt they feel comfortable going out in public without their crazy comic character make-up. Whether you are an artist, a plastic surgeon, a musician, a scientist or a baker, your presentation is everything. The better your presentation, and the more consistently you deliver your presentation, the better people are going to know you, what you do, and what you represent.

In other news:

1. I just submitted a grant report to travel to Estonia which would be amazing. Estonia seems like it is beautiful, and I never hear about people´s trips to Estonia like I do Italy

2. I have to start my first novel in Icelandic. It is really long, and I am really scared to even look at the first page

3. The Nordic House show closes on the 8th of March, but don´t despair, you can travel to Pittsburgh to catch my work at the museum called Silver Eye Center for photography. The show opens on the 18th of March and it would be great if you are able to get out and make it.

4. Next week are some more grant applications due and I have exams at the end of April for Icelandic, and I am trying to write a proposal for a book. I am super happy to be so busy for such great reasons, but also totally overwhelmed, mostly about the Icelandic novel!

5. Did mention that Iceland has a new Prime Minister. A woman no less, and a lesbian even more.

Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, here is her picture:

PDN Photo of the Day

My work was just featured on PDN’s new blog, Photo of the Day. They have been choosing works from wonderful photographers and I feel honored to be a part of their blog. They chose work of mine from the series I have been working on from the urban sprawl in Iceland. I highly reccomend this blog and I for sure am one of its biggest fans. Thanks PDN!

Airwaves is Coming!

Iceland Airwaves starts next week. I am fully hooked up with a backstage pass and am ready to go. I can’t wait to see all of the good music. I have gone for three years now and am very much looking forward to participating this year. Watch my blog to check up for great pictures.

Uprising

Architectural Thrust

A favorite picture from the series about houses growing out of the lava and neighborhoods being built despite the lava. Very unusual landscape.

Band Photography

My friend asked me to take some pictures of his band in his studio. His bands name is Sökudólgarnir. In english that means the culprits. I had a great idea to take his bands picture near a waterfall with them wearing suits, but the rain put a damper on it! You can’t tell, but it was raining very hard.

Here are a few of the pictures I took:

Picture of the Day

Their is a great webzine out there who keeps posting my work in their picture of the day section. I just wanted to send a big Thank You and a hug. Their webzine is called The World’s Best Ever. This link takes you to the picture of the day when they chose my work. Chek them out. They have some interesting posts.

Show at Lost Horse Gallery

I am going to be in a group show at Lost Horse Gallery opening on Saturday at 6pm. The gallery is behind Hans Peterson off of Laugavegur at Skolastreati #1.

Calling all Developers…

the edge of town

This is what the edge of most towns look like in Reykjavik. They drop off to the beautiful rolling hills. It seems funny that people build and live so close to one another when there is so much land. On the other hand, it makes using the resources less wasteful I think.