Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. Or so the legend has it. Some Norwegians, like myself are definitely not born with skis on. I’m simply no good at it, so going cross-country has sadly never given me much joy as I’m breaking a sweat when others glide effortlessly past me in the trails.

But I enjoy the scenery as much as the next guy, often taking my camera with me. I just have to stay clear of the most eager skiers.

This picture was included with the theme “Together”. See more contributions on this theme on X/52.
Be sure to check out Ståles great view of Trondheim.

Who doesn’t love to relax with a great book?

On a frosty morning I spotted this bent bicycle wheel in the grass on my way to work. I’m unsure why anyone just leaves a broken bicycle wheel in the grass, but it proved a good enough subject for my photography.

This is a part of the weekly theme from the X/52 project, this weeks theme is trash.

Other posts on this theme:
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Garbage Collection
Stines hverdag: Rusty
Ståle Ertzgaard: Aftenrød

My youngest is very eagerly pointing at something that he wants his sister to see. Perhaps some birds on the nearby lake?
My kids are growing up so fast. This was taken in the summer.

I had just driven my wife to work and had a son not feeling too good in the backseat, so I decided to take another route home. Whenever there is fog in my area, I know this lake has a nice mist. And fortunately I was right. I took two quick shots ten metres from the car and drove back home.

Be sure to check out other contributions to the theme “Autumn”:
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Autumn Skies
Line Aakre: Høst

See more excellent pictures on the theme “Part of the bigger picture” at X/52.

A single seed of life. Waiting for the wind to take it to a better place.

For more nature inspired pictures, be sure to check out this weeks theme on X/52.

Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO100;1/60 sec at f/8

A little bunny was standing in the rain when I was taking out the trash. She was quite wet, so I took her in.

Together, we are going to explore the world. Always taking my trusty camera with me.

This post is a part of the X/52 project with the theme “Uncle Travelling Matt”. The postcard-sending muppet.

Top: Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO200;1/80 sec at f/2.8
Bottom: Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO200;1/640 sec at f/4

Ostriches do not bury their head in the sand. They stretch out their neck and lay their head on the ground to keep from being seen, hence the myth that ostriches hide in the sand. Ostriches skeletons and fossils have been found which date back over 120 million years; ostriches are a true dinosaur. With at least 2 million ostriches living worldwide, ostriches are not an endangered species. An ostrich can kill a predator with a single kick. And they look angry too.

Taken at Dyreparken in Kristiansand, Norway.

Nikon D80 with Nikon AF-S 70-300/4,5-5,6 G VR IF-ED at 180mm;ISO200;1/320 sec at f/5,3

I’m a cat person. Cats have a grace unlike any other animal. Even big cats like lions and tigers have such grace. But big cats like this lioness also have something majestic about them. She truly is a queen.

From a visit to Dyreparken in Kristiansand, Norway.

Nikon D80 with Nikon AF-S 70-300/4,5-5,6 G VR IF-ED at 300mm;ISO100;1/500 sec at f/5,6

The siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)is now completely confined to the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia, where it is now protected. Only about 400 siberian tigers live in the wild today.

This beauty was not found in the wild, but in Kristiansand Zoo. Better known as Dyreparken.

Nikon D80 with Nikon AF-S 70-300/4,5-5,6 G VR IF-ED at 90mm;ISO400;1/125 sec at f/4,8

The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. When I saw this one drinking from the pond I had to take a few pictures. A few seconds later, it moved on. It was believed that the zebra was white with black stripes, but its underlying skin is black, not the previously thought white.

Nikon D80 with Nikon AF-S 70-300/4,5-5,6 G VR IF-ED at 220mm;ISO200;1/320 sec at f/8

This week Anne presented us with a new theme for the weekly challenge: “Fairly Tale”. My first notion was to take my bag and disappear in the woods, where I was certain to find something fitting. But alas, the week was suddenly at an end and I had not taken any images fitting at all.

But a youth spent in the world of fantasy has left me some items I could use, such as this sword. I bought this when I was about 16 years of age. It cost me more than I earned each month on my paper route, but I felt it was a good deal back then. Not too sure nowadays, but it is still a cool sword. Even when kept hidden away. I don’t want my eldest running after her little brother with this… Not that I think she is able to wield it. It is quite heavy.

Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO200;1/60 sec at f/11

Taken when I was showing my daughter some of the life in the forest. Of course, she thought the squirrels was more fun to see. And I got some fun images of those too, but with a 105mm it is hard to get close enough for the really good shot. This image was my favourite of the evening, even if it somewhat exceeds the limitations of ISO on my slightly old camera.

See other contributions for the theme “food enjoyment”.

Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO800;1/3200 sec at f/5.6

Like some may have noticed, I enjoy photographing flowers. I know I’m not alone in this. The orchid is a favourite, because of the elegance it presents, with many variations in colour and form. While many subjects have the same effect on me, I find photographing flowers especially calming.

Nikon D80 with Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro at 105mm;ISO100;1/12 sec at f/4

“Calm” is the word of the week for the X/52 project.
Be sure to take a look other contributions on this theme:
Anne: Ro
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Keip
Geir Ertzgaard: Calm
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Enjoying calmness
Yngve Thoresen: Elegance
Line Aakre: Tea time
Ståle Ertzgaard: Sammen
Anne Ueland: Creative Moment

Taken at St John’s Eve, my son seemed to be attracted to the bonfire. A second later I was running to stop him from getting to close.

This image is a part of the X/52 project for the theme “Midsummer”. Be sure to check out the picture from Line titled My Way as well.

When I look at this image, I think of the depression that started in 1929 and news items of people jupming out of windows in skyscrapers in New York City. I imagine many of them was wearing black shoes similar to these. To enhance this, I chose to give the picture a black and white treatment with higher contrast.

This image is a contribution to the theme “Shoe” for the X/52 project. Originally I wanted to use some shots of shoes hanging from power cables, but Ståle beat me to it. With a better image.

Other images for this week:
Anne Ueland: Shoes Tip
Ståle Ertzgaard: …og sure er de
Geir Ertzgaard: No Shoe Strings on Louise
Sonja Middelhuis: KJEFTEsko
Naturglede/Randi Lind:  Hestesko

My first attempt at this image can be seen below. I have later removed the distracting stone, added some extra blur (to prevent distracting blur from the shoes I removed this from an underlying layer). In other words, I did a lot more “shopping” than I really like. You might even call it “saving a bad image”. On the plus side, I enjoy learning new techniques in Photoshop.

Globe-flower (Trollius europaeus)

Not quite ready to come out yet, but getting there soon. This weeks theme for the X52 project was “Close”. So I got close, only to find this little flower closed. Got wet elbows and knees too, but getting dirty getting an image I’m pleased with is never a problem.

Other images you definitely should take a loot at:
Sonja Middelhuis: Surfeflua
Joar Alvsvåg Etterlid: I can see you
Anne Ueland: Dandelion Seeds

The Eastern Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla Patens) has not blossomed yet and reminds me of the ugly duckling in its current state. In a short time a beautiful flower will unveil itself, and it will be ugly no more.

There seems to be many names for this plant. Common names include Eastern pasque flower, prairie smoke, prairie crocus, and cutleaf anemone. It is also the state flower of South Dakota.

This image is a part of the X/52 project for the somewhat hard to translate theme “Styggfint”. “Stygg” meaning ugly, and “fint” meaning pretty. Ugly/pretty, nasty nice?

Other contributions on the theme:
Anne Ueland: Mr Ugly Pretty
Sonja Middelhuis: Styggfint
Naturglede/Randi Lind Styggfin padde
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Planet Meat
Ståle Ertzgaard: Himmelvendt
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Sweet

This weeks theme for the X/52 project is “Portrait in black and white, on a bench”. It doesn’t get more specific than that I guess. Portraits is not what I usually like to publish on the net. I take a bunch of them, but consider my friends and family private, and not something I share willingly with every stranger on the net. Because of this, I found this weeks theme challenging. I started with portraits of my kids, but will put those on the wall, and not on the net. The week neared an end, when an opportunity presented itself today and I took it.

This is a very lucky guy who met a beautiful girl ten years ago. He married her, got kids, and loves her more today than ever.

See the images from other participants here:
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: HC Andersen
Anne Ueland: Don’t Tickle me
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Mer enn en benk
Line Aakre: Undrende
Sonja Middelhhuis:Dame på benk
Line Storlid:The garden Girls

This image is a part of the X/52 project, where one image is produced every week based on a new theme. The theme for this week is “Contrast”. Other great images can be found here:

Sonja Middelhuis Kontraster i en midtsommernattsdrøm
Naturglede/Randi Lind Vårens kontraster
Anne Ueland Chess
Ståle Ertzgaard: Storveis
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: The Burned House
Line Storlid:Sand & kontraster

Easter is a time I often spend with my wife and her family. They own a charming little cabinet in a place called Ørfiske, just outside of Oslo. I have taken many pictures there (like Tranquillity), and here is one I took yesterday, trying to capture some of the mood by the lake on late night. Some ice flakes are still melting, drifting slowly by.

This image is a part of the X/52 project, where one image is produced every week based on a new theme. The theme for this week is “Egg”. Other great images can be found here:

Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Pure egg
Line Storlid blanda ” egg”
Anne Ueland: Finally In Freedom

This is my first try at smoke photography. Photography for me is not just about taking pictures, as I like to try new projects from time to time and experiment. To learn new techniques or simply try something new, I like to play with my photography. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it don’t. As a first attempt, I’m rather pleased with this result, and will definitely do this again.

I used a simple setup with the camera and flash on a tripod, lighting the smoke from the side with a black background (and a black card between the flash and background to prevent spill from the flash). Yes, black. In other words, this effect was achieved with some help from Photoshop. The images, three in total, were inverted in Camera Raw before opening in Photoshop. In Photoshop they were made black and white, and colour was added to each image. Then it was simply a matter of combining the images.

This image is a part of the X/52 project, where one image is produced every week based on a new theme. The theme for this week is “Two Colurs”. Other great images can be found here:

Sonja Middelhuis: Alpakka i sort og hvitt
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Jeckyl and Hide
Ståle Ertzgaard: Vårtur
Line Storlid: Warmer than my dream of summer heat
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Furet værbitt
Anne: Rødt/Sort
Yngve Thoresen: Elusive
Anne Ueland: Friends Forever

This is a typewriter belonging to my parents, an antique L.C. Smith & Bros. Typewriter, No. 8. Produced circa 1920′s. It is in almost pristine condition, so I’m wondering what it can be worth.
I haven’t tried using it, but it seems to be in pretty good shape, with every press of key resulting in a letter hitting the paper that is not there any more. I wonder what letters, what words and sentences, this old typewriter have produced.

This post is a part X/52 project. This week the theme is “Weird things in my house”.

Other participants this week:
Ståle Ertzgaard: Krus i hus
Line Aakre: Tursti
Line Storlid: Weird things in my house
Anne Ueland: Happy Moon
Sonja Middelhuis: Rar pynt
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: The Old Violin
Anne: Eggstokker på utstilling

Taken in Oslo Reptilpark, this spectacled caiman is far from home. This crocodilian reptile can be found in much of Central and South America, where it lives in both salt and fresh water. Because of this adaptability it is the most common of all crocodilian species.

Outside some snow is still waiting to melt in the capital of Norway. I don’t know if Brutus here dreams of going back to its natural habitat, perhaps in Colombia, but he should be glad he is indoors in a very warm and humid environment. Most probably he has no notion of returning at all.

This post is the thirteenth instalment of the X/52 project. This week the theme is “back” or “return”, depending on the translation of the norwegian word “tilbake”.

Check out other great solutions for the theme:
Ståle Ertzgaard: Ingen vei
Randi Lind/Naturglede: Tilbake i tiden
Anne: Tilbake
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Syklus
Line Aakre: Tilbake til hverdagen
Anne Ueland: Flashback
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Saucisson, fromage et vin

For week 12 in the X/52 project the theme was Joy. I had many opportunities for this theme, but still struggled to find the picture that I was happy with. I took pictures of my kids, nothing bring me more joy than them. I took pictures of cars, animals (dogs and cats mostly), and I tried some different stills, with toys, flowers and other subjects.

Than suddenly it appeared in front of me. A cup of coffe. Now, it didn’t magically appear, I had ordered it. But it was so perfect. The manager of the place even gave her a compliment on this coffe!

So I took some pictures of it from different angles and ended up with this one. Simple, clean, and a little work of art. It tasted excellent too.

But I still prefer my coffe black.

Other excellent images on this topic:
Line Aakre: Smiiiiiiletabelett
Geir Ertzgaard: Nummer 14
Anne: Glede
Line Storlid: LOL: Glede
Ståle Ertzgaard: En fargesymfoni
Stein-Evert Pettersen: Hoppende glad
Naturglede: Gledesutbrudd
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Gledelig gjensyn
Sonja Middelhuis: Pur Glede
LykkeYade: Vårlig glede

This weeks theme of our photo project is “Escape” (or “flight” depending on the translation of the Norwegian word “Flukt”).

There are many ways one can illustrate an escape, but I chose a book. For me, reading a book is often about escape. To flee from the outside world, wilfully letting the mind slip into a world only existing in books and fiction. Or perhaps the same world, but within the head of another person, a master detective perhaps? Or maybe a truly fictional character like a vampire, sorcerer or a little hobbit? Often it can be a textbook. About photography many times, I must admit.

Other takes on this theme:
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Flowerpower
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Trying to escape
Ståle Ertzgaard: Hverdagsflukt
Anne: Flukt
Randi Lind: Ekornflukt
Line Storlid:Virkelighetsflukt
Sonja Middelhuis: Flukt fra fatet
Stein-Evert Pettersen: Flukt
Vanja S. Lund: Plopp

This weeks theme for the X/52 project was “Abandoned places”. After visiting most of the places I could think of nearby I started to worry. Sure, I got some shots I’m satisfied with, but nothing more. So I tried to find another solution to the subject and ended up with this. This is a snail shell, long abandoned from its former owner. Maybe by force, to make its home an ornament within another home – ours.

This weeks “task” for the X/52 project is “Sensory input” or “impressions by senses”, I’m not too sure about the translation on this one. I have also seen seen Sensations being used.

I have used the whole week trying to get the right idea, but ended up lying at home sick at the end of the week. It would be my first week giving up, so I decided to look around the home for anything that could be used. And surely this seemed fitting.

We use our senses all the time, without even thinking about we experience the world around us by sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. But the list continues with temperature, kinesthetic sense, pain, direction, balance and acceleration. Other species have senses we don’t have, and vice versa. Sight seems like a natural choice, since this is a photoblog, so I decided on something else. Sound.

So I ended up with picture of my sons rattle. To be honest, he doesn’t use it much, and I’m glad. It makes a lot of noise! I don’t know much about the clown, but he seems happy. Albeit dead, but happy.

This photo project for this week was harder than ever. Not because the subject was so hard, but because the week has been. The subject was “Catch a Melody” – meaning the goal was to take a picture that fits a song and/or vice versa.

To reflect my last few weeks I took this picture entitled “Under Cover of Darkness” – a fairly new song from one of my favorite bands The Strokes. You can hear the single on YouTube.

As you can see from the image, I haven’t got much sleep lately. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to sleep now.

This little teddybear is at least 40 years old. His name is Mindor and he belongs to my wife. She used to play with him when she was little, but nowadays she keeps him hidden so he don’t get damaged.
I added some minor split toning to make the image look old as well.

This post is a part of my “X/52″ project. This weeks subject was Play

Working late to get the ice sculptures ready for the ice art festival in Lillestrøm. This is my contribution for the 6th week of “X/52 project” with the subject Street Photography.

Other participants worthy a look:
Simen Soltvedt Gatefoto
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel Returning home
Ståle Ertzgaard: En plass i solen
Jan Ivar Vik: 50 pluss i minus 15
Anne Ueland: Shopping Break
Stein-Evert: Ferdighandlet!
Geir Ertzgaard: Et øyeblikk!
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Beathe Malene was here
Line Storlid: Roses, men &  big bird

Valentine’s Day is not far away. It’s time to buy your camera girlfriend/wife/other some roses.

This weeks theme for our growing photochallenge X/52 was “Silence”. As a father of two, silence is not abundat like it once was. There is almost always something going on. Laughter can quickly be transformed to cries, while running is tranformed to fall. It can be exhausting at times, but I wouldn’t want it any different.

This is my youngest, taking a well deserved nap after a long morning. Nothing as peaceful and quiet as a baby sleeping.

Other images on the same theme:
Jan Ivar Vik: Stillhet
Jelrik Nylund-van Berkel: Paperjet
Ståle Ertzgaard: Öppna landskap
Anne Ueland: Hush!
Geir Ertzgaard: Silence is Golden
Line Storlid: Sleeping Beauty
Vibeke Prestmo Valestrand: Der tiden står stille
Stein-Evert Pettersen: Stillhet i fjellet

I got a few requests for the previous image in color. Here it is.

With the theme “City Lights” in mind, this is probably a better candidate. But I still like the colourless version better.

With the words “City Lights” in mind, I went searching for a suitable subject. Oslo seemed fitting. My original plan was to make a panorama, but I had some massive camera shake in my middle image (probably because of a bus driving by). So this will have to do.

Other takes on this weeks theme:
Line Storlid : City Lights
Ståle Ertzgaard: Over en by
Jan Ivar Vik: I gågata
Geir Ertzgaard: Simply lit Up
Anne Ueland: Light On The Wall
Stein-Evert Pettersen: Lyspunkt

You can see them all on X/52.

Here is the colored version.

Third picture in the project X/52 – 3/52. I had many ideas for this project, but ended up spending the weekend at home with my son who was sick. Today, I managed to sneak out for an hour and take this image. The subject this week is movement, so light trails seemed fitting.

Other takes on this week’s subject:
Geir Ertzgaard: Being Moved
Ståle Ertzgaard: Sporvogn til besvær (A street car named trouble)
Anne Ueland: Yatzy
Jan Ivar Vik: I siste liten

It’s been a while since I did macro shots. I haven’t done abstracts in a while either. This is a combination of both.

This is the second image in a series of 52. The subject this week: “patterns”.
Other takes on the subject:
Anne Ueland: 2/52: Pattern
Geir Ertzgaard: Patterns
Ståle Ertzgaard: Spor i det hvitblå
Jan Ivar Vik: Mønster fra Kulåsparken

First weekly picture in a project “52 pictures” (it needs a proper name), where one picture is published every week for the whole. 365 next year?
You can find more info on this project on Geir Ertsgaard first contribution The Dark Season.

The wrapup: Each week we will publish one image taken in the same week. Each week we will have a new subject/theme/keyword. This weeks theme was “Darkness”. At least, that is my interpretation of the norwegian word “mørke”.

One of the first images I took with my Nikon D80. I’m sure a lot could be done with this image to improve it, but this is one of those images that I just want to be simple.

When desserts look like this…

I decided to take this with natural light (the little that was available). Since I did not have a tripod with me (or anything else that could be used really), I needed to use wide apertue and higher ISO. But I got the shot, and that’s what counts.

Taken from the doorstep of the place we stayed in at our honeymoon in Phuket. I’ve been to Thailand a couple of times now, and I’m positive I’ll return again. But there are so many other places to visit as well. Travel and photography is a great combination, don’t you think?

Anas platyrhynchos.

I saw this wild duck grooming in a pond when I was out celebrating the Norwegian Constitution Day on may 17. While I got many good pictures of people waving flags and having a good time, this is my favourite picture from the day. This beauty is a female “quacker”.

Panthera leo.

Panthera leo.

I spent a few days in Skagen with my family. I have lost count of how many times I have been to Skagen. It is such a lovely little place.

Every time I see a squirrel monkey I think of Mr. Nilsson, the monkey belonging to Pippi Longstocking. Did you know that the squirrel monkey has the largest brain of all the primates? Proportionately, off course!