In the 26 years I have spent on this earth, I have had various activities I dedicated time to. I played football for over a decade, dedicated years to bodybuilding, served in the military, became a personal trainer, and held different jobs. However, nothing has come close to the fulfillment photography provides me. It brings me joy, energy, peace of mind, and mental clarity.
That is precisely why I have chosen to pursue photography wholeheartedly.
In that regard, I have vivid memories of the summer of 2022. It was a remarkable vacation when my girlfriend and I embarked on a journey through the southern and western regions of Norway, using my parents’ motorhome. This trip truly inspired me to engage in photography and enhance my skills. Surprisingly, within just one day or eight hours of driving, we had already surpassed our initial expectations for the entire trip. The remaining days became an added bonus, allowing us to further indulge in the experience. While I had always recognized Norway’s natural beauty and had explored the country before, it was during this particular trip that I truly grasped the extent of its magnificence, as well as the splendor the world has to offer.
Photography serves as a medium for me to capture these remarkable moments in a single snap, enabling me to revisit them years later and relive the same emotions. This journey became a turning point for me as I realized the need to shift to professional gear if I wanted to consistently experience such enriching moments and pursue photography as a profession.
During that same summer, I captured a photograph of the Drammensfjord, but not during our trip. It was taken near my house as I am conveniently located between two fjords: the Drammensfjord and the Oslofjord. Knowing that the sun always sets behind the mountains of the Drammensfjord on late summer days, I decided it was the perfect spot for my evening excursion. Prior to capturing the photo, careful planning and scouting for the ideal location were essential.
I delved deeper into the specifics, determining the precise position where the sun would set and the optimal spot for capturing the image with the closest mountains in the distance, gradually receding as they reached the far end while ensuring the sun centered on the last mountain. Once the location and composition were set, the next step was to find the right exposure. Fortunately, with ample time available due to my meticulous planning, experimenting with different exposures was effortless, allowing me to choose the one that appealed to me the most.
After the photo was taken, the editing process began. I had a rough idea of how I wanted the final image to appear. Given that orange was the dominant color in the scene, I aimed to preserve its prominence. I increased the saturation and added a touch of glow to enhance the image further. I also focused on achieving a seamless transition from the vibrant orange portion to the serene blue hues at the top of the frame. Finally, I applied a vignette and a mask to draw attention to the center of the image, emphasizing its focal point.