Boreal forests recounted by two professional photographers who have just concluded their editorial project dedicated to Northern Europe light; LYS, an intimate journey to the North.
The Authors:
Sandra Bartocha (*1980) from Potsdam and Werner Bollmann (*1966) from Kiel have both worked as professional nature photographers for many years and have published several books. Their images have been awarded at important international photography competitions (among others “Wildlife Photographer of the Year”, “GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year”, “International Photography Awards”), published and presented in magazines and exhibitions all over the world. Both are joined by an almost identical view on photographic aesthetics and a great love for the European North.
LYS – this is what Norwegians and Danes call the light, and this is
what this project is all about: It is a tribute to the magic light of the North,
a photographic declaration of love to the unique beauty of the great Scandinavian landscape. Four years Sandra Bartocha and Werner Bollmann have travelled the entire European North, from the bright Danish woodlands and pastures in the south to the blue glaciers of Spitsbergen in the north, from the storm-battered coast of Norway in the west to the dark Finnish forests in the east. The resulting images show their very own personal style of photography, far away from documentation, rather sensitive and diverse, just as the character, the soul of the great Nordic landscapes and their inhabitants would demand.
HERE THE INTERVIEW TO SANDRA AND WERNER
BioArtVisual:
Your photo book LYS has just seen the light. What is the feeling that comes in seeing such a challenging work carried out and what was the idea or vision that made you think to realize LYS?
Sandra and Werner:
It is indeed a really good feeling. After all this time, after all this planning and travelling, after all these hopes and fears we just feel relieved. It is just incredible to hold in your hands what you just saw on the pc-screen all the time before.
The idea we had in 2011 when we conceptually started the project was to do something new, something that had not done before. So we planned to make a project about the entire European North – landscapes, plants, animals. Megalomaniac? Maybe, but due to several reasons we believed we could manage it: both of us knew the big biomes of the North very well. We knew how to work together, how to combine our skills and abilities. And sometimes, if you have dream, you just have to dare to make it come true …
BioArtVisual:
LYS in the north means “light” and is the main theme of the book where you are able to admirably express his magic. What were the biggest difficulties you encountered in describing the atmosphere of the Nordic light?
Sandra and Werner:
It was not the phenomenon of light itself that sometimes causes any difficulties, but other details going along with travelling, planning a.s.o. But as we wanted to give a certain “light value” to each of our chapters, describing the characteristics of each region, we sometimes encountered situations that didn’t fit in our vision. We then simply had to wait for better conditions.
The silent forests.
BioArtVisual:
A job lasted four years was definitely planned in detail, but what were the unexpected situations that you encountered during your “trip”? You find areas or subjects that highlight environmental issues in need of greater protection?
Sandra and Werner:
We had lots of unexpected situations in this time, of course. Too late at a certain place or too early, weather or light conditions that didn’t fit in our plans, difficulties with travelling aspects, not enough time or money to get what we actually wanted. But at the end we can say we have had more luck than we ever would have expected in advance.
There are still very many places in the North that offer a feeling of wilderness and untouched nature. Although there are certainly some aspects which show that even there environmental problems cause major problems: in 2013 we experienced the warmest spring in the North since ever. Climatic change shows its effects everywhere. There are problems like overgrazing of the tundra by domestic reindeers, loss of old forests due to logging, destruction of river systems as a result of water power plants or the hunting for the large predators. Maybe it is not an untouched paradise anymore but there are so many beautiful places left and there are good chances to protect them for the future.
BioArtVisual:
The BioPhotoContest 2017 has the theme boreal forests, your book also talks about this subject. What was the subject, in addition to light, this particular environment that has most fascinated you?
Sandra and Werner:
The boreal forests are one of the largest biomes on this planet. But they are far away from offering a high biodiversity. Spruces and pines from horizon to horizon, bilberries, cranberries and lichens on the forest floor – rather boring at the first glance. But they offer a feeling of freedom and mystery. The only thought that you share these woods with such amazing creatures like moose, bears, wolves or wolverines is f
antastic although one will most probably never see them (beside the moose). And there are not only trees: the northern forests are also characterized by water. There are lakes, streams and bogs nearly everywhere, which is part of this ecosystem’s magic. Charismatic birds like cranes, whooper swans or great grey owls. Enchanting little plants, details on the ground, the smell of resin or the call of a black woodpecker. The boreal forest offers the whole package for all those who are willing to deal with solitude, bad weather and millions of mosquitoes .
BioArtVisual:
What do you recommend for photographers who aspire to capture the magic of the boreal and northern forests as you are able to do?
Sandra and Werner:
Well, at least in our opinion the boreal forests offer the best options for photography one could dream of: Twilight and darkness, snow, mist, rain and sun, rivers, lakes and bogs, plants, animals and details. We had some topics that caused bigger problems thought in terms of photography, just to mention the summerly tundra with its eternal light or the outer parts of the Baltic archipelago, a destination hard to reach and even harder to photograph. There is a saying: “Miss the forest for the trees …”. Try to avoid that and don’t forget mosquito repellents .
BioArtVisual:
Thank you Sandra and Werner.