Material Girl

Some girls have it all. As pretty as she looks, Kaia is an intelligent, unique and talented girl. Check out her music here.

( believe this is my favorite from the day).

It was such a great feeling getting out in this cold weather, waking up earlier than i would like on a sunday morning; freezing my hands and toes; carrying a bag full of clothes, shoes and accessories; waiting for people to move from a frame i picked; hungry and thirsty. The last time i had gone on a shoot was in the summer! I have missed this excitement, and i hope i will get to do this so much more often this year. I already have a victim on hand :D

i hope you have had a great start to this year!

Forever a Chrysalis

First things first, thank you to those who have been visiting this blog, despite my lack of initiative for updating you. i'm really touched by every single shout-out in the box.

i've been dreading hitting the "New Post" button forever and a day now. I just felt that, without my photography, I would be just another regular uninteresting fellow being without much to contribute. any medium other than photography makes me feel dumb and empty. so i still have no justification for this particular post. but i guess something is better than nothing. so here is my attempt at summing up what my life has been like since Nepal and what im trying to do to revisit my passion for photography. Warning: this could get a little personal :)

The past year I faced the toughest times of my life. Id never felt lower self-esteem and more confused. Most of it of course had to do with not being able to find a job. After graduating in June 2010, I suddenly had tons of time in my hands, loads of applications to send and no friends around me. That was definitely good for my creativity though, especially since I was living right by the woods (and god bless the woods). Photography was what made me feel grounded at the end of the day, an event I could look forward to on the weekends. However, by March, I still didn't have a single job offer and my time had run out. My bags were packed and I was ready to try to live off of doing photography. Or anything that I could get my hands on.

En route to Nepal via India, I got the call that changed the whole game for me. I got the offer I wanted and finally there seemed to be a somewhat "secure" future. But mind you, I make no qualms about having sent 100s of applications, done tons of interviews and attended a couple of assessment centres. I think all these have made me appreciate even more what I have now and I dont take anything for granted. It made me believe that some times, some people just have to wait a little longer to get what they really deserve.

Since August, I've been working as a consultant. Finally being able to justify my 20 years of business education. It's been a super crazy ride, with lots to digest and a few moments where i question my destiny. The ever so cliche - 'am I following my heart?' kinds. But I have no grounds to complain. AT ALL. i'm content, i feel useful and i'm enjoying every single day. almost.
occasionally i worry thinking of my camera lying in the drawer that has remained closed for a long stretch of time. but i am keeping my eyes on 2 people at work to get me started again. some earthlings are just too beautiful to miss eh?

i really really really hope the next post will be more pictures and less words. but im done beating myself up about checking to-do lists so no promises. But rest assured, i know photography will run in me through and through till i completely change my soul or something.

Anyways, thanks for reading and have a nice weekend :)

life in transit

Waiting there at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok during a 6 hour transit, i had every intention of buying a ticket back to Nepal and "following my heart". i realised this was the longest i got to spend at home in the past 7 years. i guess it is then only natural to become so attached. Being back in Norway and adjusting to life near the woods has been anything but easy. The first couple of days all i could think of was the past months i got to spend in Kathmandu, the awesome people i met and just the privilege of being a pro photographer. but as they say, time does heal. i'm finally looking forward to starting a new career, something i've been preparing myself for the past, what, 20 years! i'm sure it's not going to be too bad, right?

But if you're in Kathmandu, then you're not quite done with me just yet. Before leaving, i did one last cover shoot for Wave's August issue and another project with Folio magazine which is due in September! Excited!

Lastly, please take care of the city while you're there?

Leavin on a Jetplane

Come on out and dance

If you get the chance,

We're gonna spit on the rivals.

All I wanna know,

Is how far you wanna go, 

fighting for survival

Tenzin Choetso blogs at becomingponytail. i like the simplicity and effortlessness in her style. She had emailed me when i had just got here in Nepal but it was only after a  month when i personally met up with her. Although we've only hung out a few times, it's been great knowing her and it's felt like we've been friends for a long time. Don't you just love it when that happens? Internet is a strange thing. 

This very day i also shot two boys i'd been planning to shoot for a long time now. i had a completely different concept in head. We had a go at it. But maybe i'm not ready. maybe the world's not ready yet to see such a concept. so i'll save it for later. maybe try it out with someone else. i'll let these photos suffice for now. 

Model: Bikash Rai

(tried to recreate one of Rai's photos. not sure if i did justice)

Model: Deepesh Shahi

thank you boys for being such a good sport both the days. Come rain or sunshine ;)

i have 4 days left in Nepal now. such.a.sad.feeling. i've been crying my eyes out, half not understanding how we can get so attached to a piece of land, and half not understanding why it is so hard some times to do the very things we ourselves have chosen! i feel guilty for leaving this place in the hands of others. i feel selfish for having thought just of myself while making my decision. i feel scared of a future where i'll be missing home.  and yet, i know im not going to do anything stupid and dramatic now. it's been an amazing 3 months but im going move on, be a sport :) and see where this life leads me. Most probably, all roads will lead me back home.