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Travel came to a stark halt last spring. Around the world, nomads have been rooted in the interest of public health. Photography It has become a transportation gateway for many over the past fifteen months. Pictures from faraway places became an opportunity for contemplation and contemplation. We hope that the amazing photos will soon feed inspiration for future experiences.
Matthias Fredrickson He is one of the photographers whose eye-catching art has become a hallmark of the comfort of working from home on social media. A prolific Swedish-born adventure photographer. He has skiing, cycling and adventure travel Pictures are everywhere With over 450 cover shots published worldwide. Fredrickson is a storyteller. We met him recently to hear a backstory about one of his favorite photos from his career. While sharing the story of this unforgettable lasting photo, Fredrickson also discovered some invaluable nuggets and tips for aspiring photographers and visual storytellers to create their own photos.
Fredrickson chose one picture (pictured above) on the spot when asked to choose one frame of his career with a vibrant background story to match. The photo was taken years ago in late April in Swedish Lapland near Kepnikisse, Sweden’s highest mountain.
“This skiing picture says a lot about my style of photography,” Fredrickson says. “There is great scenery and beautiful Scandinavian light. It’s a combination of location, light and the fact that the athlete is skating a full distance. Also, it’s not too extreme. It’s a beautiful place that a lot of people can enjoy. The unique perspective adds a bit too. The depth in this shot is … Very important. It’s a moment. “
Spring is in Swedish Lapland especially. Every year, at this time, a soft Scandinavian light emanated from the sky. The Abisko Alps shines hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle. As if a switch is pressed, the sky turns pink at nine in the evening on clear evenings.
Frederickson pointed his camera at Hanna Ovin – the skater in the frame – that very evening when it cut a 2,600-foot vertical line, from top to bottom in front of Frederickson’s lens. I got stuck with the photographer for many reasons.
“I chose to go with this shot because it’s from Swedish Lapland – so close to where I started my career – and the typical pink light from above there is dreamy,” Fredrickson says. “It doesn’t ski a lot. It is definitely Sweden’s most impressive and impressive district. Mountains, scenery and remoteness; it’s very wild. There is so much to explore. It’s special for me to share these stories with the rest of the world.”
Swedish Lapland, steeped in darkness during the sluggish winter, lights up with melting ice in the spring. The long days of sunshine make for long days of exploration, ski tours, and photography.
“Working with this amazing light is great, however Midnight sun It’s also stressful, ”Fredrickson says.“ The midnight sun can nearly spoil the trip. You are learning to manage because you can be there all the time with so much light. You have to be smart, but at the same time it’s great to have this special light. A lot of photographers live for this epic light and the colors that appear in the North. “
In addition to the vast world-renowned lighting and terrain, Sweden offers mountain station infrastructure, and affordable huts that float precariously in dream destinations, making travel and exploring the Arctic somewhat possible. The mountain station is a staple of Swedish alpine culture. During the summer, hikers frequent humble digs while taking a multi-day stroll through the unspoilt nature. However, in winter the huts are less crowded.
“Mountain Stops is a simple hotel nestled in the middle of the mountains,” Fredrickson says. “It’s a relaxing place with good food. It is not very expensive. It is for anyone. It is very democratic. It’s far. It is for everyone. She is very Swedish. Waking up every day with this view of the entire range of Kebnekaise is special. ”
The mountains are great and the skiing is awesome there. The wilderness is huge, and it is relatively empty during the winter. The best part about Sweden’s mountain network of stations is the pancakes.
“It’s classic Swedish food, they care for traditions like pies. Who doesn’t like fafla?”
How does Fredrickson view the craft of photography? Check out these travel, storytelling and photography tips that can help any adventure photographer.
1. Celebrate different people and places
“It’s something to pursue after banger ski shots but I’ve been doing it for over 25 years now. What drives me to go are the stories, people, ski cultures where you go. When traveling, photography is a way to see the world through skiing or biking. People.” Places are what makes photography special. How do people relate to these different mountain cultures in different places. People are the ones who make skiing different because we are all just people sliding in the snow in the end. Right? Different styles in different places are what I celebrate. “
2. The compelling character-driven images
“Mountains can definitely be character. You have to be able to pull the athletes and movement out of the shot while still keeping a pretty picture. That’s what I go for. Obviously, when shooting skiing, you sometimes have to pick up an intense action and sometimes the skater’s expression is the most Importance. But, for the most part, the shots I like or feel are my best work, with nature being the main character. It’s important for a skier, snowboarder, or biker to perform at a high level. Love when you have Small but loud business. I won’t have any movement pattern in a nice shot. It’s important to bring the two together. “
3. Share stories
I was a journalist at first and then I became a photographer. I still write a lot. I used to call myself more of a photojournalist than a photographer. Telling stories with a set of pictures has always been very important to me. It is not just a single standalone shot. If I were to send you a batch of 30 shots of this excursion, you would likely follow the entire journey and feel like you’re almost done. This is my goal. This is why I really enjoy shooting special stories. ”
4. Shooting with a view
“I no longer go out and shoot randomly. I want to have a goal in my photography. I want to use my time in a meaningful way.”
5. Equipment for this shot
“This photo was taken from Swedish Lapland with a 24-70mm lens. It can shoot wide. I managed to move with the slider which helps you increase the lens flare. I even flipped it and shot this photo both vertically and horizontally. I have a lot of shots. From this tour. “
6. Horizontal or vertical orientation?
It depends on the situation. I tend to shoot more horizontal. But some of my clients actually prefer portrait photos. So, I try to balance that. I feel the horizontal shots give a better feel of the landscape, but the vertical shots make things look sharper. “
7. Does medium dictate approach?
“Some clients prefer Portrait mode for socializing because you can use vertical shots on this medium. If you go horizontally, it needs to be cropped. It’s really hard to make the portrait shot horizontal and it’s a lot easier in the opposite. I’d say I’m still shooting horizontally. Spread photos push out horizontally.” Better too. This is not vertical. “
8. Edit and organize photos
“I have a very strict way to go through everything. My catalogs are perfectly organized. This is really an important part of the job. You usually do this once. You don’t usually go back to the initial folders again. It’s important to put a lot of effort into the process after taking pictures.”
9. Making the new with the old
“Sometimes I make new modifications to old photos which I think have potential. Maybe they are pictures that are not used much or not published at all. I am not ashamed to use old pictures. It’s all about the feel and not a new product. I don’t understand why I wouldn’t. The photo taken a couple of years ago is interesting now. I never really understand when people say, “This is an old photo.” Who cares? The way I shoot is somewhat timeless style. I actually reuse a lot of pictures, especially in these. The days when you aren’t traveling much. It’s still about inspiring people to go skiing, cycling and try different things. “
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