Discussions about camera equipment is common amongst us snappers, especially as the latest development will undoubtedly require more effort and bring us closer to bankruptcy. It was with some pleasure though, on this crisp morning about 46 kms south of the Arctic circle to chat with Rickard about film making and the time vortex one ends up in trying to string two clips together. Rickard is photographing and filming skiers for a website and after our digital chat it is a joy to snap his portrait, wait the 15 minutes required in Arctic conditions for the Polaroid ( or Fuji instant film to give it the correct name ) to process, copy the polaroid on my digital camera and finally shoot some film. The views from the top of the Kåbdalis ski run were superb and afforded a rare panorama as most of the countryside in these parts is as flat as a Cambridgeshire pancake. Usually you don’t expect more than tree tops and the road ahead.
Time is short however, and after grabbing a few portraits of Swedes about to launch themselves downhill ( not for me, I like my femur just as it is ) we prepare to head back to London. In 12 hours I shall be circling the M25.
On the skilift we are the only people going down so I hide behind the camera to avoid the stares. See if you can spot the above-piste snogging.
The 405th Jokkmokk winter market ( and my sixth shoot ) was certainly worth the effort but it did have one important drawback. Unlike previous trips no shots were prearranged and almost everyone we photographed was much too busy to stop and chat. From this point of view it was perhaps not so rewarding but I did enjoy seeing the Sami out in force and come away knowing that they are now properly represented in my project. Patience is now the order of the day as I wait for the film to be processed.
