Per Berntsen - Photographs

9. January 2012: Woodwork - 84 architechture pictures

In 1999, for the book Woodwork, I photographed seven buildings that have all been awarded the Wood Prize. Architects are Knut Knutsen, Are Vesterlid and Hans Østerhaug, Wenche and Jens Selmer, Lund & Slaatto, Sverre Fehn, Jan Olav Jensen, and Arne Henriksen. Direct link here.

5. September 2011: Documentary work from Sydvaranger

I have posted 75 documentary pictures from the assignment at Sydvaranger, Kirkenes, 2008 - 2010. These pictures were taken with a digital camera.
Go to Commercial > Documentary, or use this direct link.

15. August 2011: Architectural work posted

Under Commercial there are links to pictures of
- Pålsbu Power Station, designed by Manthey Kula
- Mortuary, Asker Crematorium, designed by Carl Viggo Hølmebakk
- Mortensrud Church, designed by Jensen & Skodvin

22. February 2011: Review of Argentum 6½ x 8½" camera

I don't normally write equipment reviews, but this camera is so well made that it deserves one. See under Miscellaneous on the menu.

23. November 2010: Sydvaranger pictures posted

Pictures from the art project at Sydvaranger have been posted under Galleries, and installation photographs from the exhibition under Documentation.

27. June 2010: Exhibition in Kirkenes

An exhibition with Bente Geving's and my art project from Sydvaranger 2008 - 2009 will open on August 31st in Mekanisk Verksted, Sydvaranger industrial area, Kirkenes.
More information to follow.

30. January 2009: English translation of rephotography text

An English version of my catalog text from Forandringer can be found here.
The aricle describes in detail the technical aspects of doing a rephotographic project with a large format camera.

27. January 2009: New texts posted

Øystein Ustvedt's og Beate Hølmebakk's texts from Generator ar now posted (Norwegian and English), as well as Olav Løkke's text from Industrilandskap Grenland. (Norwegian, English and German)

27. January 2009: Four galleries with installation photographs

Four galleries with installation photographs posted under Documentation.
From Generator, Changes, Industrilandskap Grenland and Kunstnernes Hus.

9. January 2009: Large version of Forandringer posted

Since these are double pictures, they have to be quite small on screen. For those with large monitors I have posted a page with 1575 pixels wide pictures here.
Both versions are also upgraded to Highslide.

7. January 2009: 100 Generator pictures posted

All the Generator pictures have now been posted. See under Galleries on the menu. Large images are now displayed by means of a javascript called Highslide. I consider this to be a big improvement; not only does it mean less work for me, but it also improves the presentation of the images, and navigation is easier. (with the arrow keys) Highslide will be implemented in all future galleries, and updates of old galleries.

Users of Internet Explorer 6 may experience some cosmetic errors. This is an outdated browser, and I encourage users to upgrade to version 8, or use Opera or Firefox. Safari and Google Chrome also work well.

1. August 2008: New project at Sydvaranger in Kirkenes

Together with Bente Geving, I have been hired by Tschudi Shipping Company, (owner of Sydvaranger AS) to document the reopening of Sydvaranger Gruve, an iron mine which has been closed since 1996. We will also be doing separate art projects at the site. A common exhibition in Kirkenes, and book publication are scheduled for September 2009. The exhibition will also be showed in Oslo at a later date.

27. May 2008: Support from Arts Council Norway

Arts Council Norway have supported the Generator project with NOK 100.000.

15. May - 22. June 2008: Exhibition at Galleri Riis

25 generator pictures at 85 x 109 cm were exhibited at Galleri Riis.
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design aquired 12 pictures.
The book Generator with pictures of 100 generators, and texts by Øystein Ustvedt og Beate Hølmebakk, (English and Norwegian) is available from Galleri Riis.

10. February 2008: New digital workflow

Since I can no longer get hold of the materials I need in the darkroom, I have, after a long time of consideration, decided to make inkjet prints. I have bought an Epson 9880 printer, which takes 44" rolls. The paper I use is called Harman Gloss, a glossy baryta paper, which has all the qualities I have been missing with darkroom papers. That is, a little glossier than, and with a whiter base than Agfa Multicontrast Classic.

The image quality is stunning, and I have much more control over the final result than I used to have in the darkroom. I can now also print bigger - the size for the Generator show will be 35 x 43 inches. (85 x 109 cm) The archival qualities of these prints are about the same as for traditional papers - they will last 100 years or more. I scan the negatives myself with an Agfa Duoscan T2500.

30. January 2008: 100 generators photographed

Since September I have photographed a little more than 100 power stations, and the three final ones were done in January. The work has gone very well, and I will post some samples soon.

17. January 2008: Support from Østfold Energi

Power company Østfold Energi, represented in the project with four power stations, have supported the project with NOK 15.000.

30. November 2007: Support from Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond

Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond have supported the project with NOK 70.000.

2. October 2007: Support from Statkraft

Statkraft have generously supported the project with NOK 250.000. This will cover most of the book production costs, and is a great inspiration during my travels around Norway.

I am now making good progress, and have photographed more than 60 power stations. The shooting part of the project will be finished by around 20. October.

I plan to post some samples within the next few weeks.

8. May 2007: Support from the Freedom of Expression Foundation

The Generator project has been awarded a 140.000 NOK grant from The Freedom of Expression Foundation. This will enable me to continue working on the project the next few months, but I still need to raise a lot more money.
I plan to photograph a large number of generators this summer. and there is an exhibition planned in Oslo for May 2008, showing 50 of them. Hopefully, I will also be able to publish a book, with all the generators.
For further details, see the Generator page under Photographs.

2. May 2007

Web Design added (under Design)

26. April 2007

Documentation from Forandringer added.

17. April 2007

Texts from Forandringer posted. Norwegian only, so far.

13. April 2007

Images from Forandringer posted. Catalog texts will be coming soon.

Fine Art Photography by Per Berntsen