Every once in a while, Vegard Aasen grabs his best friend Knut-Hendrik Lajord Snitjer, his Sony a7rii and heads out on a ‘jobby’. The combination of ‘job’ and ‘hobby’ is a platform on which Vegard can create serious images while having fun in newly discovered locations. This is what the Playground category is all about! And that’s what made him a semi-finalist of the category this year.
Check out our interview with Vegard below to find out more…
Now you’re a semi-finalist, describe what the ‘Playground’ Category means to you…
Playgrounds means a lot to me. I love to show the landscapes surrounding the action, and not just the action. My personal favorites are always photos that show both, so I´m really glad I made it to the semi-finals in this category!
How did you discover the location for your semi-finalist shot?
I found this one in the local newspaper! Not the place I usually find locations. The entrance to the cave became visible for the first time this spring. The glaciers in this area are retreating, but some of the ice was hidden inside a moraine, and was protected from further melting. A group of skiers found it, and sent some photos to the local news. I knew that this was a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to see an ice cave like this in our region, so me and some friends went to check it out. The cave was insane!
You described this day as a ‘jobby’ – do you carry much gear on such a day? What’s in the bag?
It is a remote location, so yeah, it was a lot of gear. We brought two cameras with different lenses (did a bit of filming in there as well), a few flashes, gear for a day in the mountains, safety equipment (not always safe inside a cave like that), and a BMX... It was about 4.5km from to road to the cave, so we tried to minimize the weight of what we carried, but we always end up with more than we planned for.
Do you see a big future for BMX in ice caves?
Yes, absolutely! I think we will see X-games inside ice caves in the future. It is so nice to just ride around in there! Not.
What motivates you to get out there and find new playgrounds?
I´m always searching for something unique. I want to create something that no one has seen before. I want people to say ‘WOW’ when they see my photos for the first time. For me, the playground is the biggest ‘wow-factor’ in a photo like this. I love to put action sports into spectacular landscapes, like the ice cave. I need those spectacular playgrounds to create unique photos. I also love to search for new playgrounds. Location scouting is one of the best parts in a project like this! I went to the ice cave twice. The first time we went we spent more than two hours in there, just wandering around exploring the cave.
The race is on to find unique locations, what advice would you give to anyone that is out there searching for new places to shoot?
Because of social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, it is easier than ever to find new locations. You don´t even have to search, they just pop up in the newsfeed on Instagram... Many of the locations I´ve found are on there, but most of my photos starts with an idea, and then I start searching for the perfect location. I´m spending a lot of time studying maps, searching for photos online, and going to those places to see if they will work. The light has to work as well. Finding the right time to shoot is essential. If possible, you should always go to the location in advance to figure out how you want to shoot it.
Your ultimate location to shoot?
I think it has to be somewhere north in winter. I want to build a big kicker, and shoot someone doing a huge trick with the fjord/ocean and alpine peaks in the background, while the Northern Lights are dancing above us.
Where can we find you in the coming months?
In November you´ll find me in the office, drinking coffee and editing videos. From December until May, hopefully in the mountains skiing powder! Maybe you´ll find me in a sick location far north, with alpine peaks, the ocean, and Northern Lights everywhere!
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