carboncollective™ is a series in which we are showcasing the work of some of the more interesting Flickr photographers from Scandinavia. We've hand picked some of the best photographers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in order to show you a selection of their work. In our opinion, the photographers we've selected demonstrate a strong sense of Scandinavian Æsthetics in their work and, as a collective, their photography spans a broad range of styles and subject matter.
Our sixth photographer is Emilie Björk (born 1986) from Gothenburg in Sweden. Originally from Östersund in the northern part of Sweden, Emilie grew up in the countryside along with her parents, two brothers and five sisters. Aside from her biggest dream, which is to own a kitten, her main passion is photography, something she currently studies in Gothenburg.
Emilie's work is a favorite of ours and in our opinion she's one of the better proponents of the Nordic Angst school of photography. Her shyness and rather serious nature emerge from the seeming stillness of her images. Stunning images that are poignant rather than sad, always touched with irony and often revealing a quiet sense of humor. Judge for yourself by taking a look at a selection of her work below and in the carboncollective™ VI gallery.
"It's important to me to know who I am and what I do. It's important to me to show people how life really is. Even if it's a living hell. I started taking pictures when I was 12. It wasn't a big deal other than for myself. I guess it's not a very big deal now either, apart from the fact that I've been taking part of a few exhibitions and shows."
Whilst still a student, Emilie's work has already been shown at Fotofestiwal in Poland, at Smoke Gallery in Canada, as part of a small group show in London and at Senko Studio in Viborg alongside the very talented Annika Von Hausswolff.
"I don't take photographs because I want to. I take photographs because I have to. Relationships, thoughts, political thoughts, feelings, dreams and everyday happenings... everything is something that I need to remember and I use photography as an aid for that. Sometimes it feels like I'm falling apart because there is just too much to remember."
Rather than becoming a commercial photographer, Emilie hopes to concentrate Art photography whilst also working on editorial shoots for some of the more interesting magazines (Vice is currently a favorite magazine of hers).
"Techniques and good equipment has never been a big deal for me. If you want to take photographs and if it's a part of you, you just DO it and you don't think about HOW you do it."
This Summer, Emilie wants to go to Hamburg, Leipzig or Berlin to live and work. If any of our readers know of any opportunities for her or any openings as a photographer's assistant, she'd be very grateful to hear from you.
Take a look at a selection of Emilie Björk's photographs in the carboncollective™ VI gallery.
Emilie Björk on Flickr
Your work is amazing. I am an art student at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska...and I was wondering if I could have your permission to paint a few of your pictures. I would not sell them..it is just an assignment to create 6-8 images in some sort of medium using a common theme....
I would really appreciate it ..because you have really inspired me...and i could even send you some of them or at least give you pictures of them when I am done.
Posted by: Matthew Macchietto | 15/08/2007 at 18:43