Ragnar Axelsson on BBC4 TV Tonight

[Tim B]

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I have been watching the life and work of Icelandic photographer Ragnar Axelsson on BBC4 tv tonight and hope that someone else has too.

 

I, to my shame, had not come accross him before, but have been deeply impressed by his work, especially his B&W work in the Arctic. I saw him use several Leica film Ms as well as Canon digital and Mamiya 6 (or 7?).

 

He hopes that his work will highlight the disappearing way of life of the Arctic peoples especially as the climate changes.

 

If you get a chance I expect the program will be available on the BBC website to watch again.

 

Fantastic!

 

Tim

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[The_hog]

Hey thank's Tim B

 

I know Ragnar (or Raxi as he's known in Iceland by his friends).

One of his photos is in fact used by Leica for the Summilux 50 presentation.

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH.

 

I have a Sky Box and they'll be showing the episode again later tonight, and I'll be able to record it.

 

Best,

[graeme_clarke]

A superb programme with many stunning photographs - truly inspirational.

 

Graeme

[Eastgreenlander]

I left this reply on film forum as well and thought I better post here too

 

I write from East Greenland, Tasiilaq. We've had RAX here in this part of Greenland as well and probably the most famous west nordic photographer along with Ivar Silis. As a native inuit Greenlandic person, I don't agree that traditional lifestyle is disappearing due to climate change.

 

I have another "photo essay" here claiming we are lost due to climate change.

 

I agree that our cultural basis is changing faster than some social societies can handle. Especially in small settlements where traditional hunting is still the main income. IMO it is changing lifestyle from a traditional hunting society to modern western society. Its a change that have been relative fast, my guess is under 40 years, from hunting traditional values to modern democracy, structure and educational based income. Yes, climate change is accelerating this process but not causing it. I find RAX images breath taking but find Ivar Silis a more insightful in Greenland modern history but unfortunately sell his books in danish only. I see many photographers arrive thru my work in the hotel business and their selling point is "climate change is killing the inuit".

[jbhthescots]

It was a very stunning documentary - enjoyed every minute of it. Also very informative - anyone living in the UK can watch it on the unbelievably good BBC iPlayer at BBC iPlayer - Storyville: 2010-2011: Last Days of the Arctic: Capturing the Faces of the North

[lars_bergquist]

Per Nicolaisen –

 

I agree with you that small nations and groups outside the western 'metropoles' should not be press-ganged to be involuntary illustrations of the 'metropolites' ' preoccupations and agendas. They should not be silenced, they should be allowed a voice. How does it look from their point of view? Their point of view may well be more interesting than our point.

 

Global warming is a serious matter indeed. But it is true that even without it, many traditional lifestyles will either disappear, or be deeply modified, for quite different reasons, including what may be called 'the globalisation of modernity'. Nearly all native Swedes are descendants of people who lived for centuries as small farmers, and were small farm people just a couple of generations ago. Even when I was born, agricultural and industrial occupation was about at the same level. Now just a couple of percent of us are farmers, and the woodlands are full of the remains of small abandoned farmsteads. But the young people abandoned them because they saw a better life in the towns and cities. This sort of thing is unavoidable. The same with the Sami. The largest concentration of Sami people in Sweden today is found in – Stockholm.

 

We have no right to demand that Swedes, or Sami, or Inuit people should mainly engage in jumping around in backwoods, or the mountains, or on ice floes, looking picturesque for our entertainment. They/we are people, human agents, not photographic subjects.

 

Lars Bergquist

 

The old man who was once a kid on the farm

[Keith (M)]

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I had recorded it and watched it last night. What a fascinating programme about Iceland, Greenland and the changes being wrought. The monochrome photographs were absolutely stunning. One can only admire Ragnar Alexsson's dedication, tenacity and photographic skills. Just awesome.

[gib_robinson]

He seems to be using film Leicas exclusively, perhaps because they do well in very cold weather.

 

I love the Iceland and Greenland galleries on his site. He as a knack for balancing images with two or more dramatic elements off center and a compelling sense of how to convey the culture, the landscape and its residents in a way that "illuminates" all three. Very compelling.

 

--Gib

[Eastgreenlander]

Per Nicolaisen –

 

I agree with you that small nations and groups outside the western 'metropoles' should not be press-ganged to be involuntary illustrations of the 'metropolites' ' preoccupations and agendas. They should not be silenced, they should be allowed a voice. How does it look from their point of view? Their point of view may well be more interesting than our point.

 

Global warming is a serious matter indeed. But it is true that even without it, many traditional lifestyles will either disappear, or be deeply modified, for quite different reasons, including what may be called 'the globalisation of modernity'. Nearly all native Swedes are descendants of people who lived for centuries as small farmers, and were small farm people just a couple of generations ago. Even when I was born, agricultural and industrial occupation was about at the same level. Now just a couple of percent of us are farmers, and the woodlands are full of the remains of small abandoned farmsteads. But the young people abandoned them because they saw a better life in the towns and cities. This sort of thing is unavoidable. The same with the Sami. The largest concentration of Sami people in Sweden today is found in – Stockholm.

 

We have no right to demand that Swedes, or Sami, or Inuit people should mainly engage in jumping around in backwoods, or the mountains, or on ice floes, looking picturesque for our entertainment. They/we are people, human agents, not photographic subjects.

 

Lars Bergquist

 

The old man who was once a kid on the farm

 

You are certainly right about your points. It would be nice for RAX to portray different sides of Greenland as well but that might not be within his project definition.

[stunsworth]

Just watched the programme - Virgin cable provides access to the iPlayer. A tremendous programme with some wonderful photographs.

[veraikon]

the "extended Version" (90´) will be emmitted by arte at 23rd. Dec at 21:00 (GMT)

Gesichter der Arktis

 

Der Fotograf Ragnar Axelsson

 

Freitag, 23. Dezember 2011 um 22.00 Uhr arte

 

Wiederholungen:

26.12.2011 um 02:15

Gesichter der Arktis

(Island, Deutschland, 2011, 90mn)

NDR

Regie: Magnùs Vidar Sigurdsson

Stereo 16:9 (Breitbildformat) Nativ HD

 

Für seine aufsehenerregenden Aufnahmen scheut der international bekannte Fotograf Ragnar Axelsson alias RAX weder Abenteuer noch Mühen. Doch geht es ihm in seinen Arbeiten nicht um das Spektakuläre, sondern das Leben der Menschen im arktischen Eis Grönlands und in der herben Landschaft Islands stehen im Mittelpunkt seiner Fotografien.

 

Auf Grönland dokumentieren seine Fotos die Jagd der Inuit mit ihren Schlittenhunden vor grandiosen Eisbergen. Sie zeigen isländische Farmer, die in Wildwest-Manier Schafe durch einen Bergfluss treiben, und sogar den Ausbruch des Eyjafjallajökull-Vulkans aus atemberaubender Nähe. Längst ist Ragnar Axelsson alias RAX nicht nur der erfolgreichste Fotograf Islands, sondern er hat mit seinen Bildern auch internationale Berühmtheit erlangt. So wurden seine Bilder etwa Seite an Seite mit Fotografien von Sebastião Salgado und auch James Nachtwey im Palais de Tokyo in Paris ausgestellt.

Auf seiner Jagd nach dem perfekten Foto schreckt RAX vor keinerlei Abenteuern und Mühen zurück. So verbrachte er mehrere Wochen mit traditionellen Jägern in den Weiten der Arktis, begleitete Fischer auf dem tosenden Nordatlantik und flog mit einer einmotorigen Propellermaschine direkt zum Lava speienden Vulkan. Im Zentrum seiner Bilder stehen Menschen und ihre traditionelle Lebensweise im Einklang mit den arktischen Naturgewalten. Doch diese Lebensweise ist bedroht, vor allem durch den Klimawandel. Seit mehr als 30 Jahren dokumentiert Ragnar Axelsson die Veränderung der Natur im hohen Norden, so dass seine Bilder womöglich dem Betrachter auch einen Einblick in die letzten Tage der Arktis gewähren.

Der bildstarke Dokumentarfilm "Gesichter der Arktis" begleitet Ragnar Axelsson auf seinen eindrucksvollen Fotoreportagen in Island und auf Grönland und zeichnet die Entstehung der wichtigsten Fotos nach.

 

"Gesichter der Arktis" war sowohl beim diesjährigen Bergen Internasjonale Filmfestival als auch auf den 53. Nordischen Filmtagen in Lübeck zu sehen.