Ole Henrik Skjelstad is a Norwegian math teacher who fell in love with photography when he received his first camera as a birthday present in 2013. He lives in a beautiful rural area surrounded by mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. This allowed him to capture many spectacular images, which were published in various magazines and online magazines.
NiSi is happy to interview Ole for his photographic stories and show you the picturesque beauty of Norway.
Z for Zoe and O for Ole Henrik Skjelstad
Z: Hi Ole! Great to talk with you! Firstly, could you share with us some random facts about you?
O: I can deadlift 180kg, I have published two books about Christian faith and I am a Mensa member. Besides that, I am 56 years old, married and we have two children at 23 and 25. I work as a math teacher in the Norwegian high school system.
Heavens Above
With NiSi V6 + ND (6 Stops) + Medium GND (3 Stops) + polarizer
Z: How did you become interested in nature and photography?
O: Truth be told, it was photography that opened my eyes to all the small miracles we find in nature. Before I got a camera I always dreaded fall knowing I would become heavy minded during that season. Now, however, I look forward to fall and the explosion of colors it offers. And not to forget, the Milky Way season this far north begins at the end of August.
That I would become a photographer was never in my mind. For many years I believed I didn’t have a single creative cell in my body. When I started to take some images with my Samsung smartphone back in 2012 I to my surprise found that I enjoyed the activity. It was in January 2013 that I got my first camera – a birthday present from my wife. Slowly but surely I learned new things, like for example to shoot in raw. Next, I of course needed to learn how to edit the raw files, something which entails lifelong learning, it seems to me.
Valley of Fire
With NiSi V5 + ND (6 Stops) + Soft GND (3 Stops) + polarizer
Z: What is your workflow like? Do you have any preferences while shooting?
O: When it comes to post-processing I use Lightroom for raw prepping before I load the image into Photoshop for further editing. I now and then also add a few Color Efex Pro filters.
Out in the field I am still utterly fascinated by how clouds change colors during a sunset or sunrise – how they transform from minute to minute becoming warm and beautiful, even glowing from light. I very often use a wide-angle lens since I love how it distorts a scene, that is, stretching the foreground and the edges. A strong foreground is important, in my opinion. It adds visual interest and depth to a scene.
These past weeks I have tried bird photography. I had never imagined it could be so fun, rewarding and challenging. In all honesty, I am not very good at it. However, that is not the most important aspect of photography. To have a good time and let a succession of moments swallow you up are for me the chief motivational factors.
Wild One
With NiSi S5 + ND (6 Stops) + Medium GND (2 Stops) + polarizer
Z: When you first got started with photography, what did you find most challenging? After several years in the business what do you still find challenging?
O: What really frustrated me in the beginning was that I knew in what direction I would like to take an image in my editing, but I didn’t know how to accomplish what I was after. I am not sure how many hours I have spent watching or reading tutorials, and experimenting on my own in an attempt to master Lightroom and Photoshop.
These days I find that the first joy of photography can be more elusive. When photography becomes a chore instead of something that enriches your life it is time to take a pause and do something else for a while. Ever since I was a kid I have been an avid reader, and I still enjoy a good book when photography comes across as dull and lifeless.
Flow of the Mountains
With NiSi PRO Nano Enhance ND-VARIO (1-1.5 Stops)
Z: When did you start using NiSi filters and why?
O: It was in late 2015 that Dylan Toh posted on Facebook that NiSi filters was looking for more Australian ambassadors. When I saw the post I thought to myself, “They surely need ambassadors in Norway too!” I contacted Ray Wang and the rest is history. During fall 2016 Focus Nordic, which now is Europe’s largest distributor of photo gear, began to carry NiSi filters and I became an ambassador for that company as well.
Back in those days I did relatively well on 500px, whereas Instagram had very low priority. I am not sure if I even had begun posting on IG. However, Ray and the NiSi team welcomed me anyway. I suppose 500px still is my main platform even though it has received a lot of criticism in the past years, and many great photographers have left the platform. But, I really cannot see that for example IG is any better plagued as it is with bots, pods, spamming, advertising and porn.
I haven’t regretted a second that I joined the NiSi team. First and foremost, the filters and filter holders are high-quality products, and NiSi is innovative and always at the forefront. The company has a ton of extremely talented photographers under its wings, and NiSi knows how to treat their ambassadors well. It truly is a treat being a part of something that is larger than myself.
Where the Rocks Have No Name
With NiSi S5 + Medium GND (2 Stops) + polarizer
Z: Which NiSi products do you usually use in your work?
O: I chiefly use square filters since I find that solution way more flexible in the field than for example round filters. Depending on the lens, I either use the S5 or the V6 filter holder. I explain in detail how I use filters in this article .
A Splash of Colors
With NiSi V6 + ND (6 Stops) + Medium GND + polarizer
Z: Among all the photos you have taken with NiSi filters, which one is your favorite? What went into creating it?
O: Jotun II is definitely one of many favorites. One of the reasons why I hold it in high regard is because my eyes became moistened when I saw the in-camera image. I was filled with a joy that cannot be expressed in words. The scene and image were so immensely beautiful.
My good friend Carl Loveall , who is an extremely gifted photographer, visited Norway in July last year. We rented a few cabins and traveled around the western parts of Norway. Jotunheimen was not a part of our itinerary, but when the forecast predicted nice conditions up there we changed plans and opted to sleep in the car. That evening we experienced a very beautiful sunset which lasted quite a while.
The image is shot using the NiSi S5 holder, the NiSi S5 polarizer and a NiSi Medium 2 stop to balance the light.
Jotun II
With NiSi S5 + Medium GND (2 Stops) + polarizer
Z: What was the most impressive day you’ve spent in photography?
O: Among many memorable moments one morning in Romsdalen stand out. Dag Ole Nordhaug , who is one of my favorite photographers, and I spent five days in Romsdalen at the beginning of October 2017. Every sunset and sunrise were a miss save a few moments of good light. However, our final sunrise together was spectacular. The good light and colors lasted quite a while, and I ran around trying to shoot as many compositions as possible while the conditions were favorable. Romsdalen is an area with majestic mountains, wild rivers and waterfalls.
The Peak
With NiSi S5 + ND (6 Stops) + polarizer
Z: Any tips for newcomers learning the craft?
O: We have many great singers in Norway. People who can chant the most beautiful tones and harmonies with their voices. It is tempting to believe that they are born that way. During interviews, however, they disclose why they have evolved into world-class singers. Without exception they mention all the hard work they have put into honing their talent. In addition, they are not afraid to mention the tough times when they were on the verge of giving up, or times of rejection and even depression. A Norwegian poet once said: “Without uphills it isn’t possible to get any higher.”
Day’s End
With NiSi S5 + ND (10 Stops) + Medium GND (2 Stops) + polarizer
Z: What’s your plan for this unusual year, photographically?
O: It is indeed an unusual year with the Coronavirus now limiting travel, and tragically leaving many casualties in its footsteps. I live in a beautiful rural area with lakes and forests which I can visit anytime. Depending on how the pandemic evolves in Norway, I may visit some mountainous areas during spring and summer. I don’t have to drive very far. Between four to six hours in the car and I am amidst mountains and waterfalls.
