 INTRO - Norwegian hot-shot Christian Nerdrum always sets our editorial pulses racing with his highly textured and exquisitely composed images of the Hardangavidda hardcore wakestyle heroes. For his personal riding, he'd rather be where the action requires a large portion of bronzing oil instead of a spare set of thermal undercrackers. We're glad he likes shooting in the snow, though. Here's a fine array of his work
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the suburbs outside Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Where do you live?
I still live in Oslo, closer to the centre.
How old are you?
33
What was your first camera?
It was my dad's fully manual Mamiya camera. It taught me about photography in the good old way.
What is your current camera set-up?
It is a Canon 30D, though I am updating to a 5D that I can do HD filming with as well pretty soon.
Lenses:Â EF 50 mm f1.4, 70 - 200 EF 2.8, 16-35 EF 2.8 and a Canon Speedlite 580 ex flash and radiotransmitters for that.
I also use a compact-camera Canon G9
How did you get into photography?
Not sure if I remember. It just built up slowly me. That old camera from dad got me going with gave enough confidence to see my own potential as a photograper.
When did you become a professional photographer?
I don´t feel like a professional photographer, though maybe I could have been. I have been working in actionsports magazines for six years now, and currently for a Norwegian mag called Fri Flyt. That both motivates and inspires me. Guess it makes me look at kiting with a slightly different eye.
When did you get into shooting kiting and how did it come about?
I actually think filming kiting came before the photography. My carrier started slowly when I was learning how to kite with the pros on Maui in 2000. My first good kite picture was of Robby Naish in Sweeden 2002, I think.
Can you remember the first shot you got published?
Actually I can't! Haha...
Which is your favourite ever shot?
Could be the one of Mike Blomvall in Coche, Venezuela. A fisherman showed up at the beach with his boat, pulling fish as the pelicans dived, swam and flew around him. Mike was the only person on the water, doing his thing. The picture was shot on a shitty lens in pretty bad light, but I still love that shot.
Who is your favourite rider to shoot with and why?
It depends. Sometimes it's a dream to shoot Sigve Botnen. He does exactly what I want him to do - or at least he tries. Bertrand Fleury is also very good to shoot. with. He has a lot of good opinions and keeps me sharp and focused on style and precision.
Where is your favourite place to shoot and why?
Not sure if I found that place yet. I like the variation and I'm never happy to copy my own material or that of others. When it is possible I prefer to take in the background or understated subjects into the picture that can help build the story. I like to make it clean, but there is a fine balance between including too much information and making it too clean and flat again.
Where is the most terrifying place you've ever shot?
It can be terrifying on Hardangervidda. Haha. Sometimes that place just gives nothing back. But iit can also be very beatiful.
Do you have any advice for aspiring kiting photographers?
Try to find a perspective. Always get the water in the picture, and if you can include the take-off, that's good. Make a good plan together with your friend for your shot, and choose the right lens. Don´t focus too much on getting the kite in the picture in the beginning. Start there, and you will probably get some nice shots. |
