What lies to the north of Scandinavia in the darkest periods of hibernation? I will show you.
What lies to the north, beyond the Arctic Circle in the dead of dark, dark Sweden’s winter? In January, certainly no sun. But what lies above in the heavens? The scintillating, swirling, multi-colored hues of the aurora borealis. It isn’t just a wish or desire of mine to photograph this, it is a necessity. I have traveled far and wide in my relatively short life, but this is one natural phenomena that I must experience, and furthermore share with you. It is time to part with the Sweden in my mind and experience what really exists in the Scandinavian wilds.
Why Sweden and not any other country that has land in the Arctic Circle and access to the northern lights? This country has a cinematic heritage most fitting with my aesthetic and temperament, and as I am a filmmaker as well, this counts for a lot. Darkness, beauty and a reserved coolness are characteristics that could describe both my work and this country. I will be channelling the sensibilities of folks like Viktor Sjostrom, Viking Eggeling, Ingmar Bergman and Vilgot Sjorman into my work.
The aurora borealis is not the only subject I plan on documenting during my travels, however. In keeping with Viktor Sjostrom’s The Phantom Carriage, one of the greatest silent films, I intend to venture out and about the capital city of Stockholm around and on New Years Eve. In The Phantom Carriage, the final person who dies before the new year begins becomes the coachman for Death’s carriage until the following year. I don’t intend on having the luck of finding the last person to die before the new year and photographing him or her, but as I go out and about taking pictures of people, places and things, this fable will stick in my mind. (If there ends up being a crazy blizzard while I am in the north, the bulk of this project will lie on this half)
The result of my travels and work will be a series of 10-20 high quality prints. They could range from black/white or color, film or digital source cameras, landscapes, portraits or somewhere in between. Needless to say, they will be worthy photographs. There is also the possibility that I will self-publish a limited edition of hardcover books including these pictures if the demand arises.
The cameras in my arsenal will include a Canon 7d DSLR (w/ 50 & 28mm lenses), a 35mm Yashica FX-3 (w/ 50 & 28 lenses), a medium format Yashica-D TLR and a Sony DSC-H10 point and shoot digital. Also, I suppose my DROID smartphone counts as a camera now a days...
If this kickstarter is successful I am toying with the idea of Light Light Sweden, in which I’ll capture the midnight sun and show that it is not strictly a gloomy place. But let’s stick with the matter at hand now, shall we...?
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
The main challenge of this project will be dealing with the unforgiving, cold weather and making sure my camera and my self do not freeze. Ample research and preparation is in order.
In the case of brutally inclement weather, there may be a challenge of improvisation in order to return with a useable product.
While there are many other countries far different from the US than Sweden, being in a far away land always lends itself to a certain amount of culture shock, stress and anxiety. That being said, I am an experienced traveler and have ideas on how to pre-emptively tackle such psychological and practical matters.
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Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on November 17, 2012.
Funding period
Oct 18, 2012 -
Nov 17, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 7 backed
- Joseph E Dwyer 195 friends
- Website: jedwyer.tumblr.com
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Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $5 or more
11 backers
A postcard I send to you direct from Sweden containing a brief anecdote about my adventures (as long as you supply me w/ an address). Who doesn't love snail-mail postcards?
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $25 or more
7 backers
A set of 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels. A postcard of appreciation will be thrown in as well.
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $40 or more
2 backers
A set of 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels-- AND a DVD of my 2 most recent short films, "The Diddler" and "After the Flood". A trailer for "The Diddler" can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/47199102
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $60 or more
1 backer
A set of 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels-- AND a DVD of all short films I have completed in the past 10 years. Another movie trailer can be seen here https://vimeo.com/47199673
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $100 or more
3 backers
5 16"x20" prints of great Dark Dark Sweden photographs-- AND a DVD of all short films I have completed in the past 10 years.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $125 or more
1 backer
EITHER 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels OR 5 16"x20" prints of great Dark Dark Sweden photographs-- AND a DVD of all short films I have completed in the past 10 years-- AND a written travelogue of my lurid and/or mundane dark, dark exploits.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $175 or more
0 backers
EITHER 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels OR 5 16"x20" prints of great Dark Dark Sweden photographs-- AND a DVD of all short films I have completed in the past 10 years-- AND a written travelogue of my lurid and/or mundane dark, dark exploits-- AND a number of miscellaneous prints of my past and/or current work-- AND request a particular subject for me to photograph (i.e. reindeer); in the end it may not be possible, but I'll try my hardest!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $250 or more
0 backers
A hard-cover, self-published book of the Dark Dark Sweden photographs-- AND either 10-15 8"x10" prints of the best photographs I take during my travels, OR 5 16"x20" prints of great Dark Dark Sweden photographs-- AND a DVD of all short films I have completed in the past 10 years-- AND a written travelogue of my lurid and/or mundane dark, dark exploits.-- AND a number of miscellaneous photographic prints of my past and/or current work-- AND request a particular subject for me to photograph (i.e. dog-sleds gone wild); in the end it may not be possible, but I'll try my hardest!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Add $10 to ship outside the US
