Quick backstory:

I used to be an engineer. From a paycheck perspective it was the dreamjob! I could afford a house, top shelf cameras, gadgets, gear etc. You know the works! Another great thing about the job was I was constantly travelling to new and weird places. This fuelled the photography hobby further, and I became borderline obsessed with exploring through the lens.

There was just a problem with the whole situation. I worked 12 hours every day on the job, so I rarely found time to explore with my cameras. The exploration lust was never satisfied.

Long story short - I made an exit plan. Roughly one year after the plan was made, I was let go due to massive cutback in the industry. My employer actually pulled the trigger on the final piece of the exit strategy. It was ironic, and after the meeting with my managers. A meeting they had had with hundreds of other employees, that usually ended in anger, tears or frustration or all of the mentioned emotions of distress, from my former colleagues… I thanked them for the opportunity and walked off.

My bank account was loaded, so I could finance the start of my dream. To explore with my cameras.

Thats how this roller coaster ride with cameras and adventures started.

… One year of travelled turned into two. Then 3. Then 4. Then my bank account started to shrink, because I was enjoying myself a little too much. I forgot about the business aspect of things, and how to even set that up.

Its funny how we can forget about money, when it has come so easily to us in the past.

But I was struggling financially, still travelling. Eventually things started to turn with small freelance gigs here and there + setting up other sources of passive income. After a while, I could finally say, I was living my dream. Travelling the world. Exploring with my cameras, all the while calling it my full time job.

A question I often ponder is: What kind of photographer are you? I love wildlife photography, since Africa has a very special place in my heart. Since 2012 ive been there every year. I also love roaming the streets of big cities such as Tokyo, that puts me right in the street photographer category. I love documenting other types of travels as well as random everyday stuff.

So I guess travel photographer is the most fitting category.

What I like to do in my photography is create small projects, if I have a bright idea. Or bigger projects where I spend all my money (again). The big project just mentioned resulted in an exhibition in a fancy gallery in Oslo, my hometown. Never saw that coming! Apart from that, I share my photographic experiences and insights in YouTube and post regularly on instagram.

Thats short and sweet how things have evolved.

The best thing I ever did was make that exit plan to pursue my own interests, eventually making them my job. All my friends think im in a never ending state of vacation. If they only knew the amount of work it took to get here! Great thing about working with what you really love and care about.

It doesnt feel so much like “work”.