Nærblindhet (Nearblindness)

I recently looked over some old items in my photo projects notebook and came across this. My friend Willie Jarl-Nilsen from Norway sent it to me shortly after my trip out to visit him last autumn. He’d posted it on his social media, citing my approach to photography whilst with him.

I’d intended (with his permission) to share it at that time, but somehow it slipped through the net. Let’s rectify that now; it’s a thought-provoking piece, perhaps useful for many landscape photographers. I have (again, with permission) edited and abridged slightly, as the translation from Norwegian was imperfect in places …

Nærblindhet (“Nearblindness”) – a common public disorder!

I have thoughts about a serious problem which many suffer from. In Norwegian it is known as “nærblindhet”, which translates to “nearblindness”. I was reminded about this a short time ago. Let me share my experience of it with you, as I know many photographers suffer from this. I will also comment on another and related disorder. I believe that many of you will nod with recognition when you read this. As with so many disorders, it is “others” that suffer from it.

We all know that to take a good picture, we have to travel to the right place and at the right time to get the right motivation. These places are often far away. Places which have become known through photo magazines, books, and the Internet. To be a “proper photographer” you may also have to take these pictures. Some examples are that you have to go to New York to do street photography or to Africa on a safari to do wildlife photography. In Norway you have to take a picture from Hamnøy bridge in Lofoten or from Preikestolen (The Pulpit), to gain status.

As is well known, we had severe traveling restrictions due to Covid. Fortunately, this had a positive effect on many. People from the south of Norway have come to discover the north of the country, as the English have also discovered Scotland and Wales. Fortunately, many more have also discovered that you can take good pictures in a local park, in the local hills or by a small river near your home. This is probably the best cure for nearblindness.

I recently had a visit from a Welsh photographer. It was a great pleasure. For me, Lofoten is near, and of course we had to take a trip there. I know the area well and had some good locations in mind. We never got that far!

My friend continuously saw new subjects which I probably would have passed. And when we stopped he was in full concentration to make a good picture. The expression “long exposure” also got a new meaning, as he often used half an hour, or even more, before he pressed the shutter button. That he was a perfectionist and had a very good eye for composition, goes without saying. We never got as far as Reine to Å.

It was no any better when we explored the area closer to my home. Why had I never seen that those stones which made a perfect foreground? Or that those peaks had a special shape?

I must admit that the visit gave me much pleasure and I learned a lot. That he thoroughly enjoyed himself was an extra bonus for me. It is not without reason that I often did sing an old Norwegian song. Some words from this roughly translate to English as follows:

You let your mind fly
So wide and so far
It is as if you forget
The things close to you
It is as if you never
Have an hour of peace
You are always longing
For somewhere else
You have to learn
To appreciate what is close to you!

This Norwegian expression, nærblindhet apparently does not exist in the English language, but David immediately understood its meaning. Maybe it should be added to the Oxford dictionary as a new word? Hopefully, at least, some landscape photographers will now bear it in mind.

I also mentioned another and related disorder which many suffer from. It is the belief that you will become a good photographer if only you get the right camera or expensive lenses. Fortunately, not everybody has been infected by this. All modern cameras can take good pictures of what you see, but you have to see!

If you also bring your eyes and imagination, you have found the cure for this disorder. My friend had a small standard camera, a few lenses, and some filters with him. He borrowed my tripod. I had a big black suitcase with my lenses and also a spare camera as a backup and emergency for him.

I never opened the suitcase.

A great thanks to David Griffiths, who inspired me to write this. The results of his visit, he will show on YouTube.

https://dgriff.gallery/landscapes-in-norway-days-1-2/

https://dgriff.gallery/landscapes-in-norway-days-3-4/