Paul Flessland, local photographer and Spotlight Media’s very own photographer, journeyed to Norway this past summer on the photo adventure of a lifetime. He spent time with family and met new friends from all over the world through a program called WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms). A Gallery of 13 pieces from his time abroad has been set up in the Smart Spaces showroom.
Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
When Flessland returned from Norway, he wanted to make his work easily accessible to the public. “The photos from Norway are pretty special to me with my heritage, and also because Minnesota and North Dakota have a lot of Scandinavian roots. It has an emotional connection for me and hopefully also for others,” he said.
THE GALLERY RECEPTION NIGHT
In December, Flessland debuted his work at the Spark Gallery in the Smart Spaces showroom. All pieces are currently available for purchase.
WHILE IN NORWAY
While in Norway, Flessland kept costs down by volunteering on organic farms through the WWOOF program. “I planned to be at two farms, each for a month. The program was great because I worked 30 hours a week on the farm in exchange for free room and board, with the ability to travel in my spare time. It was nice to have that as a hub in the north and it was really interesting to learn about other cultures while I was there, too. I met many people from the other countries at those farms,” said Flessland.
SOME FAVORITE PIECES
Lofoten 1
Flessland went to Lofoten, an archipelago in northern Norway, with a French man he met on the second farm he worked at. They hitchhiked from Tromsø and rented a car once they arrived. The first night, they drove through the mountains at dusk to find a place to sleep. “It was foggy and light because of the midnight sun. I couldn’t pass up on the photo opportunity,” he said.
Lofoten 2
“We went for a midnight hike in Lofoten. We wanted to see the sunset, but of course, it was foggy at the top. This photo was taken around one in the morning and there were a ton of sheep running around. I chased a few and took pictures of them,” said Flessland.
Lofoten 3
While on the same hike, Felssland came upon a sandy beach that inspired him. He took the picture at four in the morning. It was a four-minute exposure. “It’s the longest exposure I’ve done so far,” he said.
Kongshaug
On the left side of the image there’s a small village, Vik, with a stave church. “It’s a special village, because the stave church in Moorhead is the exact replica of that one,” said Flessland.
You can see more of Flessland’s photographs from Norway at the Smart Spaces showroom. It will be up through February. You can also find more of his local work on his website.
For more information, contact:
Paul Flessland
paulflessland.com
Or visit the gallery:
Spark Gallery at Smart Spaces
5226 51st Ave. S, Fargo
701-200-8770
