Text and photo Laila Duran ©
Making a book, or books, takes a lot of different skills. I am so lucky to have friends and colleagues generously helping out in all aspects of the production. One of the fist things we do starting a new project is taking the photos, and yes I am the photographer, but here is how it works. As I travel around Scandinavia our team works tightly together and everybody helps out. Here is an introduction to some of the people that makes the books possible. They are all very much over-qualified for the tasks I give them but with good humor and understanding of the process of producing a book they help out in every way they can. They write, translate, guide and model …. and bring indispensable help to me during the photo-shoots.
This is Isak Utsi, a young man who introduced me to his family, friends and the whole Sami village of Sirgies. He is guiding me, teaching me about the life of the reindeer keeper and helps me during the sometimes adventurous photo shoots. He is also a very good photographer……
Isak is featured on several pages in the book Scandinavian Folklore vol 1.
When we need a pack of reindeer for a photo-shoot, Isak is definitely our man.
We take pictures in all kinds of weather. Here the fog is thick and the rain pouring down. Still the photos has magic…..
Scholar and ethnologist Anne Kristin Moe is the co-author of Scandinavian Folklore vol 1 and 2. She will also be the author of the book “Norwegian Embroidered Bunads”. Here she is wearing some very flattering props used on a photo shoot this summer.
Being a photo assistant can be challenging!
Martin Ciszuk, textile historian, at work with one of the walker-on at a shoot at Vallby Friluftsmuseum.
At every visit we take notes. Here Martin is making sure everybody gets to tell the story of their regional costume.
Whenever we need a model, Martin knows all the right moves.
This is Tordis Gjevre. After more than 30 years of field work at “The Norwegian Institute of Bunads and Folk Costumes” she is the person we turn to whenever the costumes has to be fitted and the models properly dressed. She is also a very good sport and often comes to the locations to make sure we do things right.
Last but not least is Torkel Henriksson, who is doing all the original artwork on the books. Here he is riding his horse Nirvana, dressed in a costume from Nås in Western Dalecarlia which will be presented in the next book, Scandinavian Folklore vol 2.
More than a hundred invited guests arrived wearing their bunads.
Beautifully exhibited, the visitors are shown several bunads of the reconstructed versions from the 18th and 19th century until today.
Curator of the Institute, Anne Kristin Moe is applauding her colleagues for their good work, while director of “Bunad og folkedraktrådet”, Kjærsti Gangsø, officially opened the exhibition.
After the opening I had my first experience of signing copies of my book.
Apart from the book there were Scandinavian Folklore calendars, posters and postcard.
I do not know which was more spectacular, the book or the visitors?
Even though the book is quite heavy to carry many of the visitors bought more than one copy. These ladies from Sunnfjord are bunad producers at Audhild Vikens Vevestove.
Director of “Bunad og folkedraktrådet”, Kjærsti Gangsø in her blue Nordlandsbunad. For more information about the exhibition please visit