From Norway, West Norway, I COULD HAVE A TRIPTYCH of three beautiful women featured in today’s post – and they are rightly in my heart. Yet I choose the ONE who opened me that wonderful door to Norge, and this is obviously my friend and photographer Anita Orheim, now Perrone.
We are Woman, creative, beautiful.
Our friendship feels ancestral as well as creative. And when I was asked to attend her wedding to François Perrone, read at the Fana kirke, my lens was also very active on that very magical day. Moment tattooed forever in my heart.
How long now have I known Anita? Photography connects us. Our story flang brand new doors wide open when Anita asked me to cover Norway Liberation Day 2010, celebrated for the very first time in Shetland, with Norwegian Royal representation via the Norwegian Coastguards & closer to her home, via NYBAKK, the floating museum led by the Nybakk family, which in turn became part of “my Norskie Clan”. We shared so many slices of life since Scalloway, Lerwick, and Shetland…
As many folk say, the rest is history.
Please visit Anita’s photographic constellation under Anita Orheim Photography
Today, my “Norwegian sister” lives back home happily with François and their peerie man, Alvar.
Here, to celebrate her woman’s work, as a mother in her homeworld, a poem.
Le Petit Prince de Norvège
The one who stops looking up at the stars forgets.
He counts clementines at Yule time on a table fit for a prince, or
a dreamer;
give him a glass that will
allow Jupiter’s moons, or the
silky rings of Saturn shine in his eyes –
smallest of things,
single filed ants along a stem,
mayflies newly born at sunrise,
dust from Lyra, or comet hairs
enlight his mind.
Let him
lie down in the meadow where
grass grows high to home hoppers,
mimmick the blackbird,
feel the elk,
befriend a rose or a red fox…
Give him
goggles and leather gloves,
map & compass, coordinates to
avoid dunes in the desert.
Show him
the Moon, the way each waves shapes the heart stone*,
the way the sun clads earth spirits,
weaves green saris in winter skies –
teach him the songs from
auroras.
And if the bridge feels strong enough,
he’ll look at you when he’s afraid, and reach for the string of his kite.
The one who keeps looking at stars will
find his footprints in the
snow.
© Nat Hall 2017
Note:
* the “heart stone”= Kannesteinen Rock, from Oppedal, off Måløy.