How it started and why photography always will be a great challenge...

My devotion to photography came as a result of classmates in college who urge me to sneak into their photography classes to try it out. At the time I was a student of fine art with the intention of developing myself as a painter and a illustrator. The magic of processing photographs in the darkroom had me in a firm grip almost from the first moment. When I the following year managed to get two black&white photographs published in a book it sort of sealed my fate. The feeling of seeing my own photographic interpretations of reality published in a book was so satisfying that I felt I had to make it happen again. This lead me on to further field studies with a very stubborn idea of becoming a great photographer at any cost. When I was in my early twenties I was actually prepared to do absolutely everything to create what I could feel was a great photograph. No matter the cost, the circumstance or other physical obstacles and torments I had to endure. It happened once in a while that I took this idea to far and was probably saved by some sort of guardian angel from hurting myself badly. Also I realized pretty soon that great photography was not going to happen just by taking great risks and pushing limits.  I have through the years learned many great lessons of what actually makes the foundations of great photography. Not just a picture that is good for the moment but one that could be defined as great photography. The truth is that there is not a constant formula for great photography to happen. The photographer always has to see each assignment as a new challenge. There are always unseen details to consider. Light and shadows can always bring something new and fundamental to the original idea and also take away from the photographer who is not present int the absolute moment. A great photographer is defined by his presence in the moment and his ability to actually see. Everybody can learn which button to push to record something. Great photography is far more elusive. It is about really seeing! And from that moment when something important has made itself visible make the best desicion on how and when to let the sunshine in..."