Five Minute Windows

Stryne-Vatnet, Stryn,
Norway by Toby Deveson. August 2003. Part of the West of the Sun seriesAfter driving over 7000km in nine days around Scandinavia it was the morning of my last day. I was in Norway heading south towards the airport in Oslo, psychologically I was winding down, not expecting to take too many more photographs. As the road met up with the River Stryn on my left, I glanced in my mirror as a lay-by flashed past. I had a split seconds worth of hesitation – I almost didn’t stop – then slammed on the brakes, reversed back to the lay-by and skidded down the bank to the river’s edge. It was stunning. There was a bank of early morning fog and it was fast disappearing. I had five minutes, if that, to take advantage of the beauty that had been presented to me, gift wrapped. Adrenalin was rushing through me as I tried to be disciplined and take the safe shots before going for the more risky ones that may or may not work. Then it was gone, slowly drifting away as the sun rose, lasting no more than a couple of minutes.

As I drove away I was stunned by the series of events that had led up to that moment. Nine days on the road, catching the last ferries of the day by the skin of my teeth, breakdowns, diversions, all leading me to that one moment, that window of stunning beauty on the last day of my trip.

Related Images

Stryne-Vatnet, Stryn, Norway by Toby Deveson. August 2003. Part of the West of the Sun series

Latest

Swarm

It was as simple as ‘get to the top of Finland and turn left’.  At least that is

Blink and you’ll miss it

Iceland. Never has the essence of a country so closely resembled the way in which I see the

Under the Stars in Madagascar

There are times when writing about memories from as far back as my eighteenth year feels wrong. How

Viewpoints

The Rooftop Collective exhibition edition VI Tempus Fugit. So they say. Here we are again, another Rooftop Collective

Memories

Blink and you’ll miss it

Iceland. Never has the essence of a country so closely resembled the way in which I see the

Failed trips or the art of flexibility

Failure can be a strong word. It’s no big deal, and not something I am particularly hung up

Cold, tired and high in Ladakh

India 16-03-11 It wasn’t that cold. Or rather it didn’t feel that cold. It was dry, drier than

Putting Your Foot In It

Some things in life are constant. As babies we grow into childhood, dependant on certain things not changing.

Randomly Selected

Cycling into Hungary

Eighteen years old, Morgan and I had decided to cycle to Eastern Europe from Milan, our home at

The other side

We are in an age of living vicariously through others. We relish the final products of artists and

Fomatone 532: Welcome to the Family

From Agfa Record Rapid to Kodah Ektalure to Fomatone 532 When it comes to the equipment and materials

Magpies by Sara Lando

Sheer Genius and absolute beauty: Sometimes you meet someone who you just click with. Someone who you feel