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

Marjoram and Fireflies

At the end of a long day driving, walking and taking photographs around the north western mountains in

Portuguese lakes at sunrise

I am now long overdue a film developing session followed by some printing. And I cannot wait. Apart

Speedometers and Bikes

When cycling around Eastern Europe it was very low-tech for Morgan and I. Our decision was spur of

Under the Stars in Madagascar

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

Randomly Selected

To the West of the Sun

“But what is there, west of the sun?” I asked. She shook her head again. “I don’t know.

Child’s i Foundation

Working on Big Brother, even on a freelance basis as I have done since it started, you meet

Blink and you’ll miss it

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

Koudelka – Shooting Holy Land

Hot off the heels of seeing Don McCullin came the opportunity to see Josef Koudelka, perhaps my biggest