January

To start at the beginning - really at the beginning - we go back to the cradle of photography, if you can say that?

We will work with analogue photography. The students have taken pictures in Copenhagen before Christmas and we will finally get to see the pictures. We just have to take out the film, thread it onto reels in complete darkness, mix and pour on various chemicals and let the 30-minute process work wonders.

We can then take out the film, dry it for a few hours and see the result - as negatives.

Then the film just needs to be scanned into a data. Or even better, copied on paper in the darkroom. Under the reddish light, the film is placed in enlargers, light-sensitive paper is illuminated and dipped in various chemical baths, and then the picture is ready!

Analogue photography and darkroom work is a real craft. There is excitement, expectations and coping. It is time-consuming - but the cool thing is that the techniques you learn both about the camera and the development increase your understanding of digital photography.

You simply become a better overall photographer!

Visit Eastern Norway

Also in January, together with content creator Andreas Kokkvoll in Visit Eastern Norway, we will work to showcase our local area through film and photos.

Andreas works to create content that showcases the diversity of tourism, culture, nightlife and business opportunities in the region and, together with the students, will develop and realize ideas that showcase some of what Elverum has to offer - and that's not a small amount.

February

In February, a period of deepening awaits, where the students themselves will choose an area within photography that they want to explore more. It could be film, studio, fashion, compositing or something else they want to get better at, or try out.

The project facilitates collaboration with other lines or students at the school, and allows the students to test their own initiative - an important factor if you are thinking of continuing as a photographer.

Food photo

Food photography offers plenty of room for creativity, collaboration, cooking, experimentation with photography techniques and different lenses. Photographer Kine Bakke guides the students and gives them a real crash course in lighting that can be used for far more than food photography.

We expect a tasteful result, both on camera and when the set has to be cleaned!

Folkhighschoolympics

During the month, the theme week "Elverum folk high school ympics" is organised, and we take a short break with the winter holidays.

Mars

In March we travel to Lofoten by train to hunt wild nature, northern lights, sea eagles and try exotic surfing among snow-capped mountain peaks.

Lofoten looks extra good in March. There is enough light to make the most of the day, but enough darkness to hunt for the northern lights. This year, expectations are a little extra high as the forecasts for the northern lights are sky high. The activity so far this winter has been great, so we're keeping our fingers crossed!

After the Lofoten trip, we collect the best of the best and create a public exhibition with prints for sale.

Action

Mars also hosts collaborations with Snowboard/Freeski and Backpacker/Extreme Sports to take action photos in Trysil. We naturally take the opportunity to ride boards and skis in Norway's largest ski center ourselves as well. A perfect combination of photography and experiences.

Easter comes early, but before then we start to plan Interrail little by little, so we can make the best possible route, find good accommodation and cool sights!

April

Unfortunately, we have to go on Easter holidays as well (yes, Folkehøgskole follows all "school holidays". Autumn, Christmas, winter and Easter holidays). When we return, we will continue to plan our European trip. We will travel together with Music - Band/Vocal and experience a number of countries from Zagreb in Croatia to Berlin.

In April there is also a new theme week: Rare Adventures. The whole school takes part in setting up well-known Norwegian folk tales in new and (very!) strange costumes and playing them for kindergarten and school children in the area.

We also managed a recycled fashion shoot with Afrika - Bistand/Kultur. Fancy words on a fancy project that gives fancy pictures. We work with a thrift store that does charity work. Our contribution is that the school buys outfits that are used in the fashion shoot, and the students get to keep the outfit. If the students are also tempted to shop more second hand because the pictures prove that they look fresh, then it's a win-win-win.

Then we travel out in Europe to experience culture, see concerts, talk to people, see sights, use buses and trains, check in and out of accommodation and get a maximum of impulses before the year is over.

May

The European tour extends some way into May. We return home from the trip and process all photos and films. The best snapshots from the entire school year will be added to the students' digital portfolio - which is the last thing we can do before the school year is over and we will hug, cry and write nice yearbook greetings for a whole week 😭.

Addition from the photography teacher

This is a "highlight-based" and superficial listing. Through the projects in this list, my goal is for students to become better photographers and handle digital tools, as well as the analog craft.

But they will also learn to give constructive feedback, structure and prepare projects in an independent way, collaborate with other known and lesser known, take initiative, get new experiences that affect them and challenge their established attitudes.

I want them to experience mastery, and for the weeks to be rich and meaningful. I want them to experience it as rewarding to put in a real effort. And I want the time we spend together to open up good conversations and exchange of views that make us a little more understanding and open.