Adam Zetterqvist speaking at the Barents Press International meeting in Levi, Finland on May 7 (Photo: Ora Morison)
A new, modern view of the North will be shown on an international stage through a photography project called Barents Stories.
- We want youth to show their images of the Barents Region to give a new perspective on the region, one of the project leaders, Adam Zetterqvist says.
The project asks young people from all over the Barents Region send in photos that show positive images of the North. The goal is to break down stereotypes and reveal the Barents Region for what it truly is.
Old representations are boring
Zetterqvist is Swedish journalist and documentary film maker. He was travelling to Argentina with a friend when he decided most representations of Sweden didn’t show the true nature of his country.
- We were planning to bring presents to our host families in Argentina and it was only pictures of red cottages on islands with Swedish flags and we were kind of bored, he says.
Photos that are part of the Barents Stories photo project should look beyond the same old symbols images.
- Making new stories, that’s what the project’s about, because we really need those stories so we can show that it’s not impossible for kids living up North, Zetterqvist says.
Beaking the language barrier
There are many languages spoken in the Barents region, including Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and different Sami dialects. Zetterqvist says photographs break down linguistic barriers and can connect people across all countries. The photos are being collected on a website, and will eventually be made into a book. So far, there are about 100 photos collected and a photo challenge was launched last week to attract more submissions.
The Barents Stories project will have themes to guide people taking the photos. Zetterqvist says he thinks the themes will make the projects even more fun. The themes will encourage even people who have very little photography experience to get involved in the project he says. Contests and prizes, such as a new camera, will also encourage youth to participate.
For youth, by youth
Youth are the real focus of the project.
- It’s about democracy really, Zetterqvist says.
- It’s not our project, for real, it’s the kids’ project. The kids should be our pilots for this.
One day, Zetterqvist hopes the kids will form a tight-knit community and even hold their own conferences to add their voices to discussions on major issues in Barents Region.
The Barents Stories project is funded by Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten, the county board of Västerbotten in Sweden. The project is led by Julia Lapshina, Ylva Maria Pavval, Ola Moller, Per Kristian Bergmo, Adam Zetterqwist, Asa Sundman and Oleg Pork. Follow the project on Facebook as more photos are collected.
See audio sound slide on Barents Stories:
