The Girl on the Ferry (Colour)

THE GIRL ON THE FERRY
Sylte, Norway – 2025

The concept of this photograph was some time in the planning and its execution certainly marks a step forward in our ambition levels. I believe there is merit in committing to a story and not being spooked by the cost of production if something special is coming together. We have made mistakes in the past by looking at costs without looking at opportunity. The biggest mistake I can make is to curb ambition and not attack. We do not enjoy offering more of the same and there is a palpable commitment to try and surprise.

The Porsche 356 convertible on the ferry was manufactured in 1948 and the ferry is the oldest still operating in Norway - coming into service all of 125 years ago. I immediately recognised the visual potential of this improbable union when they met each other at the ferry quay in the remote village of Sylte in the Norwegian mountains south of Molde. The ferry crew, with an average age of 80, deserved to be fully rewarded for sailing the Bilfergen through the fjords in a snowstorm to meet me. Their journey lasted 12 hours.

The fjords in this area have grandeur and beauty and no more so than after the denouement of a meaningful winter storm. Norwegians are good in bad weather and we needed all their celebrated experience of working on icy roads to get the Porsche and its transit lorry through the mountains to the meet point in time. There is only about four hours of decent light at this time of year and time was critical.

We had a strong set of cards to play with that cold morning, but I needed to prioritise the conveyance of a sense of place without losing the currency of having such powerful props. The solution to the puzzle, which we had anticipated, was to film in the middle of the fjord from the deck of another boat of similar height. If I could get very close to the ferry and use a wide-angle lens, I could get the compositional balance that I was striving for.

The most credit for this photograph should go to The Girl on the Ferry - Nadine Leopold - who did an excellent job of looking warm and graceful on a cold winter’s morning. That was a big ask.
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