My first camera and industrial inclination

A good photographic print has always caught my eye, a thread that has inspired my industrial inclination. At my grandparents’ countryside cottage, each visit sparks an urge to wander from room to room, tracing their photo collection like a memory map. From the drawing room overlooking the garden pond to the breakfast room, dining room, and living room, the journey feels endless. A few images, though, stand out, shaping how I see things.

My photo walks begin in the drawing room, where drawings from grandchildren line the walls. But, hidden behind the door is a large aerial photograph of the surrounding farmlands, taken when I eight years old. I’ll never forget the day when the pilot circled above us to get the shot. A month later, my grandfather handed me a small box. Inside was my first camera—a simple manual film camera. That afternoon, he showed me how to frame and expose shots, a lesson that turned photography into a hobby for me. I’ve spent countless hours photographing wilderness landscapes, and sometimes interesting industrial sites, and harbor layouts.

Years later, my grandfather brought another gem from his archives: a black-and-white photo of three men aboard a warship. He pointed out King Haakon VII of Norway, explaining it captured the Norwegian Government’s evacuation from Tromsø on June 7, 1940, by the British HMS Devonshire. Taken by his uncle Harold, a crew member, this rare image has little public record. The HMS Devonshire later returned Crown Prince Olav V to Oslo on May 13, 1945, and escorted King Haakon VII back on June 7, 1945, marking Norway’s liberation.

Intrigued, we sent the photo to The Royal Court of Norway in 2008. Months later, Cabinet Secretary Berit Tversland replied, her letter carrying the King’s thanks: “H.M. The King has asked me to thank you for the photograph taken on board H.M.S. Devonshire which you have been kind enough to send His Majesty.”

It’s funny looking back on the arial photograph, my first film camera, and the photograph of the Norwegian Government’s evacuation during WWII abroad the HMS Devonshire. Clearly, these mementos have seeded my fascination with maritime and industrial innovation, including my work and in my notes on multi-fuel ships, and carbon transport infrastructure. Looking beyond my own excitement, I’d like to print and frame some of my own photographs and see how it might inspire my future grandchildren.