ragne sigmond 241
Nationality norwegian
Main working location denmark
Photographic method digital and
infrared film
ragne Kristine sigmond graduated from
the danish school of Photographers
(medieskolerne) in Viborg, denmark
in 2003, having specialized in fine art
photography. after a period working as
a portrait and advertising photographer
in norway, she was appointed professor
at her former photography school in
Viborg in 2006. she has judged the
annual portrait competition held by the
norwegian/swedish association of
Portrait Photographers, and has exhibited
in norway, denmark, and Belgium.
http://www.ragnesigmond.com
it is the elegance and simplicity of the sinuous female form that inspired
me to explore nude photography. as the focus of an image, it gives it
a timeless atmosphere that i complement with my choice of location and
props. i work with both professional and amateur models, although i find
that models who have studied dance are easier to pose. They will also
improvise, which in turn can inspire new ideas in me. Being a female gives
me a great advantage—i can imagine myself in a scenario or a pose and
this makes it much easier to translate my idea to the model.
i was lucky to grow up in
a very creative household, and
was encouraged to study
dancing, theater, and music.
Today these interests directly
influence my photographic style.
i shoot about 90 percent of my work on a digital camera, and use black
and white infrared film for the remaining 10 percent. i work in both studio
and environmental interiors, where i prefer to shoot in natural light, only
adding artificial light if the circumstances demand it. in the studio, the
lighting setup is never completely predetermined—the final lighting choice
is a result of exploration, inspiration, and improvisation during the session.
my pictures have been described as creative, mystical, and
adventurous. Their style is often linked to the dreamy, fairytale qualities
inherent in norwegian folklore and a romanticized image of scandinavian
culture. i develop my ideas from things that inspire me in my everyday
life—people, places, objects—and along with careful selection of locations,
models, clothes, and props, i strive to give my pictures an ageless quality.
Quite often i use an idea as a starting point, and make conscious use of
light, contrast, compositional elements, form, and color as tools to reach
the final result. at the same time, i try to work spontaneously during the
session, allowing circumstances to reshape the idea into something fresh
and new. This mixture of a conscious and instinctive work flow, with one
idea leading to another, is what gives expressiveness to my pictures.
i don’t end the session until i feel “it’s there” (and indeed it’s very often the
last pictures of the shoot that are the best). These creative shoots give me
great satisfaction. They are like vitamin pills—a real boost!
ragne sigmond
