We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristine Nyborg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristine below.
Kristine, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I come from the dark. I grew up in Norway, and for long stretches of the year we have very little daylight. This has become a part of our cultural makeup and during the winter months we combat the darkness by slowing down, bonding with our family and community, and spending as much time as we can outside. Since the outside is cold and dark we reward ourselves with coming inside to the warmth of a fire, a hot beverage and being still. While doing this we count the days until the sun returns, and when it does you will see us sitting outside under blankets, stretching our faces toward the sun like spring flowers.
We endure the dark because we know the reward will be a stretch of time when the light is back, and for parts of the summer it never leaves. This way of living, swinging the pendulum between light and dark, has helped me survive in a profession that can sometimes be challenging financially, and kept me optimistic that there will come a time when things get easier.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I empower people with stories. I am hired to find stories or I can teach you how to tell your own story. All of my work is based in photography, but photography is vast, an endless journey to be on, and often is very personal in nature. I like to think that I start people on a journey to become better photographers, and in the process they find confidence to be more authentic about who they are and what they want to say.
This year I published Learning To Speak Bear with Yoffy Press. The book is filled with texts and images of the relentless interruptions of motherhood. I made the book to show mothers that they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the important work they do in their homes.
Throughout the year I teach workshops. I work closely with my students to help them achieve their photography goals. My business is built around my art so that I can do the projects that motivate me while also teaching others how to motivate themselves.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perfection is the killer of creativity. Watch how children learn, they are uninhibited by their lack of skills, they just dive into everything with curiosity and joy. If you can keep your curiosity and joy stay alive, your photographs will give you energy and purpose. Technical skills will come over time, and focusing too hard on learning how things ought to look will blind you to how you see.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Like so many others I am facing financial obstacles as we are currently in a time of high inflation. As a creative I have spent my life struggling financially, so I am no stranger to this. When times are stressful I lean on photography as a crutch, and it helps me pivot both my business and my work to a new place.
My book Learning To Speak Bear is an example of that. I made that work in the most stressful and anxious time of my life. I’m in a period of high anxiety right now, and working on several ways to pivot in order to make ends meet. While I can’t say where it is going at the moment, I know I’m not ready to give up on my work just yet.
When I’m in a situation like this I force myself to make time for being outside, going for walks and carving out space to be still with my thoughts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristinenyborg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristine_nyborg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinenyborg
- Other: Newsletter: https://www.kristinenyborg.com/newsletter
Image Credits
Kristine Nyborg
