A Hunting day
A Hunting day
A journey told by Sébastien Van Malleghem
Hello everyone,
That day of reportage was originally shared in October 2019 on my Instagram story account. But I decided to re-write it here, because I feel that it could be more highlighted and also I felt like share it with all of you that are not present on this social network.
(NB; before starting. I’m not supporting hunting at all, I personally hate the fact of killing animals. But I keep an open mind with my job and photography and I do understand the simple, honest practice of allowed hunting by Robert during hunting season. Robert hunts ultra moderately, only males and eats the meat he chased with his family and friends.)
Let’s start fresh
I just came up to north Norway discovering the secluded area of Vesterålen where I was generously invited for an artist residency last October. I was invited to stay in a small fisherman wooden house, that I needed to heat-up with a fireplace. I loved it at my first step passed the door. I was literally alone, watching a quiet harbor.
The view from the entrance of the house.
After a good night of sleep, I started to walk around and meet the locals which immediately spotted the foreigner I was. Driving around, along the Fjord with Ingrid (the owner of the fish company on the harbor) I encountered a strange character I thought. It was a man, dressed as a hunter : on a boat. He was bringing his boat to his family house and I couldn’t stop myself to talk to him. After a small introduction by Ingrid, I asked the man If I could follow him up hunting in the mountains that were surrounding us. He mumbled slightly, looked at me and said “not with these shoes” kindly Ingrid replied back in Norwegian '“I’ll fix that” and lend me some really good shoes from her son. A deal was sealed: he would come the next morning to pick me up around 7AM.
The man knocked on my wooden door, and I was ready, geared packed up (Nikon D850, 35mm 1.4) and a (D810 with a 85mm), a 24-70 in my WNDRD Backpag, with some food, water etc). We started driving on the sinuous roads to reach the back of the mountain. Robert asked straight on as we set food on the ground
Did you ever climbed a mountain ?
No I replied
He mumbled again, told me to take care to not slide on the frozen rocks, and started to climb up.
After a long moment getting along with the mountain its small tress, the rocks, the holes in the moss and the elevation we started to talk a bit. Robert used to climb up this 700meter mountain since he is a teenager, played all around when he was kid. He is now 65 yrs old and climbs it ultra fast like a mountain goat. In between two breathes he asked me “do you smoke ?” I proudly answered that I did quit almost two years ago he said that he also stopped 5 years ago . Somehow we looked at each other understanding the struggle that it was.
We went back to silence, and kept on climbing
I photographed the frozen leaves, a detail that I found extremely beautiful and fragile - wonder of nature. Then look up and saw that lone hunter walking in the rocks almost blending in. For that moment I felt thrilled. My body was ultra up-beat and wanted to push more, while my eyes where filled up with an insane view. And I was just there -In the middle of nowhere- Breathing fresh air, trying to make the best photographs possible with my Nikon. Not that I want to be in a competition, but because I want to praise the moment I’m feeling. I feel that I’m always a better photographer when I shoot with passion. And then, suddenly everything takes over.
I feel. I aim. I shoot.
I don’t hear anymore. I just feel adrenaline.
Robert was swiftly going on his trail, the slope was getting harder - way harder. He asked if I was OK and kept on going higher. Until we almost reached the top. He was looking around, pointing at a sea eagle watching us from the sky. No grouse he said, no grouse…
So we decided to sit and eat on the top of the mountain and watch the view. Nobody was there. Pure silence and cold breeze to keep us company. Rob said that he likes being up there. Nothing more, but I understood. He liked being there also.
The hunter is a sweet man but you see on his face that he lived a thousand life; all kept inside.
Time to stand up and continue the hunt. As the path was easier I let Robert move on. I thought that could have been a story for Nat Geo, and started to photograph with a wider angle also feeling that as human we don’t represent much walking in this magical scenery. We crossed the valley, walked on a steep mountain flank..
Suddenly in the counter light Rob’ stopped
Aimed and shot
I could sense the adrenaline that suddenly lit up the tired man. He moved fast to his catch. The bird was laying on the ridge, warm, peaceful, dead. He delicately wrapped the soft body of the bird into a newspaper and put it in is backpack. Then it will hang in a barn for some time and be cooked.
I’m nobody to judge
I thought the bird was beautiful
So I climbed a mountain during 4 hours with a man I didn’t know, crossed a valley, watched the Islands from above, saw him shoot a grouse on a ridge. We didn’t know each other back then but it was like he was family when we climbed down the track.
It took us all most an hour to come down (he did it in 40min).
Tricky muddy path… We were back in the middle of the small trees, wet leaves and rocks.
I slipped on a wet root. Smiled. Look at the forest and kept on going.
As we reached the “flat” ground Rob looked at me and said :
Julian ?
I replied: Sébastien
He said “Sébastien, Sébastien, Sébastien” and invited me for dinner
I decided to share that day out of my two weeks artist residency, because it resonates with my passion and what I love in photography. Sometimes only few pictures are selected in an entire body of work, or out of a full day. This one was a beautiful one so I wanted to share it with you.
A bigger work is being produce out of this trip, among other. Maybe a photography book, later. I have to make more photographs first..
I also would like to thanks to authorities of Vesterålen for their invitation, Robert, Ingrid, Kristina, Hanne and all her team for their warm welcoming up there.
I’ll be back in Norway soon, I’m sure of it.
I hope you enjoyed the photographs. Please keep on sharing and following it helps me to continue and improve my content every time.
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