While in northern Sweden documenting wetlands, I envisioned the potential for an in-depth residency in which I would turn my attention to the natural and cultural history of the Ångermanälven—a river that flows from the mountains of Norway to the Gulf of Bothnia. I returned a few summers later, when days were prolonged, followed by a long and gradual dusk, absent of night, only to emerge as dawn a few short hours later. In this changing daylight, I contemplated the river’s shifting moods, considering both the natural phenomena on the surface of the river and along the shore, as well as the traces of human presence in this remote and sparsely populated landscape—from recently discarded obsolescence left to decay, to rock carvings and fortresses that have endured for thousands of years.
A more obvious human influence upon this landscape is the impact caused by the many hydroelectric dams that now punctuate its course, redefine the river’s boundaries, and form alternate ecosystems as surrounding areas are submerged or exposed. Although I explored the full range of the Ångermanälven, most of the images featured here were captured locally during long walks from my riverside home in a remote village. I aspire to return so that these diurnal, summer images can be juxtaposed with another set captured when the river is under snow and ice in the sparse winter light.
Ultimately, through a combination of photography and writing, this project will encompass seven thousand years of natural and cultural history along the Ångerman river: from the rock carvings at Nämforsen, the rituals performed at the sacred mountain Offerhällan, and the witch trials at Häxberget to the hydroelectric dams of our present age and a vision of a possible if not likely post-human future.