Agneta Muhr

Old sailors and Scandinaivian folksong

Monday, September 14, 2009 1:42:47 AM

boats, folksong, sea, storm, lyrcs, captain, sailor, wind

Earlier this sommer on my vacation at The wolrdinherrit The Vega islands I took some photos. Yes I did! I suppose you are not surprised. Vi where visiting a Coastculturemeeting and looked at boats for several days. The Crazy Norwegian have the sea in his heart and soul and have been sailing and travelled on the sea for his whole life.I am born in the middle of Sweden where you can walk across the lakes. I am afraid on th sea but love living near and spend time at the water, not on!
But here at Vega I just enjoyed the beauty and feeling of old history of the boats and there Captains and crue!!
I saw a lot of old sailors.And there where no problem to see that they where just that, old sailors and captains!
I began to think and see them in my imagination as they had been and lived there lives. Hard lives on a sometimes cruel sea. Hard to earn what they needed to support there families.And they did not always know if they should return safely or not.I do not think this old sailors would like to change there lives but I think they are the last of a kind.
I wonder how many times they have leaved there loved ones for moth of fishing at Lofoten and the nordic seas and how many of them who died out there . Still fishermen dies at sea every year outside Norways coastline!
I could not help myself I started to take shots at these men and I want to show the to you!

When I see them I can not help thinking of the old Scandinavian folksong " Who can sail without the wind"

The lyrics goes like this:

Who can sail without the wind
who can row without oars
Who can leave there love,
without falling any tears

I can sail without the wind
I can row without oars
But I could never leave my love
without falling tears

And this is what it sound like in Swedish, sad and true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIaUvD8ngbY&feature=related

A painting and a weddingI was fishing last weekend, have a look!!

Comments

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dirkthetomster # Monday, September 14, 2009 1:52:15 AM

WOW !!! Agneta, wonderful photos, I like it b/w ... very strong ... like the topic "the sea"

'though I'm born near the Baltic Sea in Luebeck, I like watching the sea, from a distance and never feel so good with a lot of water under my feet

... and the song is fantastic, sad but true and strong ... I guess all the songs related to the sea are like this ... strong in belief and melancholic in expression ... I really enjoyed this

...
http://files.myopera.com/thetomster/files/awesomesmiley.gif -

L2D2 # Monday, September 14, 2009 3:13:43 AM

Yes, Agneta, this is a great post. I love the black and white. It looks stark and real. And I love that closeup of the old sea captain. It looks like every stereotype of an old sea dog that I have ever read or seen. And the song was sad. These people face death every day, and at sea, there is no shelter to run to.

Thanks so much for sharing.

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 4:28:22 AM

Thank you so much my friends!! I have heard stories about the life at sea, have hard it was almost since I came here.
The Crazy Norwegian is very interested in history and espcially about the history of the coastpeople here in Norway. He has many relatives among those people and have spend all his summers up around the Vega Islands.He is always talking about it!
And it made my imagiantion go....
Almost everyone here has a grandparant who was a fisherman.And everyone has a realive or moore that have died to sea. I think this has colored the Norwegien since the vikingdays.
It facinates me!!

studio41 # Monday, September 14, 2009 4:51:32 AM

excellent images

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Monday, September 14, 2009 5:01:33 AM

Good work, Agneta ... thank you.

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 5:18:52 AM

studio41 thank you! Nice to have you as a friend here at opera!!

Wandersman, thank you for your nice words and for the visit! Always so nice to see you here!!

antoniettafainoantonietta # Monday, September 14, 2009 6:03:47 AM

Visit your blog is always nice, the photos are beautiful and the lyric is delicate and charming. As always, you give emotions to us all and I love to visit your blog. To see your photos is like reading stories that manage to be evocative and full of feelings

studio41 # Monday, September 14, 2009 6:10:22 AM

thank you

you as well

Norfridnorfrid # Monday, September 14, 2009 7:37:30 AM

Nice post! Tough guys those fishermen. Don't see many sailors like these nowadays, and especially not after I moved away from the coast.

derspecht # Monday, September 14, 2009 8:29:54 AM

Great post! The pics have all a great atmosphere. The bw with the strong contrast strengthen this! Did you ask the men for the photos?

Samael Tiamateyemreli # Monday, September 14, 2009 12:47:44 PM

Nice song and great pictures

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 2:30:43 PM

Hi Friends and Thank you so much!!
It is real wonderful to wake up in the afternoon after a hard nights work and read all nice comments and know that out there are people who really like what I do and write!
You make my day! Thank you!

Swen, I did not ask them by words but we looked at eachother and smile in understanding! They showed that they like to be models! Probebly they thought I was one of all crazy tourists, wich I actually was!

It was a big meeting and a lot of cameras!

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Monday, September 14, 2009 3:06:39 PM

Judging from what you manage to communicate through these posts, Agneta, they probably sensed a very friendly soul behind that camera, one that would not portray them in an unflattering way.

The place, the boats, the men remind me very much of my time on the coast of Maine, here in the USA. A harsh, rugged, beautiful coast, and the folk are sturdy and honest. They say little, working their hard and dangerous jobs ... fiercely independent, yet always ready to help each other. And always ready to sit and talk to a stranger ... especially over a pint.

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 3:21:09 PM

I think people like this share souls! They are just as you say, so friendly and when they not are at the sea they have all time in the world to share with strangers or people just passing by.This is just what The Crazy Noewegian tells me, and the kind of life he loves and have grown up with.
They have indeed hard lives and have a way to se it in a positive way and enjoy the simple things in lives, they just know how easy they are to loose! We have a lot to learn from them there!
The best things in life are free!
I admire those men and women who still are living this way and I think they are the same kind all over the world!!

MapsGPXBobfisher08 # Monday, September 14, 2009 5:55:10 PM

Beautifull pictures in B/N. Its must be hard be sailor and wonderfull can learn from the sea. I love mountains but i think the beautifull sea, is more dificult to understand it. Great post.

Greatings.

prophetone # Monday, September 14, 2009 7:23:23 PM

Wonderful Pictures Agneta!! I love when U do not use color in them , it makes them more genuine in a way...sort of. It's almost like they R more than photos - they become paintings...from real life. Now I want 2 be a sailor myself

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 9:24:40 PM

Thank you Bobfisher!! Nice to se you here!!
I agree, the sea is hard to understand and things you do not understans scares you.You feel so little out on the sea. But I can spend hours and hours watching it!
I feel moore safer in the montains and love to wander here in the Norwehien montains!This land are nothing but sea and montains so I have a lot of both!!

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 9:28:45 PM

Thanks Markku!! I love B/W myself and work a lot with it in my photos!
And portraits often get much moore personality in B/W!
And these men, I had no choise, it has to be this way!
Have been to see anytime or is it like me, lakes with no deep inside the country??

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 9:32:35 PM

Wandersman, I have to tell you, I talked with The Crazy Norwegian about the fishermen in Maine. he laught and said that he was not surprised of your reflektion.
Many people imigrated from Norway to USA in bad times in old times and many of those ended up in Maine!!!Many of them from our area in Norway! He have a lot of relatives there,fishermen and seamen of course!!

L2D2 # Monday, September 14, 2009 9:39:46 PM

Small world, and getting smaller all the time, thanks to technology.

prophetone # Monday, September 14, 2009 9:51:32 PM

Originally posted by AgnetaM:

Have been to see anytime or is it like me, lakes with no deep inside the country??

The only time I've been on the Sea was on a Ferry and on both occasions I felt seasick and ready 2 throw up my stomach - so YES! I prefer 2 stay on calm, very calm water...

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 10:00:28 PM

Thats one of the reasons I have trouble at sea besides a little fear! I take some premedication before I enter a boat otherwise I throws up with thw first wave!

A rowboat and a calm lake and a fishingpole, thats ok!!

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 10:02:32 PM

Linda, there are almost no distance nowadays! Thechnology is a fantastic thing!
Thanks for aeroplanes and www!!!

L2D2 # Monday, September 14, 2009 10:43:27 PM

I have been in bass boats in East Bay near Galveston, and I have been on the ferry that goes to Galveston and enjoyed the trip. Do not know how I would do on a sea cruise. Don't think I would be seasick, but won't know unless I experience for myself. I would love to go on a cruise.

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Monday, September 14, 2009 10:46:03 PM

Come to Norway and we will take a "Hurtigruten" Cruise together! If we become seasick I have the meds!!

L2D2 # Monday, September 14, 2009 10:48:01 PM

Sounds like a good deal to me! Mind if I bring a friend?

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Tuesday, September 15, 2009 6:58:33 AM

Of course!! Your friends are my friends!!

Suntana # Tuesday, September 15, 2009 7:01:29 PM

As usual, Agneta, excellent, high quality photos.

They're like something out of a top notch magazine or even from the old encyclopedias ... before those went Online. Even like something right out of a movie, except these are the Real Deal.

I do believe that guy in the 4th Pic is hiding from you.

He looks like he's going, "Now where is that pesky, relentless photographer lady? Why won't she leave me alone? Why can't I drink my liquor in peace?"

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Tuesday, September 15, 2009 7:08:32 PM

Hi Chuck!! Nice to see you!Anf thank you for all kind words!
I do believe they drank some liquor ay that meeting yes!! But they was not embaressed al all drinking it and party and have a nice time! They seem to have a so nice time that I almost wanted to become one of those boatpeople! But, then I remembered they seasicknes......

And was very satisfyed to be an observer!!

Eva MrLeffe # Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:28:25 PM

So so beautiful post. I do like all the pictures and the fishermen have got that special look saying: "Dont ever tell to work inside in a factory I will die". The song I know very well
I do love it. The coastline is very special You have shown that too. Beautiful

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:47:07 AM

Thank you Leffe!! They are really special these people and this country!

FIFINELEB # Saturday, September 19, 2009 2:05:18 PM

Didn't the Vikings discover America! They were tough and hardy seamen. Your photos are wonderful,Agneta. Kind regards to you.

L2D2 # Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:52:56 PM

Leif Ericsson discovered America long before Christopher Columbus, but he didn't lay claim to the land, so we were owned by Spain rather than Norway.

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:28:22 PM

Thank you!!!!

I it is a shame Leif did not claim it!! Than we all would be Norwegians!!

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:07:36 AM

Just imagine an alternate reality for the U.S. We might never have become the United States of America. Norway might have moved over here lock, stock and barrel and we would have been New Norway!

Or however that would have been said in Norse.

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:07:58 AM

it would be "Nye Norge", Linda ... and yes ... it would be a lot of fun

good plot for a sf novel

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:30:03 AM

I have read a novel entitled "Galveston" about an alternate reality for Texas. Pretty good. Don't remember who the author was. There has also been ones for the U.S. but don't think any were Norwegian.

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:35:06 AM

could it be this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikari_in_Galveston ?

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:42:57 AM

Actually don't think that is the one I remember, but sounds good enough to investigate.

Possibly I haven't even read it but remember reading the frontispiece and have it in a large box of science fiction novels that I have yet to read. I have a large stash of unread books that I have picked up at Doctor's Bookfair---a bi-annual book sale here in Tyler.

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:59:37 AM

yeah, that'S an event I'd really like to see ... but unfortunately I couldn't buy any books, I have been running out of space when I reached 3500 and ... it's a mystery ... there still some coming and to be discovered ... it never stops ...

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 4:54:04 AM

I have had to offload many, many books over the years, Dirk. I used to have huge boxes of them when they were packed to move (I have moved a lot) and my son finally refused to move them for me any longer, so I had to give them up. And since I live in a mobile home now, I just do not have room. I have several bookshelves full, and several boxes, and no place left to put anymore. I have some of them residing on the floor. No more room.

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 5:21:22 AM

yeah, I know how it is ... and when Theresia will come to Germany she'll be excited about the books ... and then start thinking ... how to get rid of them or most of them

... I know, and I try to get used to this thought ... done this before ... and will do it again ...

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 5:32:00 AM

Maybe she will want to read them too, so they will be safe for awhile at least.

Good way for her to practice both German and English.

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 5:38:25 AM

oh,. she likes books and reading ... and we have started practicing German already, but people in Indonesia are not familiar with the idea having stored so many books ... I guess it's because of the climate ... not so good for things made of paper ... high humidity ... hm, and they have a different look on things as things ... "things" are not so important ... a way of thinking that I like very much

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Sunday, September 20, 2009 8:49:16 AM

God morning Guys!!
I like the idea of Nye Norge!! Maybe there are vikings enough in the world to do it??? SWe can start to get a new union with Sweden, than we will see!!

Dirk, boks are a blessing!!! I have very hard to get rid of books!! I had to leave a lot in Sweden when I mooved here and it was heartbreaking!!
My older brother have a little internet bookshop and a bookcafe so he took care of them!
I am sure Theresia will love them!!!

I have been away a little, but now I am back. I have had my best friend Samuel and his family on a short visit and I wanted to spend every minute I could with him!!

L2D2 # Sunday, September 20, 2009 5:21:44 PM

I wondered where you had got off to Agneta. Dirk and I have just been carrying on without you, as you can see. You are a busy gal.

MettePusilille # Sunday, September 20, 2009 6:18:58 PM

These pics reminds me very much of my childhood when the elderly (to me at the time they were old and gray

) on the island I grew up in went out for fishing, and came back some weeks later, all smelly and rough

Great photos Agneta! Really great

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:20:33 PM

Yes i can see that Linda!! And thats really nice!!

We have had busy days and there are so much catching up to do!! And I have to get to know his 11 weeks old daughter Smilla!! It was lovely!but it feels like someone rips my heart out when he leaves! We have chared so much in bad times and good that I am addicted to him in a way. It is strange with bounds like that!

Thank you Mette!! I can see your childhood in my mind! It is exiting to get to know this culture!!

By the way, I have lost my smilies!!

How do I get them back???????

dirkthetomster # Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:28:20 PM

... lost your smilies?

...

try this: http://im-smiley.com/

Agneta MuhrAgnetaM # Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:33:02 PM

[img]http://im-smiley.com/imgs/lost-it/lost-it003.gif

That worked! But I had them in my header and it was so easy, I just do not know where they went!![img]http://im-smiley.com/imgs/lost-it/lost-it006.gif

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