I visited a little nursing home in a little village in Denmark, Ørum. Here I met many different souls. Some were happy, positive and enegetic, others were sad, grumpy, tired or confused. My visits were few and relatively short. The residents had very strict chedules for the days: bathing, singing class, knitting groups, coffe breaks, lunch time, tv shows, and even scheduled nap time.
But I managed to photograph 6 of the homes residents, here they are, very different, very much the same.
Magnus
Magnus is 90 years old. He has a very bad vision. He does not recognize me after my first visit. He hears badly too. Inside the studio, he runs into my camera and the flash that I have set up with his rullator and sits down. He has no idea what he had just done by accident. He eagerly awaits for me to take a picture. I can not get him to look into the camera - he can not see or hear where I am standing in the room. I'm moving my things around.
Rikke
Rikke is 101 years old. She reaches me to my chest. She gets up immediately and says "come on, I'm ready now." Rikke runs towards my little studio that I have set up, leaning on her walking stick every 5 step. She sits down in the chair. She is ready. She does exactly as I say. She has so much happiness and life in his eyes. The smile never leaves her face.
Martin
Martin is 83 years old. He is sitting by hirself and watching TV. He is not attending the singing groups in the other room. He wants to talk to me before we take the pictures. He tells me about his life. About World War II. He was a soldier. He tells me many things. We almost forget that he is supposed to be photographed. We take the pictures.
Otto
Otto is 84 years old. He lived a luxurious life. He was the CEO. He traveled a lot. He does not understand that my friend is wearing a hat indoors. That he should not be doing that. He sits down on the chair. He asks me if his collar is fitting properly? I fix the collar slightly for him. He looks to the left like you once had to when doing portraits. I ask him to look straight at me. After the shoot, he hands me a little candy.
Greta
Greta is 80 years old. She prefers not to participate in the project. Her daughter says she and many others will be really proud of her. But is this a good idea she asks? She is not quite sure. She's not really sure. Her daughter tries again to convince her. Greta goes along with it. She does not like the flash. It's too bright. She shuts her eyes and keep them closed for a long time every time I flash. I try to take as few shots as possible.
Igor
Igor is 73 years old. He doesn't remember his own name. He does not know how old he is. I asked him a couple of times if I could make a portrait of him. He noded yes every time I would ask. I push him to my studio in his wheel chair. He says nothing. He just looks at me questioningly. I'm talking. Smiling. I say it looks really good. We're done. Igor continues to look at me, without saying a word.
