André caught an interest in photography as a little kid when he got to borrow his dad's camera.
"30 years ago, my dad bought me my very first camera, an analog Minolta film camera," the artist shared in an interview with Bored Panda.
"For some years, I pushed through countless rolls of film. To this day, I remember the excitement of getting a roll developed and seeing the results," André recalled.
In 2002, André finally got his first digital camera and started developing an interest in black-and-white photography.
"Digital media made it easier to experiment with black and white and colour without having to worry about film stocks," he explained.
After some years, André's hobby grew into a career in photojournalism and he converted to color photography.
"I got an opportunity to work with a local newspaper, and soon after, I moved on to national media agencies and professional sports photography," he shared.
André considers himself lucky to have started photography at a time before the internet and social media—when his work was for his eyes alone. There were no outside pressures and no constant comparisons—just the freedom to create.
“I joined Instagram in 2010 and built several large accounts over the years,” he shared. “But in the end, I deleted them all, choosing to step away from the social media whirlwind and the pressure it often brings.”
As a photojournalist, André witnessed the industry becoming increasingly fragile, with layoffs and a growing shift toward video content. Eventually, he decided to leave photojournalism behind, pursuing a career in law enforcement instead. Still, photography remained a constant in his life—a passion he continues to nurture, free from professional constraints.
Although Norway has spectacular nature, André somehow chose to focus on street photography.
"Even though I love to run and be outdoors, I have never been much of a landscape guy. I have always lived in the city and always been fascinated by urban life," he explained.
"Ironically, I am an introvert and not much of a people person. I guess you can tell by looking at my photographs. People are often background characters or props in my photos. Many of my photos do not include any people. I guess there is a certain human distance in my work," the artist added.
André shared that he is often more interested in light, beauty, and gestures.
"Of course, sometimes humans or human elements are important, but they are not a necessity. A friend of mine taught me to ask myself, 'Does this picture need a person?'" he noted.
What André is definitely sure about is that he absolutely loves taking photos.
"It’s a passion deep inside my soul. I have had it for 30 years and I have no idea why. I don’t know why I love to take photos. I just know I love to do it," he said.
Often, photography helps André deal with a stress.
"I call it mental noise cancellation. When I get into the bubble, I turn off every noise and thought. My head tends to be busy and noisy. But with the camera, the noise goes away. For an over-thinker and hobby philosopher, that is like medicine."
Asked if there are any specific habits, routines, or environments that help André get into creative mode, the artist shared that he is scared of getting locked into a zone or having a plan. Therefore, he tries to stay as open-minded as possible and not even think about taking photos.
"I go for walks, to and from work, or in my spare time, and bring my camera with me. Some days, you find something interesting to photograph. Other days, you don’t see anything. But I always bring my camera with me wherever I go. To the store. Family visits. You name it," André said.
"People know me as the guy with a camera. Or maybe it’s a camera with a guy?" he added.
André believes that a plan to take pictures often adds unnecessary pressure.
"Then you force yourself to take photos, and risk getting disappointed when the photos turn out absolutely crap. For me, the most important part of photography is to have fun. The feeling of seeing something, working angles and composition, and pressing the shutter," the explained.
Asked about how his ideal day looks like when he is in the zone creatively, André shared that those moments would be when he has a clear mind, is in a good mood, and doesn’t plan on taking any photos, but suddenly sees interesting pictures front and centre.
"I am always very self critical, but some of the photos I am most happy with have been created on days like that, and even on the same day. Sometimes, you can go for weeks feeling uninspired and not seeing anything. Other days, you can get a couple of good ones in a matter of minutes," he said.
"Guess the lesson is to hang in there and never give up. Again, have fun. At least you got some fresh air and some exercise. Photography is a fun bonus on top of that," André added.
