Andrea Gjestvang: Life in the Lens

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Andrea Gjestvang: Life in the Lens by Annika Vande Krol

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he rich color and lighting of Andrea Gjestvang’s photographs give them an almost delicate beauty, but the back-stories that inform them are often filled with pathos and suffering. The tension this apparent contradiction creates gives her work its undeniable power and humanity. Through her ability to create intimate portraits and bring to light relevant social and political issues, Andrea Gjestvang is now an internationally recognized photographer. Gjestvang has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and the United States. She holds many awards, including Freelancer of the Year awarded by the Norwegian Union of Vol. 15, No. 1 2017

Freelance Journalists in 2012 and First Prize NPPA Best of Photojournalism in 2013. While she was growing up in Norway, Gjestvang was curious about the world and wanted to be engaged in issues happening around her, but she was shy and had trouble finding her voice. It was when she discovered photography at the age of 17 that she finally felt able to tell people how she saw the world. Gjestvang found herself absorbed in this new form of expression. She realized that the camera was a means to communicate with strangers and to learn about and understand communities. Photography opened a door for Gjestvang, giving her a way to connect with people on a more 19


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