Of Reindeer-Racing & dog-sleigh rides …..

Well, I hope we’ve all enjoyed a good start to 2014! It’s been a mild winter here – a good bit of snow which is still on the ground, now thawing, but it’s only been a few degrees below freezing on average.

We went to the Sami Wintermarket at Jokkmokk in February and even there, in the Arctic circle (just) it was only around – 10c at the coldest – a couple of years ago they had to cancel the market when the temperature fell to -40c so I don’t think the mild winter this year is a sign of anything much, other than that nature does what it wants.

The Market has been held by the Sami Folk for over 400 years and it is a wonderful, vibrant & colourful event. The Sami are friendly, courteous and happy to demonstrate their skills in handicrafts and with animals. There is no high-pressure selling and no sense of "dressing up for the tourists" - they're just happy to see people from all over the world enjoying their event. If you ever plan on going there, then book your accommodation early! The Market is only on in February for a long weekend and we had to register for accommodation in the previous September. The population of Jokkmokk increases 10-fold for the Market, so it is best to book tables in restaurants as soon as you arrive too.

The full gallery of photographs from Jokkmokk is here:

http://www.zenfolio.com/photograhame/p460285393/

Apart from the excitement of Jokkmokk, I’m also the “Guest Blogger” on the Royal Photographic Society web-site this week and you can read it here:

RPS Blog

and there is a little clip from a radio programme taken at the opening of my exhibition in Lycksele recently:

radio clip

The exhibition is around 60 prints in three sections (The Berlin Wall, The Holocaust, and Local & Street photos). I've no frames with me and couldn't justify €2,000+ to buy new frames, so it was quite a challenge to get everything hung! 

Although I've been really busy, I haven't forgotten about "The Man of Mystery" and hope to get the first installment on-line this week ...

just watch this space and please keep the comments coming in - it's a real boost to get them and don't be shy to say if you think something is rubblish - constructice criticism is very welcome!