Norwegian Nikon Z creator Lina Kaiser was born in Bergen, known as the “Gateway to the Fugards”, and now lives in the country’s spectacular Dovrefzel-Sundalsfzel National Park. It is home to an alpine ecosystem near the Arctic fox, the Golden Eagle and the last wild mountain deer in Europe, close to the pre-Ice Age plant species – a perfect base for photographers specializing in Nordic and Arctic wildlife, landscape and conservation awareness.
In addition to her solo project, Lina runs photography workshops in Norway and abroad and has been conducting ship-based expeditions in the deserts of the Svalbard Islands since 2018. Her partnership with Nikon began in 2017 and in 2020 she became the Z Creator. This year he will be on the prestigious judging panel for the Environmental Photographer of the Year award.
What’s in your kitbag?
The camera
Lens
- NIKKOR Z 20mm f / 1.8 S
- NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f / 2.8 VR S
- NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f / 4S
- NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 VR
- NIKKOR Z DX 50-200mm f / 4.5-6.3 VR
- AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f / 4PF PF ED VR
- AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f / 5.6 PF ED VR
What is the reason for your love of photography and why with Nikon camera?
For as long as I can remember I loved animals and watched nature documentaries. I grew up in Bergen in an expatriate family on the west coast of Norway. This is our second largest city but you are still very close to nature there, so we will spend the weekend skiing or hiking with our dogs. My dad and my grandfather both had Nikon DSLRs, so when I decided to start taking pictures of the beauty of nature that I saw while we were walking, I had a Nikon that was borrowed. When I decided to get a camera of my own, the choice was simple!
I used to work in an office but I was never happy. I stuck to it for 15 years before leaving to become a certified dog trainer, and that’s when I started to take my photography more seriously. Then in 2017 I contacted Nikon about a project. They invited me to give a presentation at an event in Sweden, which led me to join the Nikon Talent Program. It was a game-changer for me – it allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional wildlife photographer.
Last year I was asked to be a Nikon Z Creator, which was very exciting. Being part of such an incredible group of talented people is very inspiring and it helps me to move forward with my photography. I am very grateful to be on the team.
Why is photography so important to you?
It’s a way of disconnecting from everything and just being present – I guess you might say it’s a kind of meditation. The big picture for me is that it is important to use our voices to protect nature. I do it through my pictures. If anyone sees a picture of an owl and thinks it is beautiful, they will probably be inspired to protect our owl and our forest. Or a shot of a polar bear could lead someone to learn more about the challenges facing the Arctic environment.
Are you looking forward to being the Judge of the Environmental Photographer of the Year?
I’m really excited about it, and I also think it’s going to be an emotional journey, seeing lots of amazing and powerful pictures. It’s not just a photo contest. It’s a photo contest with a mission – to raise awareness about climate change, poverty, environmental issues and other challenges facing our planet. A single shot can tell many stories, express many emotions and reach thousands of people – photography is a powerful medium to bring these stories to the attention of the masses. It’s easy to avoid reading articles with lots of numbers and information, but when a photograph pops up on your face, it’s hard to close your eyes or look away.
Do you have any special favorite photographs?
I like to take pictures of Arctic foxes, puffins and polar bears, and on a salvard expedition two years ago I was lucky enough to encounter two curious polar bears who came very close to the zodiac we were in. Watching them play around and having fun on the ice gave me some of my favorite photos and memories.
How do you use social media to talk about your vision for wildlife conservation?
I have created 136,000 followers on Instagram from all over the world, many of whom live in cities. Through my photos I try to show how wonderful nature is and how everything is connected. It’s not about pointing the finger at anyone, but about telling the story of the challenges that nature faces. The Arctic has a special place in my heart – I’ve been to Salbard and Northern Norway several times – and it’s heartbreaking to see how quickly the climate is changing and how it affects everything from glaciers to sea ice and ice-dependent animals to survival. Everything depends on a healthy world and nature, even we humans. There is no nature, we do not have.
Please visit www.linakayser.no And follow @ Linaciasar On Instagram
Entries are now open for Environmental Photographer of the Year – for details, click Here.
