Ina Shirt Fena
Viscose
1 039.20 SEK1 299 SEK
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Meet the photographer from Donsö
Alice J
We meet with lively Alice on a Monday morning in November. She greets us at the harbor on Donsö, where she grew up and now lives year-round. Alice is a photographer and is one of our friends who shares our passion. Now we're eager to learn more about Alice, what it was like growing up on an island in the archipelago, what made her decide to move back, her best tips for exploring the archipelago, and perhaps a photography tip or two.
1 / 2
Life by the Ocean
What was it like growing up on an island in the archipelago?
I’ve always found it to be very safe. I enjoyed it here and never wished to be anywhere else. It wasn’t until high school, when I started commuting into the city, that my horizons broadened, and I began longing for something different.
But I am very glad to have grown up in the archipelago, and it’s something I also wanted my children to experience.
1 / 3
What made you move back to the island and the ocean?
After a few years in an apartment, we started longing for a house, and for us, it felt quite natural to settle on Donsö. Many of our friends began moving back, and after we had children, we longed to be out here. I had also started appreciating island life much more after being away for a while. Being able to easily go for a run followed by a swim in the sea is invaluable to me; it’s a luxury I took for granted when I was younger.
Being able to easily go for a run followed by a swim in the sea is invaluable to me.Alice J
These are car-free islands, and there’s something mentally wonderful about parking the car on the mainland, leaving work behind, and getting on the boat to unwind. It’s definitely not always charming to have to rush to catch a boat, but overall, it probably brings a greater sense of calm.
1 / 2
The house
Tell us about your house, did you design/build it yourselves?
When we moved here again, we first rented a small house. Partly to test how commuting and everything would work, but also because we didn’t know exactly what we were looking for. Then a plot of land became available, and we were able to purchase it. I had never considered building, I had only thought about old houses, so it took some time before we figured out what we actually wanted.
We, along with a friend who is an architect, designed the house. At first, we talked about some sort of archipelago villa, but we quickly settled on a more modern house because it felt easier to achieve and we could collaborate more easily on all the choices.
1 / 2
The three best things about living on Donsö?
The safety
The proximity to the ocean
The fact that it’s possible to live in the archipelago and still commute to the city for work.
1 / 2
Tips on places to visit in the Southern Archipelago?
Now, the opening hours at most places are fewer due to the off-season, but I still want to recommend:
Popsicle - Donsö
Isbolaget - Donsö
Tångbaren - Styrsö
Öbergska - Styrsö
1 / 2
Tell us about your job as a photographer, how did you come to choose this profession?
I’ve always wanted to work in a creative field, and photography came into my life early on. I got my first analog DSLR camera when I was confirmed, and before that, I used a small compact camera. Since then, it’s just flowed naturally. I studied media in high school, and a couple of years later, I took a two-year photography course. I’ve always thought, "I’ll keep doing this as long as I can," and now it’s been quite a while.
1 / 2
What’s the most fun project you’ve had?
A lot depends on the circumstances surrounding the project. When the team, location (and sometimes models) are in sync, that’s the most fun. So, I can’t choose just one project :)
1 / 2
Dream project?
Right now, we’re in the final stages of a book project that I’m the photographer for. I haven’t photographed a book before, so this is and has been a bit of a dream project to be a part of.
Otherwise, I have a very specific dream of one day photographing a children’s clothing collection in New York :)
Best light/weather to photograph in?
It depends a bit on what you’re after. For some projects, the sun is part of the styling, maybe aiming for strong shadows. But I would say that most of the time, I’m looking for the perfect soft light like the sun is gently diffused by a thin layer of clouds.
Can you give us any good photography advice?
Overall, I think you just have to go for it! Test your ideas. Try different lights, and see what happens with or without a flash, whether it's sunny or cloudy.
Test your ideas. Try different lights, and see what happens with our without a flash, whether it's sunny or cloudy.Alice J
As boring as it may sound, learn your equipment. It’s frustrating to feel limited by not knowing how the camera works. Once you have a sense of it and understand the basics, it becomes so much more fun.
SHOP ALICE'S LOOK
1 / 9
Follow @alicej.se here!
Friends who share our passion
We love getting to know new people, individuals who share our passion for the ocean, the coast, quality, craftsmanship, and design. And all the other magical things in life. Here you get to meet some of them, who, just like us, appreciate timeless and stylish design.
