Malbik Endar

A real Icelander

This video made my day. If only I could add subtitles to it for you. This show is one of many “Stiklur” done by Iceland’s favorite tv personality Ómar Ragnarsson (who has been around for a while). Ómar’s Stiklur were filmed in the 80’s when he flew his small plane around Iceland seeking unique Icelandic personalities. Many of these personalities were men like Hákon Sturluson in this video who lived solitary lives in remote places. He has no telephone or electricity. Only listens to the weather report on the radio occasionally and nothing else since he “has no interest in which bastards are killing which bastards out in the world.” His only real complaint about the world is the road in front of his house. He much rather prefers the winter when all the roads are closed.

It’s a real joy to listen to Hákon. Roughly every other word he says is a cuss word. He lives in this tiny shed in Arnarfjörður (in Vestfirðir) along with his two dogs and his flock of sheep. When Ómar asks him if he doesn’t have horses he says, “well there are two stalls”. He’s also asked whether he has a hard time cooking: “Yes, I’m in devil’s trouble with that. I only cook once a week. Then I cook a lot.” Ómar: “Isn’t your stomach quite empty after a few days?” Hákon: “Yes, then I go cook.” Ómar: “And you don’t eat anything in between, milk maybe?” Hákon: “No, no.” Ómar: “Coffee?” Hákon: “Very little. I drink a little tea and then I always have a jug (strong alcohol) under the bed. Nice and easy to get to. I have a hose from the jug up into the bed.” Ómar: “Is that really? I have to come over again to see.”

Summary:

APhotoADay’s inaugural Backyard Storytelling Grant is a $4,000 grant awarded to a visual storyteller to aid in a project within 350 miles (or roughly one tank of gas) of the journalist’s home.

Our goal is to reward and encourage finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, while also focusing on community. Often time the best stories - the ones that resonate most - are the ones that hit closest to home.

A hand-picked panel of judges from APhotoADay and speakers from GeekFest Oakland 2015 will review the applications and award prizes. On top of that, APhotoADay will help find the completed project a home with at least one prominent industry photo blogs. Yes, think the NYT Lens Blogs and TIME Lightboxes of the world.

Application Process:

In a statement not to exceed 500 words, please describe the project you’re interested in completing. Also include research you’ve made and the ways in which the grant will directly help you achieve your goals. In a bio not to exceed 250 words, please tell us about yourself. Keep it real. Be yourself.

If you haven’t started the project already, but you have a great idea that you need help starting and funding, that’s cool. Please describe how you would approach it, while illustrating some tangible research you’ve done and contacts you’ve made.

In a selection of up to 20 pictures (or a 5 minute sample reel if you’re doing a video project), please show us work that highlights your abilities as they relate to the type of work you’ll be doing.

Photographers and visual journalists from any country may apply for this grant.

Proposals for projects that have already received grants or awards of more than $5,000 in the previous calendar year are not eligible. The grant is awarded to an individual photographer; project proposals that involve multiple content producers will not be accepted.

To submit your project:

Please Dropbox up to 20 sequenced images in a folder titled with your first and last name. For those working on a video project, please include a 5-minute (or less) video that pertains to the story and/or is representative of the work you’re looking to do.

In that folder, include a text document with your statement/proposal. 

Also include three references, along with the following contact info:

• name

• mailing address

• phone number

• email address

• social media handles

You can dropbox your entries to — [email protected]. 

One entry per person.

The deadline for submissions is midnight (PST) on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015. 

The announcement of the winner(s) will be made during GeekFest Oakland (Sept 11-13, 2015).