Ragnar Axelsson

Ragnar Axelsson has built his career around photographing places where few people go willingly. His black and white images capture life in extreme conditions, from isolated farming communities in Iceland to Arctic hunting villages accessible only by aircraft.

His childhood summers on a remote farm shaped his understanding of how quickly traditional ways of life can disappear. This experience drives his current focus on documenting communities facing dramatic environmental and cultural changes.

Known for his commitment to analog photography and darkroom printing, Ragnar approaches his subjects through long-term relationships rather than quick assignments. He often returns to the same locations and people over decades, creating visual records of gradual transformation.

His work has taken him across multiple continents and appeared in major international publications. He has received several awards including Iceland's Order of the Falcon and continues to self-fund projects through book sales and exhibitions.

Currently based in Iceland, Ragnar combines his photography practice with piloting aircraft, using both skills to document environmental changes from ground level and aerial perspectives. (Website, Instagram)