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Resistance Media summarises the year in photos

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2021. Resistance Media presents a selection of some of last year’s best photographs from the Swedish branch of the Nordic Resistance Movement, accompanied by short interviews with the photographers and those featured in the images.

Nordic Resistance Movement photos of the year 2021

Just over three years ago, the leadership of Resistance Media’s video department changed hands, and two years ago, a new head of photography took over. This was complemented a year ago with the appointment of Andreas Holmvall as propaganda chief. During this time, Resistance Media has taken huge strides forwards under its new leadership and has recruited several new members in every Nest.

This has given us a significantly higher and more consistent quality in all the media we publish as an organisation. Everything from world-class videos to modern, stylish graphics that can put any PR agency to shame. Last but not least, we have taken loads of great photographs of activists, actions, landscapes and antagonists. Nowadays, we often have the welcome problem of having too many good photos to choose from when we publish activism reports and articles.

With this said, Resistance Media presents a selection of photos highlighting events from the year gone by. The images have been selected for various reasons. Some are simply great photographs that exemplify the art behind the craft, taken by an excellent photographer. Others have a completely different character and prove that you don’t need a camera that costs a regular person two months’ wages. Rather, good photos depend more on taking a shot in the right conditions, with the result capturing a unique moment in history.

Photo 1

Nordic Resistance Movement activists abseil down Kärnan Terrace in Helsingborg, Sweden, and hang up a banner

This photo depicts two activists abseiling down a tower and attaching a banner to its wall. We contacted Cedric Höglund to tell us more:

“The photo shows a pair of activists abseiling down one of the Kärnan Terrace towers in central Helsingborg on 1 May to attach a banner to its wall with the message ‘White workers built this country – Only White workers can take this country back’.”

How did you feel during the action?

“It was a while ago now, but I remember that it was a splendid feeling looking over Stortorget square in Helsingborg, which was filled with people on that sunny day. Naturally, we had some apprehension about whether the action would be successful, but that was the only doubt my comrades and I felt.”

Photo 2

Nordic Resistance Movement activists burn an Israeli flag in Kristianstad, Sweden

This photo depicts some activists burning a flag. Sebastian Elofsson tells us more about what happened and what led to the event:

“It was in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip in the spring. We decided to protest against the Israeli state and its oppression of the Palestinian people. A speech was given by Daniel Gerdås, and then we burned the Israeli flag. I remember that there were a lot of positive comments from those listening to the speech.”

What did you think when the flag was burning?

“It always feels good to set alight flags that symbolise oppressive states – especially that of such an anti-White, anti-human terrorist state as Israel.”

Photo 3

Nordic Resistance Movement activists in front of Gunnebo House, Sweden, on the Bohusleden hiking trail

Here, we see a group of activists standing in front of a stately home. Martin Engelin explains more about the context of the photo and what led to it:

“The photo was taken in front of Gunnebo House, the final destination for the first stage of the Bohusleden trail, which Nest 2 undertook throughout the year. I had ordered some new boots, but they hadn’t arrived in time, so I went in regular trainers. It was an important lesson in having the right shoes in the right place.

“My ankles were hurting after we had hiked for 20km in the hilly terrain, but the pride, camaraderie and the feeling of undertaking a great adventure were unbeatable.”

How was the rest of the hike on the Bohusleden trail during the year?

“The hike is now complete and the media group is working with the material, so unfortunately I can’t say anymore at this point.”

Photo 4

Flowers, a pin badge and bullet cartridges in front of the Nordic Resistance Movement flag

A photo of flowers and empty shell casings in front of a flag. The photographer Klas Larsson tells us more:

“The photo was taken on the Day of the Fallen, in memory of the Swedish Volunteers in the Finnish Winter War. The day reminds us of the Swedish heroes who gave their lives in the 1940 battle against the Red Death from the East – Bolshevism. It also serves to inspire the Resistance men of today to engage in acts of self-sacrifice and heroism. The struggle, sacrifice and death of our brothers from the past will not be in vain.

“The cartridges symbolise battle, death and sacrifice. The flowers symbolise reverence and respect. The badge creates a link to the heroes of the past. The flag creates a link to the heroes of today.”

As this photo is rather special, could you tell us a bit more about it from a technical perspective?

“The angle and zoom allow only the essential elements to be in the shot. The photo was taken with the rule of thirds in mind, as well as the foreground and background. The depth in the image is emphasised with a high zoom. The post processing allows certain colours to stand out and presents us with a livelier and more interesting image.”

Photo 5

Nordic Resistance Movement National Council member Fredrik Vejdeland

Klas Larsson also tells us about this photo of National Council member Fredrik Vejdeland:

“We were in the middle of a forest by a lake. As the photo shows, it was drizzling a bit, but there were still those of us foolish enough to go swimming, including me. As I didn’t have a towel, I had to air-dry myself while trying to take decent pictures. I padded around in the pine forest barefoot in just a T-shirt and wet underwear, attempting to make the best of the restricted visibility. I had just taken the last photos and was going back to the rest of the group when Vejdeland turned and started walking towards me, which presented a perfect opportunity. I whipped up my camera, aimed, zoomed and took four or five shots, so that picture was pure luck, really. The weather and lighting conditions were on my side that day. Even the bad pictures looked really striking in the drizzle.

“I had chosen the placement of both the fire and the gathering place, so the smoke effect in the background was well located and directed, and the rule of thirds came naturally.”

Photo 6

Nordic Resistance Movement activists hold a speech in Härnosand, Sweden

In this photo, Anders Gudmarsson holds a speech. We asked him to explain what’s happening and what led to the event:

“It was during the nationwide action under the slogan ‘Self-defence is a natural right’. In the photo, I’m giving a speech on the steps of the county governor’s residence in Härnösand, where the memorial manifestation for Tommie Lindh took place in spring 2020. The location was chosen because it was relevant to the speech, which touched on the tragedy, but also to provoke the Västernorrland county governor, who had previously spoken out against us.

“Because my comrade David Nilsson had already given a speech on self-defence in a more direct sense (the right to defend yourself when you are the victim of a crime, and why it is important, especially for Whites), I chose to speak about self-defence in a slightly more figurative way. I highlighted the reason for the rampant violence against Whites, particularly against young people; namely, the overarching anti-White attitudes prevailing in society. I also mentioned how those attending the manifestation on the same town square in 2020 were photographed and had their political opinions registered.

“The photo captured a moment when I gestured across the square. At that point, I was speaking about a woman who had filmed people while they were holding a minute’s silence for Tommie Lindh. For me, the image sums up why I am involved in the struggle. As a Resistance man, I am standing there to confront such things, and to show that there are those who stand against the division of our people and the violence against us.”

How did you feel during the speech?

“It was the first time I held a speech in public, so I was a bit nervous. But I also felt a powerful determination and a desire to say something I thought was important to say, even though my hands were shaking a bit.”

Photo 7

Swedish cemetery on All Saints Day at night

A photo of graves in a cemetery. Ulf Larsson took this and numerous other excellent photos during the year. He explains what it depicts:

“I took this photo when I went to the local cemetery on All Saints’ Day to light candles for those no longer with us. I took the opportunity to bring along my camera to take some generic images that could be used by the movement.”

It looks like a well-judged photo from a purely technical point of view. Can you tell us how you took it?

“The photo itself is quite simple. I placed the camera on a tripod and found a composition I was happy with. The intention was to lead the viewer’s eye through the rows of graves. Technically speaking, it was important to have a very long shutter speed and allow the camera enough time to capture the right amount of light. This meant I didn’t have to resort to an overuse of ISO, which can cause distortion in the image.”

Photos 8 and 9

Knife fight at the Nordic Resistance Movement's 2021 Nordic Days event

Here we see a knife duel competition between two men. Again, Ulf Larsson tells us more:

“The photo of the ‘knife duel’ from Nordic Days is probably the shot I’m most happy with from this year, but I can’t take too much credit for it. It was the first time I had used that camera, so I was still learning the settings. When the competition for Nordic Man of the Year was underway, I tried to capture as many pictures as possible and hoped for a stroke of luck. Thankfully, that approach proved to be successful.

“The same goes for the rugby photograph below. It really helped that the weather was perfect for capturing dramatic images in the middle of the day.”

Rugby match at the Nordic Resistance Movement's 2021 Nordic Days event

Photos 10 and 11

Nordic Resistance Movement activist surrounded by green smoke during activism

Another photo by Ulf Larsson portrays an activist surrounded by green smoke. The photographer elaborates:

“The photo of the masked man depicts the activist (and Mer än ord podcast host) David Nilsson in a cloud of smoke on a bridge in Luleå during a banner action in the run-up to Christmas. As the smoke emitter has quite a short burn time, I planned how I wanted the photo to look beforehand. The result turned out as I had hoped.”

Nordic Resistance Movement activist with green smoke grenade

“This second smoke image depicts an activist during a similar action in Skellefteå, which was the first public activity where I served as the photographer. This time I had also thought about the sort of photo I wanted in advance, and this one turned out the way I wanted too. This is a good tip for Resistance Movement photographers when they are at short, intensive events – know what you want before it happens.”

Can you tell us some technical details about how you edited the photos afterwards?

“Regarding the editing, it’s harder to give a concrete and concise description. I use Photoshop exclusively, along with the accompanying Camera RAW programme. Partly because they are programmes I have experience with, and partly because I think they’re the best.

“How I edit the images varies depending on the situation, lighting, subject etc. But a consistent ‘style’ I have is to try to achieve a more dramatic and serious aesthetic, which often involves reducing the colour saturation and working with contrasts a lot.”

Photo 12

Nordic Resistance Movement activists walking on skis on a frozen lake

This photo depicts some activists skiing in a snowy landscape. It’s a beautiful image with classic Resistance Movement aesthetics. The photographer Max Rosenfors explains more about what’s happening in the picture and what led to taking the photo:

“The group in the photo are on their way over a lake after competing in a challenge to construct a fire and boil a litre of water as quickly as possible. Because we managed to build and light the fire quickly, we could cook lunch that day; otherwise we would have had to wait until dinnertime for food. The photo was taken on the journey away from the lunch site, on the way to another spot where we would make a large camp and spend the night outdoors in a ten-man tent with a stove. You can see the tent being pulled on a sledge at the front.

“The photo and the occasion went well together – an open landscape and people walking in a line. It was a unique situation with the opportunity to work with depth in the image in a relatively unusual way.

“We arrange a ski tour like this every year in the Nest, which gives everyone the opportunity to maintain their skiing skills. It’s safe to say that the journey over the lake was the simplest part of the whole trip.”

Photos 13 and 14

NRM activist Martin Saxlind on Sarektjåkka mountain in the snow, Sweden

This photo portrays a rugged Martin Saxlind in a snowstorm. Martin himself explains the context of the photo:

“The photo was taken after we had scaled the Nordtoppen summit in northern Sweden, and walked as far as we could towards Stortoppen on Sarektjåkka mountain. At just over 2,000 metres above sea level, it was the literal highpoint of the day and the whole trip. We were out hiking for 14 hours that day, with just short breaks. We found our way back to base camp after darkness had fallen, tired and happy to finally get some sleep.”

Lakes, forest and a stream in Stora Sjöfallet National Park, Sweden

This photo is from the same trip. Could you tell us more about it?

“I’m not sure if the photo was taken on the way in or out. But it looks out towards Stora Lule River, while to the left, outside of the shot and behind the island on the water, lies Suorva Dam, which was our departure point. From Suorva, we went through Stora Sjöfallet National Park, before we came into Sarek National Park. This photo was likely taken near the tree line. In this area, the landscape is very varied and beautiful, while it becomes more uniform, but still magnificent, as you go higher up.”