I'm Toffa Berg
I’m Toffa Berg — a fine art landscape photographer based in Jæren, Norway. My work is deeply rooted in analog tradition and shaped by a love for moody, intimate landscapes. I focus on the quiet moments most people miss: a shadow slipping across the forest floor, the pause in still water, fog lingering just long enough to feel like a secret.
I work in both film and digital, but analog is where my heart lives. Black and white is my first language — it strips everything down to essence, asking more from both the image and the viewer. I don’t chase postcard vistas or perfect color grades. I’m after presence. Texture. Truth.
Tools of the Trade
I shoot both 120 and 135 film, always manually. The hands-on nature of film doesn’t end in the field: I develop my negatives myself, often having a specific developer and process in mind before I even press the shutter. I digitize the results — flatbed for medium format, DSLR scanning for 35mm — and finish the work in a digital darkroom.
My main camera is the Mamiya 645 — a medium format workhorse that strikes the right balance between image quality and field practicality. When I want to travel light, I turn to my Mamiya SX-series 35mm SLRs from the 1970s — fully mechanical, no frills, and paired with lenses that influence how I see.
In most cases, I bring the image full circle by making a new analog negative from the final digital file and printing it in the darkroom. It’s a hybrid workflow, but the soul of it is analog. Even when I shoot purely digital, I aim for that same tactile, timeless feel.
From Noise to Stillness
Photography didn’t just happen to me — it pulled me back from the edge. I started in live music, shooting concerts with all the noise and adrenaline that came with it. Eventually, that pace cracked me open. I stepped away, picked up a camera with slower intent, and returned to the wild. What started as a school project turned into a way of living. Now, it’s the backbone of my work.
I draw influence from the likes of Ansel Adams, Joe Cornish, and Clyde Butcher — but also from Norwegian painters like Theodor Kittelsen and Hans Gude. Imagine National Romanticism, but darker. I’m drawn to quiet tension, layered worlds, and places that feel haunted by weather and time.
This isn’t about chasing likes, trends, or iconic shots. It’s about slowing down, seeing deeper, and making work that stays — on the wall and in the mind.
The Spaces I Call Home
When I’m not out photographing, I’m at my cabin outside Sandnes or on the road in my van, Knotten, usually with my dog Ludde riding shotgun and a thermos of strong coffee within reach. That’s where the good light finds me.
Recent Projects
These ongoing series unfold in parallel with my broader photographic work. Each gallery offers a glimpse into a developing visual narrative—works in progress that speak for themselves. Click any image to view, or use the button below to explore all current projects.
