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Bjorn Opsahl (10 August 1968 – 27 February 2025) was a Norwegian photographer, director and lecturer from Oslo. Opsahl debuted as a visual artist with the exhibition "Deadscapes" in 2005 at the Henie Onstad Art Centre, and followed up with "Ask the Dust" on Stenersen Museum in 2009.
/ref>Skavlan-prosjektet 65% ferdig
/ref> His photos are published in international magazines such as ''
/ref> Opsahl had no formal photography training, either from school or as an assistant. He started as a roadie for various festivals and rock concerts. During a lunch break from work job, he went to the local convenience store to buy a sausage and five lottery tickets. He won 25,000 NOK (approximately US$5,000) and left directly for Stockholm to party. Arriving home a few days later, he had also been bought his first camera. In 2010, he was the wedding photographer when the Norwegian Forbes-billionaire Petter Stordalen married the environmental activist Gunhild Anker Stordalen to the tune of
Bjorn Opsahl (10 August 1968 – 27 February 2025) was a Norwegian photographer, director and lecturer from Oslo. Opsahl debuted as a visual artist with the exhibition "Deadscapes" in 2005 at the Henie Onstad Art Centre, and followed up with "Ask the Dust" on Stenersen Museum in 2009.
Life and career
Opsahl was a photographer and judge on '' Norway's Next Top Model'' (season 4 & 5, all episodes) and Sweden's Next Top Model (season 4, episode 10). He was also the judge and photographer for all episodes of Norway'sMiss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...
pageant in 2005.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2008, he participated in the tattoo artist Kat Von D's television show LA Ink (Season 3, episode 13).
Opsahl taught photography and directing at Nordic School of Photography in Oslo, and has held a number of workshops and lectures around the country since 2005.
In 2011, he started working with the Scandinavian talk show Skavlan
''Skavlan'' was a Norwegian-Swedish television talk show hosted by Norwegian journalist Fredrik Skavlan. It premiered in Sweden on Sveriges Television (SVT) in January 2009, and the first guests to appear on the show were former Prime Minister ...
, which ended in autumn 2014 with a book and exhibitions in Oslo and Stockholm. Opsahl portrayed Skavlan's guests backstage, and has worked with international celebrities such as Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recor ...
, Sir Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Glo ...
, Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis (band), Oasis. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel ...
, Petter Stordalen, Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
, Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...
and Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is recognized for his multi-genre musical performances. He was discovered by record executive Scooter Braun in 2008 and subsequently brought to the U ...
.Opsahl fotograferer Cobijn fotograferer Opsahl/ref>Skavlan-prosjektet 65% ferdig
/ref> His photos are published in international magazines such as ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'', ''Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'', ''Elle
Elle may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication
** Elle Style Awards
* Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition
* Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film
* ''Elle: ...
'' and ''Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan may refer to:
Internationalism
* World citizen, one who eschews traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship
* Cosmopolitanism, the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community
* Cosmopolitan ...
''.Ambassadør Bjørn Opsahl/ref> Opsahl had no formal photography training, either from school or as an assistant. He started as a roadie for various festivals and rock concerts. During a lunch break from work job, he went to the local convenience store to buy a sausage and five lottery tickets. He won 25,000 NOK (approximately US$5,000) and left directly for Stockholm to party. Arriving home a few days later, he had also been bought his first camera. In 2010, he was the wedding photographer when the Norwegian Forbes-billionaire Petter Stordalen married the environmental activist Gunhild Anker Stordalen to the tune of
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
5 million in Marrakech.
Bjorn Opsahl also worked as a director of commercials and music videos.
Opsahl was a friend of legendary photographer Anton Corbijn and took Corbijn's current press photos.
Opsahl took his own life on 27 February 2025, at the age of 56.
Exhibitions
Solo
*1995:Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...
— Venice/Stockholm – Barbeint, Oslo
*2005: Deadscapes — Henie-Onstad Art Centre
The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter is an art museum located at Høvikodden in Bærum municipality in Akershus, Akershus county, Norway. It is situated on a headland jutting into the Oslofjord, approximately southwest of Oslo.
History
The artcentre ...
, Bærum
*2009: Ask the Dust — Stenersen Museum
The Stenersen Museum () is a Museum of Fine Arts located in Oslo, Norway.
Stenersen Museum opened in 1994. It principally features exhibitions of contemporary art. The museum art exhibited originated with three private art collections which wer ...
, Oslo
*2012: Black Eye — Nordic Light International Festival of Photography, Kristiansund
Collective
*1996: Trikkehallene i Oslo — Tinagent's Arena 18:39 *1998: Kuba i Oslo — Tinagent's Arena 1998 *1998: Henie Onstad Kunstsenter — Christo Hommage *2002: Havnehallene, Oslo — KORK, 53 musikere møter 53 fotografer *2002: Quart-festivalen — Opsahl/Leardini *2003: T-banen, Oslo — UndereksponertReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Opsahl, Bjorn 1968 births 2025 deaths 2025 suicides Photographers from Oslo Norwegian film directors