Behind the Lens - Laura Durban

Meet Laura Durban. One of our wonderful community members who shoots with an old camera from the late 1940's, an Agfa Isolette 4.5 to be precise. A wonderful camera that produce wonderful photos.

Welcome to another issue of Behind the Lens, a series that shines the spotlight on the talented artists of our Nordic Lens community. This series delves into the work and perspectives of one member at a time, offering a unique glimpse into the diversity of our community.

In contrast to traditional interview formats, Behind the Lens empowers artists to showcase their creativity and share the stories behind their favorite photographs.

After all, who better to narrate the tale than the person behind the lens?

What is Behind the Lens?

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At the heart of Behind the Lens is a simple concept: Community members share their favorite photos and provide insights into why these images hold special meaning.

This opportunity allows us to explore the depth and richness of our community through the lens of its creators.

Those featured in the series have the freedom to choose works that resonate deeply, whether they're recent creations, all-time favorites, personal or professional, or a combination of all four. This flexibility ensures a genuine representation of each artist's journey and evolution within the community and beyond.

There are limitations to it, however—they must do it in 5 photos or less. This adds a personal, authentic, and intriguing touch. It compels them to choose and encourages them to be as mindful as possible about their favorite photos.

Behind the Lens is not your average interview series as it is consciously kept as personal as possible to preserve authenticity, the focus is solely on the photographers and their photos.

This fosters a more personal connection between the community and its members, allowing us to appreciate the richness of talent within Nordic Lens.

By offering a platform for members to share their favorite photos and personal insights behind them, Behind the Lens aims to inspire, connect, and deepen appreciation for the community's exceptional pool of talent.

Unlike the bi-weekly photo challenges that highlight the best submissions, Behind the Lens celebrates the authenticity of individual expression.

Our feature for this week is Laura Durban, whose work embodies the creativity, freedom and beauty that we strive to capture in this series.

So let's welcome Laura and have her introduce us to her favorite photos.

Laura Durban

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I am a professional priestess, cacao ceremonialist, facilitation trainer and mythology mentor, with academic background in literature, arts and teaching.

In Art Academy I was in a painters class (one of my fave paintings is visible as the background of my portrait photo) and moved on to videography, performance, art direction and, eventually, analogue photography.

No matter the media though, I consider my works paintings still. None of my photographs are edited, they are often cross developed and double exposed which leads to the fancy - often unpredictable effects. To me they are magic in the making.

I am passionate about building a bridge between mythology and modern magic in order for us to reclaim our sovereignty. Not just in ceremony but in life AS ceremony. Through understanding the distortions in stories and following the thread of myths I guide people to reflect on their lives and how they can take responsibility and transformation into their own hands - sometimes literally with a cup of cacao.

Ceremonial Cacao is one of the magnificent gifts that our planet presents us with in order to remember our innate power and wisdom and unlock our purpose and to become the inner alchemist and creator of magic. Psychology, creativity, mystery are part of my toolbox.

Find Laura on:

You can find out more about Laura on her Website, follow her on Instagram. Or if you want to know more about Cacao+Enchantment, you can follow Kakaozauber on Instagram.

For the best ceremonial cacao, here's Laura’s affiliate link if someone is keen to try what fuels her creativity and spiritual practices: Keiths Cacao

Laura’s Favorite Photos

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As soon as I started experimenting with double exposure and connecting the frames (as I manually can set them to where I want the frames to overlap), I wanted to combine the city with the harbour.

A theme of connection - of people, perspectives and places, such as land, sea and sky - which, in retrospective, became a core feature in my work. Only now, 6 years after this picture was created, I can grasp the importance of this core theme.

Through my mythology studies and teachings I now also sense the spiritual tradition between the Celtic Realms of Sea, Land and Sky which rationally I was not aware of when I was immersed in my art studies but nonetheless left breadcrumbs in my art.

Titled "First Success" because this photograph showed my what my camera, an agfa isolette 4.5 from the late 1940s, was truly capable off. I found it at a flea market in Iceland, got it for the price of two (Icelandic) coffees from a guy who got it from Sweden and never tried to use it.

John Timpone, a friend of mine who is usually found behind the camera, lend me his wonderful face for this miraculous shot.

John is the one I have to thank for sparking my talent for analogue photography, through his patience and skills we figured out the settings to get the camera working again after what was probably a long period of shelf life.

My entry to the Black and White Challenge last November.

Technically not a black and white film, however the light and shadow play plus the black and white shirts that both Andi and Bjössi wore on this sunny day to me made it all about contracts and polarity, whilst simultaneously being confusingly connected on the eye - are they the same person?

But how, in the same picture? Plus, I dint plan to use such a low exposure, but somehow exactly that lead to a magical outcome.

I love misty green landscapes, I love movement and stillness. I could loose myself in this one.

A self portrait on the day of my art graduation.

The cross development gives this image its pink hue, adding to the hippie feel, in addition to the rainbow garland and my yoga posture.

Hippie is the last thing you are supposed to be in the german art academy I trained, in which provocative, cool (like literally unemotionally, detached and cold) concept art was high in demand.

I called this pic "giving a fuck meditation", a homage to my art studies, from which I just about seem to recover ten years later.

Thank You Laura!

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Laura’s approach is explorative, genuine, and full of freedom. I truly love this approach because it highlights the many ways we can capture photographs, especially when we explore with old analogue gear and the limitations we’re forced to work with.

Laura is definitely a creative and interesting person, and her work clearly showcases that, which I appreciate tremendously.

Behind the Lens aims to showcase the authenticity of Nordic Lens members, whether it's through unfiltered photos, professionally edited works, or nostalgic memories and Laura nails every bit of it.

I want to provide a platform for community members to express themselves honestly, personally, or professionally, revealing what makes them tick.

I am incredibly grateful to Laura for accepting my invitation and for continuing this series so beautifully.

Her work is inspirational, and I can't wait to explore the creativity of more Nordic Lens members through Behind the Lens.

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Don't forget to subscribe to Laura’s publication, aptly named, Laura Durban, and be sure to give her a follow on Instagram and visit her website.

Ceremonial Cacao: For the best ceremonial cacao, here's Laura’s affiliate link if someone is keen to try what fuels her creativity and spiritual practices: Keiths Cacao.

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The next issue of Behind the Lens will be published on April 7. To find out who the next person is, you'll have to wait and see.