The photographer

Arnfinn Johansen is a semi-professional wildlife photographer from Norway. He is an elected member of the Norwegian Nature Photographers Association/NN, a prestigious association of professional nature photographers. In 2017 Arnfinn founded Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp, an eco safari camp located in Maasai Mara in Kenya, to meet professional wildlife photographers’ and nature photo enthusiasts’ needs. Arnfinn is also a photo guide for Zoom Photo Travel and Africa Geographic. His images are represented by NTB Scanpix news and photo agency.

The photography

Through his photography, Arnfinn conveys the magic of nature, communicates its many moods, and reveals its stories and secrets. His images are about more than just excellent composition and technical ability; they offer the viewer an intimate view of nature and a moment of reflection. Some of Arnfinn’s most powerful shots show his subjects in their natural environment, combining clean composition with the space and beauty of the landscape. In addition, he always looks for stories behind the images that need to be told, inspires respect for nature and reminds us to be humble. When all of these elements come together in a single photograph, Arnfinn knows he has succeeded.

Conservation

As a wildlife photographer, Arnfinn seeks to use selected images to preserve nature and wildlife. This includes various projects, such as being an invited member and photographer of organisations like Vital Impacts in the USA, which focuses on wildlife preservation in South America and especially the Amazon, and Remembering Wildlife in the UK, which is dedicated to conserving endangered species in Africa.

The Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp also prioritises environmental conservation in its operations. Its philosophy is centred on giving back: the safari business aims to impact nature and local communities in the Mara positively. Oltepesi collaborates with healthcare organizations like Right to Sight to prevent cataracts and also funds the Oltepesi Public Pumphouse, providing clean water to around 2,000 people daily. Furthermore, it supports the Olare Owang Academy by constructing a new school building. These initiatives are all based on the conviction that conserving wildlife and nature must also benefit local communities. If this does not occur, it will not work in the long term.

For more information visit oltepesi.com/conservation.

Awards and exhibitions

Arnfinn’s images have been recognised in many international competitions, including European Wildlife Photographer of the Year (GDT), The Big Picture, Bird Photographer of the Year, Asferico, Siena International Photo Awards, Glanzlichter, Por el Planeta, Oasis, Global Arctic Awards, Memorial Maria Luisa (MML), Nordic Nature Photo Contest (NNPC), Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards, Black & White Spider Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, Nature’s Best Photography Africa, among others.

Arnfinn’s work has been on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC (U.S.), at Somerset House Gallery and Patrick Mavros Art Gallery in London (UK), at Iziko South African Museum in Johannesburg (South Africa), at Giacosa Theater of Ivrea in Torino (Italy), at Museum of Man and Nature in Munich and Stadtmuseum Schleswig (Germany), at White Swan Wildlife International Photography Festival of Sanmexia (China), at Ree Park Ebeltoft (Denmark), at Natural History Museum in Oslo (Norway), and in other cities including Mexico City in Mexico, Moscow in Russia, Kolkota in India, Oviedo in Spain, Fürstenfeldbruck, and Lünen in Germany. His images have also been published in books, newspapers and international photography magazines.

Professional background

Arnfinn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Business Administration and has over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, governance, board work and management within the information technology industry in Norway. In 2008 he co-founded Styrmand AS, an IT consulting company based in Lillehammer and Oslo. Today, he is the company’s CFO and Chairman of the Board. There is a good synergy between Arnfinn’s day job in IT and his passion for nature photography. One provides an energetic schedule and challenging workload in an inspiring and expanding company. The other offers opportunities to travel, a chance to get outdoors into nature, and time to reflect and think. But, importantly, both roles provide energy and invigoration to the other.