I was in Oslo before the weekend, and went to see the Oslo Opera House for the first time. The building is designed by Snøhetta, the architects are probably more known for the Library in Alexandria, in Egypt, but the Opera in Oslo is also a landmark. It opened in 2008, and is used by the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.
I was there on a cold and dark November morning. The reason was a video editing course for journalists that I was attending. I choose the Opera as my topic for training during the course, and I used my DSLR (Canon 5D Mark II) for getting my material, video and a few stills. I have now edited my first video, using Adobe Premiere Elements 11, and you can see the result below. I can see that improvement is possible myself, but I don’t mind some criticism. There are some more stills from the Opera in my photo gallery.
Bente Haarstad Photography 
These are great photos of a fabulous building. It is perfect for the setting in the harbor. In my recent short stay in Oslo, I had a chance to explore the architecture, but, unfortunately, no time to see an opera.
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I didn’t have time to enjoy any opera either, Globalgarnish. Maybe next time. Thanks.
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P.S. Just watched the video. You did a great job capturing the stark but peaceful setting.
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And thanks again.
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Reblogged this on catchuptolearning and commented:
bhhjh
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What a beautiful building. I love your video, even though you cut the poor song off :). Seems as if you had some fun, despite the weather 🙂
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That poor song is much longer than my poor video, Andreas. But I probably should let the music roll some time longer. Thanks for your comment.
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My bad in that case then. The video is really nice, so keep up shooting both stills and moving pictures 🙂
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I love the clean lines and simplicity. Somehow the grey weather works well for these images.
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It was a bit cold to be there, but I somehow prefered it like this, with no sunshine and not so many people around. The building is made for an experience of solitude in the middle of the city.
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Great job. If you were going to edit anything, I would say it might be the part around the 55+ second mark where you show the white walls. There are a few frames where it’s almost all white (buildings and sky blending together). But maybe that’s not a bad thing. I’m by no means a professional photographer. Amazing building. I would love to see inside.
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I am looking forward to see inside another time. Now outside was enough. Thanks a lot for your comment, Anneli.
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Love the music you used for the video and for a first effort, the video turned out well. I only got a bit distracted when you seemed to wobble the video camera up & down a bit in the middle.
I’m sure that wobble will smooth out with more practice.
Beautiful building and images for the still shots.
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Next time I do something like this I should bring a tripod, at least to use some of the time. I know, wobbly a couple of times, sorry about that. Thanks a lot for your comment, Victoria.
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Very Nice~
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Thanks.
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Great Architecture, love the last image with the reflection in the glass.Another great photo essay,
Cheers Callie
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I agree, very interesting architecture. Thanks a lot, Callie.
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Love the pictures! Brr! I can feel the cold through your photos! Great job : )
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It is kind of “cold” architecture, reminds me of endless, snowcovered mountain landscape in winter time. Thanks for your comment, Chocolatier.
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Looks very cold but the building is a work of art. Wonderful photos to capture the feel of the day and of the building.
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Thanks a lot, Pets.
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this building is beautiful with clean lines and your photos (all your gallery) have caught the full report of the silent and white lines in the landscape. Compliments. Beautiful
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Interesting that you see the architecture as a landscape. I do too. Part of its success (for me) is the buildings quiet contrast to the noisy and chaotic city sorrounding it. It feels as entering nature (must be still life). Thanks Lois.
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nice series Bente, always a bit ‘icy’ building the opera, never was there in November, but it feels even more cold
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Icy, but not cold, even if it was a bit cold. I need to see this place in summer time also. Thanks, Johan.
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The opera in Oslo is an really impressive building. you captured it very well. Unfortunately I cannot watch the Video. Once I was at the opera in February few years ago. Because of snow and wind we were only inside. But I’m looking forward to visit the outdoor areas, too.
Ha en fantastisk dag!
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I guess it can be almost dangerous to be outside with a lot of snow and wind, as it is next to the sea. But a quiet (and wet) November morning was quite ok. Impressive and interesting. Sorry about the video, I messed up, but the link should be ok again now. Ha en fantastisk dag du også.
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Well done Bente. My only thoughts on the video would be to linger a little longer on each shot, give the viewer time to catch up before the next cut. Amazing building.
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I tend to agree with you, Chillbrook. I made the shots very short, trying not to bore people too much. But I see now that at least some of them should have been longer. With this kind of subject it is probably betterl to dwell a second or two longer on each take. Thanks for your comment.
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Nice pics !!!
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Thanks, Carl.
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Very well captured – an impressive building. I like it more than our new Opera in Copenhagen… 🙂
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I need to see the new opera in Copenhagen. And i need to visit Copenhagen any way. Danes are usually very nice people, Drake. 😉
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Really, really like the picture before the last, very nice composition. And a very impressive building. Should I ever find my way to Oslo I’ll make sure to stop by and have a look for myself.
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Thanks a lot DieOla. And if you find your way to Oslo it is very easy to find this place, since it is next to the railway station and the city center.
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Nice videao en love the photo’s. The cold weather gives the photo’s a beautiful atmosphere!
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Glad you liked them, Yvonne. Thanks a lot.
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The hazy weather perfectly complemented the stark lines of this incredible piece fo architecture. Big like.
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Big thank you for your nice comment, Alessandro.
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The architecture is so simple and beautiful although it looks so cold. 🙂
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Agree with you, Cocomino. Thanks.
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I love this building, and the fact that the shots were taken in winter, which means white skies, really creates a somewhat elegant ambiance.
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Thanks for your interesting comment, Bama.
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These are fabulous photos and I think the cloudy sky really helps set the mood for the Opera house. The reflection photo is fantastic ! Can’t wait to check out your video as I would also like to learn how to do that. 🙂
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I bet video would be interesting for you too, Bella. It is very interesting now when we can use the same camera both for stills and video. Some participating on the course even used their phones making their video. Thanks for your comment, Emily.
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I watched your video and really liked it a lot. The angles, colors and having a few people highlight movement around the Opera House was brilliant. I think you’ve created a marketing video for them Bente!
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It is a student work, Emily, but thanks a lot for your very encouraging comment. And thanks for watching…
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Wonderful last photo!
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Thanks, Louvain.
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Det är en imponerande byggnad, har sett den inifrån också, på tv. Tycker att självporträttet var en riktigt härlig bild!!
Kram och allt gott till dej!
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Da har du sett mer enn meg, for jeg hadde ikke tid til å stikke hodet inn. Men så ville jeg konsentrere meg om utsiden også da, denne gang. Var i tvil om selvportrettet, men det var vel ok at det ble med da. Tusen takk for kommentaren, klem til deg også.
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Tja, det är ju inte samma att se den på Tv som på riktigt, men ändå.
Utsidan är fantastisk den med!
Klem! og alt godt til dae!
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What an impressive building my friend… 🙂
Was the weather as cold as it seems?
Jota.
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I had to run back to town and buy myself a woolen scarf, but it probably wasn’t as cold as it seems. The architecture itself is kind of cold, a frozen, quiet landscape. Thanks a lot for your comment, Jota.
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It´s always my pleasure Bente.
🙂
Jota.
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WOW! I wished to be there… Great architecture and photographs. Thank you dear Bente. Love, nia
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Thanks a lot for your kind comment, dear Nia.
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Beautiful, crisp, contrasty images. It would be interesting to a matching selection of the interior.
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The interior will be next time, some time. Thanks for your comment, Louis.
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I must go to Oslo!
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You must go to Oslo, Eldin. Some time.
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I just see your video and say to you : congratulation 😀
This music is a good choice for the Opera and the cold that we see.
The pictures, Bente you have (in french we say : tu as l’oeil)
Now with the time I read your blog , if i have time and money one day perhap I go t Oslo and visit your contry 😀
ps : my apologies fot the big mistakes in english
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I love the self-portait in the glass like a signature.
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The photos are pretty geometric!
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great photos and video from an interesting building, Bente. Thank you for sharing.
groetjes, Francina
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You have caught the icy modernity so beautifully Bente!
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Very interesting place. You have made very good photos in that wintry atmosphere. I especially like the fifth one.
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wow! Amazing architecture :O
Best regards
Auniveaudelamer
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