photographer


KARSTEN BIDSTRUP


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biography





DANISH BASED



I was born in downtown Copenhagen, Denmark, in the free spirited 60s. I stayed in the capital for some 40 years, until I realized life is too short for noise, crowds, traffic and pollution.

Hence, I moved out west, where the grass seems greener, the air cleaner and I can hear the birds.



PHOTOGRAPHER SINCE THE 90s



I got my first camera in 1974 and in the mid-80s I bought my first SLR-camera. In the 90s I got my first professional photo assignments.

Eventually I realized that the better part of my pictures really came from the observant and patient eye, not from the eager machine gunning.



WRITER & AUTHOR



I have always enjoyed combining my images and my words in search of the perfect expression.

I am undeniably a photographer of the heart. But I've realized that I am not writing just because I like it, I am also writing because I feel it is important that my words follow my pictures.




MY BIOGRAPHY IN BRIEF





​I've been a professional photographer since the 1990's.


Staff photographer at Denmark’s largest travel magazine, Vagabond, for 15 years.


Author of the off-the-beaten-track motorcycle travel book Et andet Afrika, a way-out self biography about traveling through Africa on motorcycle for 1½ years.


Numerous photo assignments in Africa and Asia in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders.


Photo consultant with the Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad for a couple of years.


Associated writer with the largest printed photo magazine in Scandinavia, Digital Foto, for 9 years.


Staff photographer at Scandinavia's largest travel/trade magazine Stand By for several years.


In 2014 I was awarded the 3. best photographer in the world's largest dog photography competition, the English Kennel Club's Dog Photographer of the Year.


Author of the expedition cruise company Hurtigruten’s popular photo guide book Cruise with your Camera.


I have undertaken more than 50 journeys as expedition photographer on ships in Antarctica and the Arctics.


In 2018 I had the honour of receiving the prestigious award Travel Journalist of the Year in Denmark.


Recently commissioned by PostNord (the Danish Postal Service) to portrait 7 dogs for a new, unique stamp-series.


Recently commissioned by the widely renowned magazine National Geographic Traveler (DE) for an assignment in Antarctica.



REFERENCES



Air Greenland
Atout France
Billund Lufthavn
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Compagnie du Ponant
Copenhagen Admiral Hotel
Dagbladet Børsen
Dagens Medicin
Dansk Erhvervs Avis
Danske Fysioterapeuter
Dansk Kennel Klub
Danske Kommuner
Digital Foto
Doctors Without Borders
Erhvervs- og Boligstyrelsen



Europark A/S
FDM Motor
Globetrotter
Government of Dubai
Greenland Tourism
Gyldendal
Hasselblad
Helse magasinet
Hilton Copenhagen
Hurtigruten AS
Information
Jyllands-Posten
Lufthansa
Magasinet Hunden
National Geographic Traveller



Navision
Pensionskassen PKA
Politiken
PostNord
RCCL Cruises
Rejsemagasinet Vagabond
Royal Thai Embassy
Securitas A/S
Stand By
Take Off
Tandlægebladet
Thai Airways
The Practising Midwife
Udvikling
Visit Greenland



Danish travel journalist of the year



2018



I had the honour of being awarded Travel Journalist of the Year 2018 in Denmark.

It was a huge acknowledgement and I was especially pleased with this prestigious award because I received it for both my words and my photographs.

I am undeniably a photographer of the heart. But I've realized that I am not writing just because I like it, I am also writing because I feel it is important that my words follow my pictures.

The Chairman of the Association of Danish Travel Journalists, Anne-Vibeke Isaksen, stated at the award ceremony (quote):

"Over a number of years, Karsten Bidstrup has enchanted us all with a visual experience with his amazing, beautiful and varied photos from his travels around the globe.

He has provided photos for history books and travel books as well as cover photos for a myriad of travel magazines in Denmark and abroad".



BOOKS



I'm the author of two books,
a travelogue and a photo book.


about the books

PUBLICATIONS



Over the years I have had many pictures published in newspapers and magazines etc.


about the publications

STAMPS



I photographed seven dogs
for a 5-stamp series.


about the stamps
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Photographer Karsten Bidstrup



DANISH travel journalist of the year 2018



All photographic images and video on this website © 2022 Karsten Bidstrup