Espen Rasmussen

Espen Rasmussen, Verdens Gang

A girl gathers flowers for midsummer celebrations on a hill near the town of Piltinkalns, Latvia, on 21 June 2006. The rituals around the summer solstice have roots in pagan belief, and are widely observed across the Baltic region. Around 200 people gather on the hilltop on midsummer's night every year, to sing, dance and make bonfires through to dawn. On the day running up to the festivities, women and girls collect herbs and flowers to make into wreaths to wear.

Espen Rasmussen (b. 1976) is a Norwegian photojournalist based in Nesodden, near Oslo, working at the foreign desk of VG (Verdens Gang), Norway’s leading daily newspaper. He is a contributing photographer to the VII Foundation and has received numerous awards, including three World Press Photo awards, multiple Picture of the Year International (POYi) honors, and 54 Norwegian Picture of the Year awards, including Photographer of the Year (2015, 2016, 2018) and the main prize in 2004 and 2016.

Rasmussen published the book TRANSIT (2011, Dewi Lewis) and serves as an editor and mentor for the Norwegian Journal of Photography. His work has been exhibited at institutions including the Nobel Peace Center (Oslo), UNHCR Headquarters (Geneva), and DokuFest (Kosovo), and published internationally in Paris Match, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

He also lectures and presents widely on photography, while continuing to pursue independent projects.