Plans for 2025 Adventure
Looking Ahead
The first half of 2024 was a time of significant change—selling my old apartment, finding the new Knotten, and reconnecting with old friends. I spent time in Germany helping Kaddy with her move, explored new landscapes, and had a bittersweet farewell to old chapters in my life. But as the months passed and I settled into my new home at Bekkrbua, the pace shifted. The second half of the year brought with it new challenges, moments of reflection, and a return to things that had long been set aside.
Bekkrbua, nestled in the woods, has slowly transformed from a project to a home and creative space. It has allowed me to reconnect with myself, my work, and my passion for photography, especially film. While the journey to settle in hasn’t been without its bumps, the process has been grounding, and it’s clear that the second half of 2024 has been a pivotal turning point.
As the year draws to a close, the focus is shifting. There’s much more to come as I lay the groundwork for the year ahead, both personally and professionally. In the next section, I’ll dive deeper into the creative endeavors I’ve embraced in the latter half of 2024 and the road I’m now walking, with a look toward my plans for 2025 adventure.
Settling into Bekkrbua
For those who might not know, Bekkrbua is my cabin in the woods—a modest and cosy retreat surrounded by nature, offering a peaceful escape from the noise of the outside world. It’s not just a cabin; it’s a place where creativity finds room to breathe, and life slows down enough to appreciate the small, quiet moments.
I first moved into Bekkrbua in October of last year (2023), but life’s whirlwind didn’t allow me to truly settle in or begin the tasks I wanted to tackle. It wasn’t until this September that I could fully shift my focus to making it a home. When I started this process, I had big hopes for what Bekkrbua could be. But let’s be honest—it hasn’t been all unicorns farting rainbows or glittering waterfalls. The move has been chaotic at times, with plenty of challenges along the way. Transitioning from life on the road to having a base has been a massive adjustment, and Bekkrbua itself has evolved from its original purpose into something entirely different: my home and creative sanctuary.
One of the biggest realities I’ve faced since moving in is catching up on things that simply weren’t possible to manage properly while living full-time in Knotten. My archive of images, for example, has been in desperate need of organization and attention, and my websites—for both Toffa and Knotten and Toffa Berg Photography—have been sadly neglected. Now, with Bekkrbua as a grounding point, I’ve started addressing these long-overdue tasks, though there’s still a long way to go.
This process of settling in is far from complete. Bekkrbua is a project that has only just begun—a space that will continue to take shape as I make it more functional, comfortable, and suited to my needs. While I’ll touch more on what’s ahead for Bekkrbua in the 2025 section, for now, it’s clear that this cabin represents not just a place to stay, but a foundation for the next chapter of my life.
Rekindling My Love for Film Photography
2024 also saw me rekindling my love for analogue photography. I took the leap into medium-format photography with the Mamiya 645 Pro TL, a camera I’ve dreamed of owning for over 20 years. Alongside that, I also found the Mamiya DSX 500, a camera that holds a deep connection to my early days in photography. (I will come back to these cameras on a later date in 2025)
During my time in Germany, I also picked up an additional Nikon F90x, which became an excellent addition to my 35mm setup. Having two camera bodies—one loaded with black-and-white film and the other with colour—completely transformed the way I work. It gave me the flexibility to switch between different styles without interrupting the flow of shooting, allowing me to focus more on the creative process itself.
This experience ultimately reinforced the value of medium format photography with interchangeable film backs. The ability to switch between film stocks seamlessly without the need for multiple camera bodies felt like the natural progression of this journey. It was a turning point that solidified my commitment to fully embracing medium format as my primary analogue format.
Shooting on film again has been a revelation. It’s slowed me down, taught me to see in a different way, and reconnected me with the craft of photography on a deeper level. The process of developing my own film and seeing the images unfold in front of me is something I had forgotten how much I missed (and also not missed so much when it comes to scanning).
In the latter half of 2024, I’ve been diving even deeper into film. There’s something about the process that feels timeless, something beyond the digital experience that connects me to a long-standing tradition of photographers. It’s not just about the images I capture, but the feeling of slowing down and becoming more mindful in my craft. This rekindling has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my creative journey this year.
A Year in Review
Looking back on 2024, it’s been a year of transformation, both personally and professionally. From settling into Bekkrbua to rediscovering my love for film photography, I’ve found myself in a process of reinvention. The challenges of the early part of the year—moving, saying goodbye to the old Knotten, and helping Kaddy transition—have given way to a deeper sense of purpose. It’s clear that the second half of 2024 was about finding my rhythm again and reconnecting with the things that matter most to me: photography, creativity, and building something that will last.
But I haven’t been alone in this journey. To all of you who have supported me throughout the year, whether through comments, messages, or simply by following along on my journey, I can’t thank you enough. Your encouragement and belief in what I do has been a constant source of motivation. This year has been challenging in many ways, but having you all along for the ride has made it feel worthwhile.
As 2024 draws to a close, I’m filled with gratitude. It hasn’t been an easy year, but it’s been a year of growth, change, and the kind of transformation that sets the stage for what comes next.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As I reflect on the transformative year that 2024 has been, my thoughts are already turning to the possibilities that 2025 holds. It will be a year of focus, creativity, and laying the groundwork for new adventures—both in photography and in life.
Focus on Analog Photography
One of my primary focuses will be to deepen my relationship with analog photography. Over the past year, I’ve reconnected with film, and in 2025, I plan to fully immerse myself mainly in medium format photography. The magic of developing film by hand, further seeing how I can develop my style—there’s something about it that feels timeless. I can’t wait to build out my Mamiya 645 kit and explore new creative depths within this medium. Beside the Mamiya 645, I will also focus on using more my Mamiya DSX 500 more, and I may even pick up a second body so I can have one loaded with colour and one with black and white.
Building out my Office at Bekkrbua
Another exciting project will be building out my new office at Bekkrbua. While I’ve started settling into this cabin, the office area is still very much in the works. This space will become my creative hub, where I can work on projects, develop photographs, and have room for reflection. It’s a blank canvas right now, but I can already see how it will evolve into the perfect environment to foster creativity.
Instagram's Challenges and What’s Next
While 2024 has been a year of personal and creative growth, it’s also been a year of frustration with Instagram. The platform, once a cornerstone for sharing my journey with Knotten, connecting with fellow creators, and building a community, has increasingly become difficult to navigate. Between the ongoing technical glitches, changes to engagement visibility, and the rising tide of spam accounts, Instagram has felt less like a place for genuine connection and more like a battleground for visibility.
Moreover, the pressure to pay for visibility on the platform has led to frustration. As creators, it feels unfair to be asked to spend money to ensure the community I’ve built can see my posts. It’s as though the platform now prioritizes trends, ads, and low-effort content over the hard work and originality we pour into our craft. And it’s not just me—it seems many creators are facing the same issues, with accounts being penalized or deleted without explanation.
Given all this, I’ve decided to explore other platforms that better align with my values and offer more reliable ways to showcase my work and engage with you all. I’ll be shifting my focus toward sharing more on my blog, which offers a space for deeper connection without the constraints of algorithms and restrictions. I’ll also be exploring platforms like Bluesky and Pinterest, which seem to better embrace creativity and originality. Instagram will still be part of the picture for now, but it’s clear that the landscape is changing, and I need to adapt to ensure that I’m connecting with you in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.
Expanding the Websites
2025 will also see a renewed focus on my websites. Both Toffa Berg Photography and the Toffa & Knotten sites are long overdue for either some or a big update. I’m excited to give both of them the attention they deserve—rebuilding my online presence with a more streamlined, functional, and aesthetically pleasing platform. I will also most likely move hosting service in 2025, so there may be a time where the websites are not available. But once this is sorted both sites will be up and running like normal.
Reconnection with Landscapes near Jæren and Ryfylke
While 2025 may bring less extensive travel than in previous years, I plan to focus more on the landscapes closer to home. Jæren and Ryfylke, two regions I hold dear, offer so much beauty and tranquility. I’m eager to explore their quieter, more intimate corners, discovering new perspectives and scenes to capture.
A Long Trip North
That said, there are plans for one long trip north in the late summer and autumn, with Senja and Kvaløya as the ultimate destinations. These remote regions have always called to me, and in 2025, I intend to spend some serious time photographing these locations again as last time I was there I didn’t have the chance to endulge in the locations as I personally wanted to. This will count as my autumn trip for 2025.
New Photography Projects
I’m also excited to announce that I will also start working on two new projects: “Now, but in the past” and “En kjede av Fyr” (A Chain of Lighthouses). As of now I will not reveal so much what these two projects are about, but in 2025 I will return to them in blog posts that explain them more in detail.
YouTube
This part ties into the problems with Instagram, and that is to find a platform to better connect with you guys out there. I am looking into building out a channel that will feature both travel, vlogs and photography. Let’s see what 2025 brings.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m reminded that this journey isn’t one I’m taking alone—it’s something I’m sharing with all of you. Whether it’s through blog posts, photographs, or new platforms, I’m deeply grateful for your continued support and encouragement.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s to come. What are you most excited about? Are there things you’d like to see more of? Your feedback means the world to me, and it’s through these conversations that I find inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward.
Here’s to an exciting year ahead—thank you for being part of this journey.
Joyful Yule, and happy new year
Kind regard
Toffa, Ludde and Knotten
