During the recent PSA festival in Portland, Oregon I visited Fort Vancouver’s historic blacksmith shop. As some of my ancestors were blacksmiths, this tour held deep personal meaning for me, and I also had some minimal knowledge of the subject. A master craftsman welcomed us into his workshop and took time to demonstrate his techniques, proudly explaining the traditional methods he preserves. His passion for the craft was evident in every movement. As those sparks exploded from his anvil, I realized I was photographing more than a moment; I was capturing a bridge between my past and present, between Sweden and America, between memory and living tradition.

This photo was taken outside my hotel room in Minneapolis. I was attending a conference and it was drizzling out, so I did a photo tour in my hotel looking out various windows looking for reflections.