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When words are spoken, images can whisper the rest.
Egil Galaaen Gjølme has already shared his story and his vision in depth through a recent podcast – who he is, what drives him, and why his work matters. This post is not meant to repeat that conversation, but to complement it. Here, I want to show Egil through a different lens: moments of stillness, focus, and immersion.
A Life Between Land and Water
Egil’s professional life at NTNU revolves around water competence, safety, and outdoor education. He leads research, trains future teachers, and advocates for realistic water training that prepares people not just for the pool, but for rivers, lakes, and the open sea.
Yet outside lecture halls, his connection with the element is deeply personal. He lives what he teaches: stepping into cold water, confronting the natural forces, and reflecting on how we can stay safe while still daring to engage with nature.
The photographs below capture fragments of that reality: the calm and the challenge, the drive and the quiet reflection.
Resting outdoors
A pause beneath the trees, stretched out on a makeshift bench. Between tasks, Egil finds a moment of calm.
On the road
His old Toyota Hilux is more than transport – it’s a workhorse that carries him to rivers, lakes, and the places where learning happens outside classrooms.
Driving focus
Behind the wheel, concentrated and steady. A look that signals both determination and responsibility.
Immersed in water
Whether above the surface, half-submerged, or underwater, these moments show a man in direct dialogue with the element he has dedicated his life to. Endurance, vulnerability, and presence – all captured in water.
In the podcast, Egil talks. In these images, he pauses.
Together, words and visuals tell a fuller story – one of commitment, risk, safety, and the raw, transformative power of water.
👉 Listen to the full conversation with Egil here:
Behind the scenes:
