We love them. Rock stars, movie stars, icons of the art world. And we love pictures of them. Most portraits we see today document our abstract ideas of what's best and what's worst - in them and in ourselves. That's why they work. Portraiture as a means of artistic expression and human understanding remains important and vital. It is certainly a great aspect of Soren Ronholt's work: the invisible dialogue between the people he portrays and himself is undeniable. The majority of his portrayed characters may be famous, but that's not the point. He uses every ounce of his empathy to create images of real people. Despite the clever, accentuating mood and strong, often monochromatic style - what he seeks is the truth behind the face.

The Nordic Book unfolds the highlights of photographer Soren Ronholts travels in the Nordic countries. He has been photographing landscapes and people, thereby telling stories about Nordic culture, nature and appearance. Ronholt has been working with the Nordic theme for five years. The different groups of pictures are presented along side each other, sharing their stories and creating new ones in their unity. The landscapes in the book are describing the rough but exceptionally beautiful nature of the Nordic countries. The majestic mountains, dark forests and distant shores create sceneries, which are at the same time deeply calm and very dramatic but most of all incredibly compelling. The human figure is depicted through Ronholts nudes and portraits. Especially the female body is discussed in the series of nudes. Photographed in the intimate space of their own homes, Ronholt wanted to show the womanly body as it really is, using the same method, as when he photographs landscapes. Also the Nordic persona is characterised through Ronholts strong portraits, which adds another personal dimension to the groups of pictures. Each picture in itself and all of them as a sum takes the reader on a journey an unpolished journey in Nordic identity and life."