Visual sociology

This page contains examples of photographs from my visual sociology collection.

Capitalism #visualsociology

"The Triumph of Capitalism" - the photo illustrates three layers of social stratification (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Kids in professional football academies are ...just kids!" (2019, Villarreal, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Fashion" - This photo illustrates how fashion designers extend the boundaries of what is normal and expected (2019, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"I have a dream" - from a Black Lives Matter protest demonstration (2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Different worlds" - while the woman is demonstrating American president Donald Trump at a Black Lives Matter gathering (in front of the Icelandic parliament) the girl is just cheerfully playing on top of the rock (2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Football hooliganism" - the crowd tends torchlights and fireworks while a player tries to reason with his supporters (2016, Marseille, France) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Do you feel lucky?" - the photo illustrates how luck may be influential in the misfortunes of people (2020, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Civil inattention"- the photo illustrates how people in cities, with all their stimuli, just mind their own business (2020, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Generational ties" - the photo illustrates the societal value sports has to connect different generations (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Social electricity" - the photo illustrates how social atmosphere emerges in a confined space given a particular social context (Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Art worlds" - a la Howard Becker, there are many people who operate behind the artist backstage (2019, at Iceland Airwaves festival, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Collective team spirit" - more in one team than the other (2020, Pinatar, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Showmanship" - this photo illustrates the importance of the visual in popular music  (Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, 2019 Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Student Protest" - students adopt critical thinking at the University of Iceland (2019, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology  ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The conscience collective"  - how music can function as a sacred object of the masses (Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"False needs" - the photo illustrates the consumer society (2018, Gardabaer, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The home of samba football" - the photo portrays a behind the scenes look of a famous football culture - at the Copa Cobana beach (2018, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Entrepreneurship" - the photo illustrates how people try to exploit business opportunities that may arise (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Human life" - the photo illustrates individual diversity (2018, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Looking" - the photo illustrates the visual society - a society of looking (2018, Stockholm, Sweden) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Behind the scenes" - the photo illustrates the inner torment of a cancer patient, backstage (2019, Gardabaer, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Touchdown" - the photo highlights commercialized sports as opiate of the masses (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Community life" - the photo illustatres many elements of social life, such as; community, social performance, interaction and socialization (2018, New Orleans, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Togetherness" - the photo illustrates how youth sports can emphasize friendships and competition, at the same time (2015, Akureyri, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The pro-earth generation" - the photo illustrates how the masses are choosing other means of transport than cars (2018, Stockholm, Sweden) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Growing up" - the photo illustrates the different roles and needs of three different generations (2017, Skorradalur, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Young and foolish" - the photo shows the unrestrained behavior of celebrating football fans (2016, Marseille, France) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Nationalism" - are sports the epitomised form of nationalism? (2016, St.Etienne, France) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"I was there" - the photo illustrates the social media generation (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Craftsmanship" - a look behind the scenes in the band´s break (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Stay thirsty" - the photo illustrates the role of rivalry and banter (2017, Chicago, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Hanging out after school" - the photo provides insight into youth culture in Tobago where everyone wears a school uniform (2020, Charlottesville, Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Community ritual" - from a funeral in an Icelandic village (2013, Stokkseyri, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Signs" - are important to guide the masses (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Say no to drugs" - was a message  aimed at children and adolescents evident around sports- and playing fields in Tobago (2020, Charlottesville, Trinidad and Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Those who play sports, don´t smoke" - was a message aimed at children and adolescents in a local school playground in Iceland (2021, Borgarnes, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Freedom of speech" - in front of Trump Tower (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Fight the power" - a mass demonstration against the Icelandic government, in front of the House of  Parliament (2016, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Barbaric tradition" - bull fighting in the streets of a small town in Spain #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"La Mafia" - how real life represents the movies (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The production of glamour" - a la Howard Becker and Ashley Mears (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Attention please!" -  the Manhattan crowd seems, however, uninterested (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Making a statement" (2015, Barcelona, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Homes: A voyeur´s gaze" (2014, Barcelona, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Nature haven" - this photo illustrates how public city parks provide people with a "green time-out" from the buzzing city life of the metropolis (2015, Barcelona, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Rest" - all workers need rest (2015, Barcelona, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A sorcerer?" - the world is full of wonders in the eyes of the youngest (2019, Amsterdam, Holland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Performance" - street artists show their performed selves (2015, Barcelona, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Better safe than sorry..." - the photo illustrates a lack of social capital in the big city (2015, New York, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"School rules" - the photo illustrates the expected norms of youth behaviour in a particular society (2020, Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The calm before the storm" - behind the scenes at half time (2020, Pinatar, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Easy life" - just strolling along in a peaceful and affluent society (2019, Amsterdam, Holland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A fading tradition" - playing the traditional Basque pelota before a small an ageing audience (2017, Valencia, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"At home" (2020, Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A wedding ceremony" - in a tiny Icelandic village (2018, Djúpavík, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"What´s next?" - band members communicate between numbers (2014, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Play" - for the sake of playing (2020, Trinidad and Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Dissident" - someone posted a criticism of Chinese government at the side of its celebratory exhibition, at the University of Iceland (2019, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Outsiders" - the only light skins in the village (2020, Crown Point, Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Bookmakers: The predators of football" (2020, Pinatar, Spain) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Electricity" - the photo illustrates how technology connects people (2020, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Temporarily closed"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, Downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Where have all the tourists gone?"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Upside down" #COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Emptiness"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Ghost place" #COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, shopping centre in Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Not much sale these days" #COVID - said Reynir at Reykjavik Record shop, who was open for business during the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Keep 2 meters distance!"#COVID  - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Seats available" #COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"New reality" #COVID - A faculty meeting during the Coronavirus pandemic (March, 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Empty Reykjavik"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (April, 2020, Downtown Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A full house of pens"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (April 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"2 Meters"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (April 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"No football practice"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (April 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Stressful times"#COVID - During the Coronavirus pandemic (April 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A symbolic illustration of the Coronavirus pandemic" #COVID - from a bleak and gloomy reality towards a brighter one - in the first days after the gathering ban (late May 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Back to normal" #COVID - in the first days after the Corona epidemic gathering ban  (late May 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"A source of inspiration for artist" #COVID - an arthouse exhibition showing artists interpretation of   the coronavirus pandemic (late May 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Fashion store display" #COVID - including hand sanitizers (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The power of socialization" - the youngest brother (in Brasil shirt) watches his older brothers play football in opposing teams (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Symmetrical landscape" - seeing always depends on one´s perspective: try tilting your head to the left (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Sameness" - just like horses, humans are pretty much all the same despite bodily differences such as due to gender and race  (2020, in the southwest of Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The winner takes it all, the loser standing small" - society is obsessed with winning (2020, Kopavogur Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"It´s our ball ref!" - the methods of the professionals are learned early where this 12 year old is trying to influence the ref (2020, Kopavogur Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"38 eyes focused on a ball!"(2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"21st Century Tourism" - is built on filming experiences instead of experiencing (2020, the South of Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Sports practice during the Covid pandemic" - new ritual as the players get hand sanitizer from the coach before practice (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Caravan community" - in the summer time new micro communities emerge in the countryside (2020, Flúðir Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Habitus" - having a piano at home stimulates the young ones to experiment, inspect with it and try to play (2020, Garðabær Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Sport as religion" - it is customary to display the flags of sport clubs, as well as other social organizations, at funerals in Iceland (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Vote for me!" - I am looking towards to future with my blue presidential tie! (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Covid classroom" - hand sanitizers and 2m rule  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Christmas Cards " - a fading tradition in the digital age  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The countryside spoiled by a billboard ad" - a thing which irritated C. Wright Mills immensely  (2020, Iceland countryside) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Change the game" -  placing up billboards which encourage people to change their attitude towards women´s sports illustrates the need to change the attitudes towards women´s sports (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Addicted" -  sneaking into the dark world of slot machines (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The social construction of value" -  Pieces of paper can buy you a home, food, status and a lot of things, but not necessarily happiness  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Gendered book display" -  For some reason it seems to be a new custom in Icelandic bookshops to present its books in either male or female author sections  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"See you soon" -  International football in Covid times with no spectators and 2m distance (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Covid spectacle"  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Easy day at the office" -  A security guard at a football match with no spectators (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Masked reality" -  A new norm? (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Breaking barriers" - female football referees, wearing pink socks (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Serious business" - an armoured health care worker during the Covid pandemic (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Business, ...not welding, graduates" - Covid times (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Party!" - but not everyone is welcome #social stratification (2018, New Orleans, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"People" - are both saints and sinners (2018, New Orleans, USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The moon" - reminds us humans how small and insignificant we really are (2020, Reykjavik, Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Urban poverty" - A man collecting bottles and cans from the downtown waste containers (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Bored store clerk" - No one shopping for shoes during a Covid escalation (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Queuing" - Everyone is looking at their mobile phones while waiting to get tested for the Corona virus (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Togetherness" - A football team is more than the starting eleven  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Machines as humans" - To what extent will artificial intelligence replace the human workforce in the near future?  (2018, Djúpavík Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Where is the new constitution?" - This senior citizen was among a group of people trying to get the attention of the drive-by cars on supporting the claim for a new constitution - probably more for the future generations than for himself  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The look" - The pull of advertisements  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Law and order" - The police was visible, but friendly, during a public demonstration event in downtown Reykjavik   (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Gay Pride - The power of collective action   (2018, Stockholm Sweden) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Preserving a tradition - The band plays its role despite an empty house (2018, New Orleans USA) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Men at the mall" (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Covid family christmas gathering" (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Art as means of communication" - A human rights campaign provides art for the man on the street (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"#Metoo" - When middle aged men were silenced behind ´bars´ (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"City life" - Mask or no mask? (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Body posture A"- representing a´typical´male?  (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Body posture B" - representing a ´typical´ female? (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The Icelandic parliament" - in a building which symbolizes history, traditions and stability (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The media age" (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Celebrity culture" - all societies highlight its well-knowns in various ways (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Boys" - playing (2021, Gardabaer Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Where the action is" - a la Goffman (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Women athletes as role models" - autograph session where the members of the women´s national football team meet with young fans (2010, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Desperation" -  asylum seekers facing deportation to Greece making themselves heard by chanting "We love Iceland!" in front of the Icelandic parliament (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Adolescence" - While the girls play hop games, the slightly older boys try to play it cool (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Means of transportation" - Different vehicles for different needs (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Innocence lost" - A young black boy looking perturbed at a Black Lives Matter rally in Iceland  (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Queing for Covid vaccination" - the sick and the elders are the most vulnerable groups of society and thus gain priority for vaccinations (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Symbolic gesture" - rivalry banter at a high school graduate ritual  (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Old fashion craftsmanship" - Orri Finn jewelry maker (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Social Predictability" - we assume that the older couple are not going to join the youngsters on the trampoline. Why do we make that assumption? What would the kids think if they did join them? What would you think? (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Vaccination of the masses" - a highly synchronized and effective, assembly line styled, vaccination process for the Covid virus in Iceland. (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Body language" - different body gestures of speaker and listener. (2020, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Gentrification"- of downtown Reykjavik (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Surveillance" - is an integral part of gentrification (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Learning through play" - kids can enhance all kinds of practical and social skills by playing sports (2021, Gardabaer Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Honored graduates" - are schools better suited for girls than for boys? (2021, Gardabaer Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Leftover clothes" - a sign of  a  society that is too affluent?  (2021, Gardabaer Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The richest 1%" - the leisure transport of someone in the world´s richest one percent includes this giant yacht and the accompanying  helicopter (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Fundamental social needs" - every village contains a church and a football field (2021, Eskifjörður Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"The verdict" - the masses, and not the experts, are marking the parameters of what is good and what is bad (2021, Hrífunes Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Lesson" - where the older ones guide the younger ones to follow their footsteps  (2021, Flatey Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Easy rider" - while people want to experience freedom by driving motorcycles in the countryside, they are still bound to follow traffic laws and considerations for others (2021, the south of Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"Herd behaviour" - is common among those manlike sheeps, as among men (2021, Flatey Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson

"On their own terms" - while children rely on their parents and follow their lead, adolescents tend to want to break free from their parents and explore the world with their peers, on their own terms (2021, Reykjavik Iceland) #visualsociology ©Vidar Halldorsson