Vemödalen- with Rankin

The 'Getting Emotional' podcast episode titled 'Vemödalen- with Rankin' explores the emotion Vemödalen, a term coined by John Koenig in his project 'The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.' Host Bex introduces Vemödalen as the sinking feeling you get when you realize the photo you've taken has been captured countless times before. The episode begins with a personal anecdote from Bex about trying to find a unique angle for a photo of the Eiffel Tower, only to realize that millions of tourists have taken essentially the same picture. Bex then dives into the meaning of Vemödalen, which is derived from the Swedish 'vemod,' meaning a tender sadness or melancholy, and relates it to the idea of mass-produced experiences akin to IKEA furniture named after Swedish towns.

Bex invites renowned photographer Rankin to discuss the concept of Vemödalen and whether it's a feeling that professionals like him experience as well. Rankin acknowledges the ubiquity of certain images in the modern world, attributing it partly to the digital revolution that has made photography accessible to almost everyone. He discusses the profound changes in human perception and behavior over the last 15 years due to technology, which has resulted in an explosion of images and the possibility of new emotions related to photography.

Rankin reflects on the individuality of photography, suggesting that while many photos may look similar, each person's experience with a photo is unique. He emphasizes the memory-making aspect of photography and how, despite the commonality of certain types of photos, individual experiences can imbue them with personal significance. Rankin also expresses excitement about the potential for people to develop unique perspectives and capture images in ways that have never been seen before, thanks to the democratization of photography through technology.