ADVERTISEMENT

Carl Størmer (1872-1957) enjoyed a hobby that was very, very unusual at the time. He walked around Oslo, Norway in the 1890s with his spy camera and secretly took everyday pictures of people. The subjects in Størmer's pictures appear in their natural state. These street photography shots extremely differ from the grave and strict posing trends that dominated photography during those years.

Carl got his C.P. Stirn Concealed Vest spy camera in 1893 when he was studying mathematics at the Royal Frederick University (now, University of Oslo). "It was a round flat canister hidden under the vest with the lens sticking out through a buttonhole," he told St. Hallvard Journal in 1942. "Under my clothes, I had a string down through a hole in my trouser pocket, and when I pulled the string the secret camera took a photo."

Norway's first paparazzi usually photographed people at the exact time they were greeting him on the street. "I strolled down Carl Johan, found me a victim, greeted, got a gentle smile, and pulled. Six images at a time and then I went home to switch [the] plate." In total, Størmer took a total of about 500 of these black and white photos.

His interesting photos aside, Størmer was also fascinated with science. He was a mathematician and physicist, known both for his work in number theory and studying the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

Now scroll down below and check these secret vintage photos of Norway's past for yourself!

spy-camera-secret-street-photography-carl-stormer-norway-159

#1

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cesi Baca
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cat knows the guy is hiding something lol. Cats defintely have a 6th sense.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bent Sorensen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is physics professor Kristian Birkeland - the only one of Størmer's subjects to rumble him. Apparently he got quite cross!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
DeadStillPretty
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the hats on these women. Holy c**p, they're enormous. Replace the background with a promenade deck or something it's like a scene out of Titanic.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
christina murray
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love this one, i like to think he can see the camera and is tipping his hat to the guy

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow!! What a striking figure she cuts. Would love to have a closer look at what she is holding--is it a purse?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#21

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marnee DeRider
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why don't we use parasols for shade anymore? I grew up in Minnesota near a large community of Hmong. The older women (and sometimes men) would often carry umbrellas in the summer to keep the sun off. I envied them, because I was a teenager and wouldn't have dared because it wasn't "done". (Nobody even used them in the rain at the time because humans are silly at times.)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Diana Cooper
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good Scandinavian diet. Few processed foods, not a lot of fat and no junk food!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
petil Pling
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That really looks like Henrik Ibsen! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Ibsen

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jilibi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is like, please hand me the camera or promise me that you will not post this on facebook.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Debbie Andersson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The whole city looks so pretty, why aren´t we today, with our machines, building this pretty buildings anymore? Would be way easier today then it was then.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#34

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Greg Dill
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Good Godin, Danika! This man is following us with his GoPro on."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jilibi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look justin beiber is here, forget him! I am watching ufo landing.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Robin Collins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lena, I'm still not sure this is best way to escape the police..... Shut up Ollie and sway your hips more.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Pam Falcioni
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't even imagine what a hassle it would have been to deal with a hat like that on a windy day.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#41

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tamara Laney
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I thought you said your dog doesn't bite?!!" "Yes, but that's not my dog." <---one of my favorite Inspector Clouseau (Pink Panther) jokes.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

#43

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jilibi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wanna see and record a hat trick. I bet it will be trending one day on youtube.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#52

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marnee DeRider
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always pictured that most Norwegians were blond, but from these pictures, they look like most have brown hair. Might be it's just hard to tell in the b/w photos. Or, more likely, it's one more stereotype I need to delete from my files.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#58

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
M.J. J.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It'd be very rude not to greet people on the sidewalks back then...

View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
M.J. J.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No cones, flashing lights etc.,to warn pedestrians of ladders on sidewalks!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Partial double exposure. The cranking mechanism glitched out. Still: extraordinarily good photos for their time!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#64

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Harvey Johnson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently they didn't have spur of the moment quickies in those days. Too many clothes

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#65

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Girl-Scouts? The hats, especially. Very practical clothes compared to some of the city scenes.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Power-dressing of the era. Or else they're time travelers who read the wrong brochure before arriving.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
M.J. J.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sisters often dressed alike. I wonder if the sashes meant anything...

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#73

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lorenzo Zerial
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Norway those days there were many nationalistic rallies until 1905 when independence from Sweden was gained.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#83

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#94

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#97

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Norway was know for sudden Land-Tilting. Everyone soon got used to it.

#100

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Greg Dill
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was the day Disney was giving out free Mickey Mouse hats to the first 100 patrons.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#101

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#104

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Robin Collins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As soon as this guy leaves pass me the cigarettes and whiskey please.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#108

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Robin Collins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ingrid, I wish you had washed my pants earlier. So embarrassing to wear your mom's dress because I have no dry clothes.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#110

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#111

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#112

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#115

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#116

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
SadieWitherspoon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A good time was had at the RideMan attraction and it was time to return home...

View more commentsArrow down menu
#120

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#123

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Alright, lad; you're nicked! We know what you've been up to."

#124

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Then, as you make your final approach, give it a bit of 'sizzle' - know wot I mean?"

#125

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#128

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Eric
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

meanwhile the motorcycle from 50 years in the future has attempted to be scrubbed from the picture.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#129

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#130

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Elak Swindell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Started off as a lovely chat, then her face became that of a demon!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#131

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

#132

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two more views of Karl Stukker - the sad little man with a thing for trees.

#133

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Priscilla Winslow
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were you allowed to remove clothing in public? Those Scandinavians were so progressive.

#134

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
MizAdeleM
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be so cool if a Bored Panda reader in Oslo could add photos of the streets today. I wonder if some of these grand buildings still are standing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#136

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#138

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Eric
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are the girls that made fun of me. I will never let their faces be shown.

#140

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ordinary people, caught at the very moment they began fading from history.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#141

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Analyn Lahr
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like those dudes' arms are linked? Probably a trick of the light but still...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#142

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Analyn Lahr
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This group almost looks like they knew about the camera and were posing.

ADVERTISEMENT
#146

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#149

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#150

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
chris gill
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is amazing to me how well dressed everybody was. They took pride in their appearance. No but crack here folks...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#151

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#152

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#154

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
#155

Street Photography

Carl Størmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm intrigued by several of his pix. Not of people but of places like this. Very ordinary places. I wonder what the significance was?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu