The photographic project "Jølster 2008" is based on the idea of portraying the life of a kommune (or municipality) - here Jolster - and the daily life of its population’s over an entire year. In the Norwegian system, a "kommune" is the atomic unit of a local government. It is responsible for primary education, health, services, senior citizen services, unemployment, law enforcement, roads, etc. Jolster is located within the fjord-district in western Norway. It’s population of roughly 3000 inhabitants is spread around the Jolster lake. The kommune is surrounded by mountains and glaciers, a scenery that reminds of the paintings by Nikolai Astrup, one of Norway’s greatest painter from the 19th century.

The idea behind this project is to build a historical visual document, with stories on the way of life in Norway, in the 21rst century. The way this project is shot refers to the strong tradition of portraying individuals, groups and families from the 1940s. Oddleiv Apneseth references are the work of Martin Chambi and August Sander, as well as work by local photographers of the same period.
Hence the way Apneseth stages his compositions, and includes as many elements as possible : clothes, housing, engines… All those being a testimony of how a human group lives. Social structures are also described : families, associations, pears, etc. One priority was to show the organized life both official and private.

The entire body of work is done within two strict limitations: all pictures are taken within the year of 2008, and all are taken inside the borders of Jølster kommune.

Not only locals are photographed, but also visitors and people travelling through. Apneseth worked almost every day of the year, as a result there are about 2000 situations being more or less staged and photographed.

"Jølster 2008" has been presented in several exibitions, and published in the book "Jølster 2008"