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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!

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#1

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Cesi Baca
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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.

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Bent Sorensen
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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!

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DeadStillPretty
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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.

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christina murray
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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

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#16

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Agnes Jekyll
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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?

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#21

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Marnee DeRider
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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.)

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#22

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Diana Cooper
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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!

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#24

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petil Pling
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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

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Jilibi
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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.

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#28

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Debbie Andersson
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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.

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#34

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Greg Dill
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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."

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Jilibi
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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.

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Robin Collins
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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.

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Pam Falcioni
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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.

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#41

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Tamara Laney
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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.

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Greg Dill
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where the Parker Bros got their idea for Sorry! game pieces.

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Jilibi
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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.

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Marnee DeRider
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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.

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M.J. J.
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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...

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M.J. J.
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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!

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#62

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Ged Maybury
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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!

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#64

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Harvey Johnson
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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

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Ged Maybury
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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.

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Ged Maybury
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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.

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M.J. J.
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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...

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Lorenzo Zerial
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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.

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gedmaybury23 avatar
Ged Maybury
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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.

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Greg Dill
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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.

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#104

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Robin Collins
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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.

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Robin Collins
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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.

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SadieWitherspoon
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3 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...

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#123

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gedmaybury23 avatar
Ged Maybury
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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

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gedmaybury23 avatar
Ged Maybury
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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

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#128

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Eric
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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.

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Elak Swindell
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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!

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gedmaybury23 avatar
Ged Maybury
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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

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Priscilla Winslow
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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

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MizAdeleM
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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.

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#138

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wwazman avatar
Eric
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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.

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#140

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gedmaybury23 avatar
Ged Maybury
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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.

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Analyn Lahr
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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...

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Analyn Lahr
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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.

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chris gill
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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...

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Ged Maybury
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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?

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