This week in OFD (One Frame Deep), I’m looking at a photograph by Jonas Oden Ulset, a journalist who discovered his passion for photography through his storytelling work. Creating images that others find joy in has become something he pursues both in his professional life and in his spare time.

I first came across Ulset’s work through his Instagram account @ufokus, where he shares a mix of film and digital photography. Today, we’re taking a closer look at one of his images, a beautifully constructed moment he has titled Solitary.

What they chose to include

In Solitary, Ulset frames a quiet scene on a tennis court, built around a balance of geometry and mood. The fence, the greenery, the goalpost, and the backlit subject all work together to give the image structure and depth. The backlighting creates clean separation, lifting the small figure from the background and giving the moment a soft but intentional glow.

I appreciate how Ulset includes the entire square of the court. It frames the subject naturally and acts like a stage, a visual container that keeps the viewer’s attention anchored.

The left side of the frame is heavy with the goalpost and layered shapes, while the right side opens into empty court space, creating a sense of narrative possibility.

Is someone expected to arrive? Is the subject waiting? Or is this simply the quiet, solitary vibe suggested by the title?

One detail I love is the shadow stretching onto the court, the shadow of a light post from out of frame. It almost reads as if it’s cast by the nearby tree, and this ambiguity adds a subtle poetic touch. It’s the kind of small visual element that enriches a scene without shouting for attention.

What They Chose to Exclude

Ulset makes bold cropping choices here: half of the goal is cut out, the tops of the trees are removed, and a portion of the court is left unseen. These exclusions aren’t mistakes, they’re deliberate constraints that tighten the composition.

By trimming these elements, Ulset avoids distracting context and focuses our attention on shapes, lines, and the small human moment in the middle. The cropped goalpost becomes an abstract cluster of geometry in the top left, adding tension and visual weight. Meanwhile, the complete square of the court gives the subject a clean, open stage, a contrast that strengthens the emotional read of the image.

This selective framing shows a photographer who trusts composition to do the storytelling.

Why It Works

Shooting through the fence creates a feeling of distance, we’re observing rather than participating. That slight detachment builds mood. It’s easy to interpret the scene as one of loneliness: a young figure alone, maybe waiting, maybe hoping for someone to play with.

But the beauty of Ulset’s photograph is that we know this moment is also constructed. It could be anything. For all we know, a birthday party is happening out of frame and the subject is counting to ten during a hide and seek. That tension between what we see and what we imagine is what makes documentary style photography so compelling.

My view is that Solitary succeeds because it balances formal precision with emotional ambiguity. The clean geometry, the controlled palette, the backlit subject, and the tight framing all work together to create a scene that feels both designed and deeply human.

Final Thoughts

With Solitary, Jonas Ulset shows how ordinary spaces hold quiet stories. Through light, shadow, composition, and restraint, he creates an image that lingers.

This is the kind of photograph that rewards a careful look, and reflects a photographer who knows how to build atmosphere from simplicity.

Mission accomplished, Jonas, you created a beautiful image for others to enjoy.

Be sure to explore more of his work and follow his socials.

Photographer: Jonas Oden Ulset
Website: ufokus.mypixieset.com
Instagram: @ufokus

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