The Brothers by photographer Elin Høyland – in pictures

The brothers were avid bird-watchers and at least twice a day they would feed wild birds in the 20 bird boxes that they monitored Photograph: Elin Høyland

Mathias (80) and Harald (75) had lived all their lives on their small farm, originally with their parents and four older siblings Photograph: Elin Høyland

As well as running their own smallholding, Mathias and Harald had worked as loggers, for an electricity company, and as carpenters on local farms Photograph: Elin Høyland

The brothers' mittens, hung with pegs on the wooden walls of their home Photograph: Elin Høyland

In their free time Harald and Mathias listened to the radio or read the local newspaper. In the 1960s they hired a television on a one-month trial, but returned it after deciding it took up too much time Photograph: Elin Høyland

Mathias once worked in Oslo for two months, but he didn't like it, while Harald had spent one night – the worst night of his life, he would say – in a hotel in Lillehammer, some three hours away Photograph: Elin Høyland

Harald and Mathias travelled to the local supermarket each week and would return with huge rucksacks stuffed with food Photograph: Elin Høyland

The brothers' days followed a predictable and comforting routine. Little changed from year to year, though Mathias once said that changes were happening the whole time and it would probably end up with them getting an outside toilet with running water
Photograph: Elin Høyland

Elin Høyland says: "After a while I got the feeling that I as an outsider was also appreciated and that there was en element of satisfaction for them in being seen. I felt a huge privilege that they allowed me into their world." Photograph: Elin Høyland

Harald died after having an asthma attack while shovelling snow in -20C temperatures. Mathias continued to live alone in the house until he moved into an old people’s home Photograph: Elin Høyland

Mathias died in 2007. Elin returned to photograph the empty house Photograph: Elin Høyland

Their way of life has now almost entirely disappeared in modern Norway. The book is a record of that life and the lives of Harald and Mathias Ramen Photograph: Elin Høyland