Imagination out of the ordinary
Went to Antwerpen this summer, the second city of Belgium. Always fun to explore a new city (We also went to three other cities in northern Europe – more on that later). We mostly wandered about in the old city. More life, more people. All and all, a fun experience. Especially the short glimpse of the queen. But that’s another story… :).
Took quite a few photographs, though I only made out a 100. Some of them turned out to be better in monochrome…
Gothenburg, London, Paris and more. It’s been a full year so far. And more to come. I just thought I’d share some of my monochrome, before I set of on my next adventure. More about it: the Euro 25 tour, later.
Anyway, the monochromes happen, even if I normally make colour photos. And maybe you like it? Please add a comment, if you do…
Spent almost a week in London, this last May. These are few of the photos I took…
One Thursday a month, the Spitafield Market in London goes C O L O U R. I’ve visited before, in 2018 and thought I’d go there and make some pics in May.
This is how the people behind the walk describe it:
“A Colour Walk is a gathering of creative people who love colour and dressing up. Be respectful.”
(From the Facebook page). You can read more about the colour walks on Facebook or on their Instagram page.
Lots of people in cool and fancy dresses. And, a lot of photographers. I just tried to blend in…
Anyway, got a few pictures that I’ll share here. Enjoy. And remember – always be respectful!
These are all from the same day, May 28th this year. Quite a lot of tourists visit Paris this long weekend. Excellent for a street photographer.
Sometimes, if you’re openminded and -hearted, you get invites to places you normally don’t go to. Last Saturday was one of those immensely fun and inspiring days. Of course, my camera was part of it. But, in the end (just as street photography in general) it’s all about the people.
I stayed in a Airbnb flat in Stockwell, on the south side of London for the week. As I’m always very interested in street art, I knew that there was this place called Stockwell Hall of Fame next door to “my” house. I went there to check it out and take some pics. That’s when I met Boyd the first time.
Boyd invited we to check out what their Saturday event was all about. And to make a long story short, I went there on Saturday, a few minutes past noon. The artists were well under way. Some had started the day before. And the music was beginning to pulse.
I talked to several of the artists (as I always do) asking if it was ok to take pictures. I know that this was an open venue, but some guys might not be too happy if a total stranger get up close and start shooting pics.
This is an mural/music/Hip Hop event. So there was also this hip hop workshop about to start. They had two mats taped down (6” x 6”) and a French guy started to share moves and tricks…
Looking briefly in my camera, I saw that I got a great shot and talked to David. These are the pics I later shared with him.
After an hour there I looked Boyd up and told him I wanted to move on. He asked I wouldn’t come back later. Of course, I did. To see the almost finished murals and to be part of it all. But it was almost 7 pm before I returned…
And, there was this dance off in the Hip Hop event too. Dancing, sharing and winning.
Three guys and a gal danced and jeeeeez, were they good!. I got a back ache from just watching. And the jury wasn’t unanimous. But they were, as everyone else, happy.
It all ended, for me at least, with the group pics. I wasn’t the official photographer, so I might have missed someone (sorry ’bout that). But the overall joy, it was unmissable!
In April, you can always boost your photography joy with the blossoming of cherry trees. If you’re lucky (as a street photographer) you might even get som people to interact…
Saving older images are important, especially for yourself.
– You see your progress
– You can redo better (at least to your new standards)
– You rediscover.
So. without delay, a few from the nice summer of ´17. All from Chicago.
Happened to be in Borås this spring. Was attending a reunion, Walking there I suddenly saw four high school girls approaching.
As I raised my camera, they posed in front of it without me even asking them to.
True street portraits.
1. WE DON’T JUST TAKE PICTURES, WE MAKE THEM!
My first reason for doing street photography is all about the making of the photograph. From planning to the actual shooting, from looking at today’s collection to the computer editing at home, from the final version of the photo (yes, there may be more versions) to the final production of how the finished pictures is used. To me, the final picture is always the most important thing, even if the process to get there is important. Creating is part of the process.
2. ALL THESE MEETINGS
The second reason for my passion is all these people I get to meet. Both those I sometimes go and photograph with, and those who end up in front of my camera. At this point I have met thousands of people who all have their story to tell. Either by themselves or through my pictures. I never imagine that I am telling the whole truth. But in the moment the picture was taken, we jointly create a truth.
Every picture and story is part of how I see the world. Every look creates magic in me. A moment with another person is an encounter that sticks – in the picture, yes, but also deep inside. Because every meeting is a grace.
And the same text as above, in Swedish:
1. VI INTE BARA TAR BILDER, VI SKAPAR DEM
För första av mina skäl handlar om bildskapandet i sig. Från planerandet till fotograferandet, från titten på dagens skörd till redigeringen hemma vid datorn, från den slutliga versionen av bilden (ja, det kan finnas fler versioner) till slutproduktionen med hur den färdiga bilden används. Jag kan avslöja att för mig är det alltid den färdiga bilden som är viktigast, även om processen dit har betydelse. Skapandet är del av processen.
2. ALLA DESSA MÖTEN
Det andra skälet till min passion är alla dessa människor jag får träffa. Både de jag ibland går och fotograferar med och de som hamnar framför min kamera. Vid det här laget har jag träffat tusentals människor som alla har sin historia att berätta. Antingen själva eller genom mina bilder. Jag inbillar mig aldrig att jag berättar en hel sanning. Men i det ögonblick bilden togs skapar vi gemensamt en sanning.
Varje bild och historia är en del av hur jag ser världen. Varje blick skapar magi hos mig. Ett ögonblick med en annan människa är ett möte som fastnar – på bilden ja, men även långt in i mig. Varje möte med en annan människa är en nåd.
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
I’m also convince that most of my photographs look a lot better printed and hung on a wall (then on a small screen). In April 2023 you can see all these photos in the small espressobar at Postgatan 33 in Gothenburg. All printed on fine print, semi-gloss paper, framed with reflection-free glass. And the excellent Italian coffee you can have at Mahogny is a nice companion. Opening Day: April 1st, Closing Day April 29th – enjoy!
These twelve photos/images/pictures are all part of my exhibition at Mahogny expressobar in Gothenburg, in April 2023. Here you can read more about each photograph image, in both Swedish and English.
”Approaching tram”, Gothenburg, 2014 (the blog post main image)
Tagen en av årets sista dagar. En typisk vinterdag Göteborg. Grått, vått, rått. Inte heller fel att det är en 3:an av den äldre modellen som strävar fram mot Brunnsparken.
Taken on one of the last days of the year. A typical winter day in Gothenburg. Slightly damp, a little grayish. Kinda cool with the old model of tram, Line 3 striving to reach Brunnsparken.
”Plat du Jour”, Paris 2019
Det är runt midnatt i centrala Paris. Lätt ödsligt på restaurangen som serverar det mesta, inklusive dagens rätt. Och så denna stora, ensamma teddybjörn.
It is just about midnight in central Paris. Slightly deserted at the restaurant that serves most kinds of meals, including the meal of the day. And a large, lonely teddy bear
”Thinking of her”, Paris 2019
Han sitter på ett tunnelbanetåg som just kör från perrongen. Tittande i fjärran. Jag gillar även spegelbilden på kvinnan.
He is sitting on a subway train, just leaving the platform. Looking into the distance. I also like the reflection of the woman.
”A couple of thoughts”, Gothenburg 2022
En relativt ny bild, tagen vid Belparc i Slottsskogen. De två satt just i denna pose länge, så jag hann ta flera bilder, helt öppet. Men de var så långt in i sina tankar, att jag tror att de helt enkelt aldrig såg mig.
A fairly new picture, taken at Belparc in Slottsskogen. The two sat for a long time in this precise pose, so I took several pictures, in the open. But they were so deep in their thoughts, I don’t think they ever saw me.
”Let’s go”, London 2022
Brick lane. Där händer det nästan alltid något. Dessutom finns det mängder av fin gatukonst, som ibland gör sig som bakgrund.
Brick lane. Something is almost always happening there. In addition, there is a lot of fine street art, which sometimes acts as a great backdrop.
”Friendly Frizzle”, Stockholm 2015
På Götgatan, på väg söderut. Ett underbart, öppet ansikte. Han undrade varför jag tog bilder, fast när jag lyfte kameran mot honom log han mest.
On Götgatan, heading south. A wonderful, open face. He wondered why I was taking pictures. Yet, when I raised my camera he directly gave me this radiant smile.
”Over shoulder”, London 2014
En bild tagen på lite håll i Camden. Här stod jag eftersom bakgrunden var snygg. Och väntade. Tog flera bilder av olika människor, men jag gillar denna eftersom hon är så lugn i ansiktet. Lite Mona Lisa-outgrundlig, kanske.
A picture taken somewhere in Camden. Here I stood because the backdrop was nice. And waited. Took several pictures of different people, but I like this one because her face is so calm. Slightly Mona Lisa-fathomable, perhaps.
”Yeah, what?”, Stockholm 2015
Drottninggatan är full av folk, nästan vilken dag som helst. De flesta är turister, men det finns en del som sitter och betraktar folklivet. Och här väntade jag att ta bilden tills killen såg mig. Han undrade nog varför jag tog en bild av just honom?
Drottninggatan is full of people, almost any given day. Most are tourists, but there are some who just sit and watch the commotion. And here I was waiting to take the picture until the guy saw me. He probably wondered why I took a picture of him in particular?
”Lady Mirror”, London 2014
Hon håller på att ordna med sitt stånd i Covent Garden i centrala London. Jag slogs av att solljuset slog så hårt i hennes ansikte. Och när hon såg att jag ville ta en bild, fick jag detta solvarma leende.
She is setting up her stall in Covent Garden in central London. I was struck by the sunlight hitting her face so hard. And when she saw that I wanted to take a picture, I got her sun-warmed smile.
”Gull onwards”, Gothenburg 2015
Som gatufotograf måste jag vara ständigt beredd, och ha min kamera färdiginställd. Bilden är taget en vårdag med mycket sol och kameran var satt på 1/1000 s. Döm om min förvåning att truten fastnade så perfekt, i en enda lång svepande kamerarörelse. En av mina personliga favoriter.
As a street photographer, I have to be constantly prepared. My camera already set. The picture was taken on a spring day with a lot of sun, camera set to a thousands of a second. To my surprise that gull was caught perfectly, in one long sweeping camera movement. One of my personal favorites.
”Skater practice 3”, Gothenburg 2019
Det är det sociala tillsammans med bildskapande som gör att jag älskar gatufotografering. På Esperantoplatsen träffade och pratade jag med några skatare. En av dem sa (efter att jag frågat om det var ok att jag fotade) att de flesta inte har rätt timing när de fotograferar. ”Bilden ska tas på trickets peak (högsta höjd). Och inte strax efter.” Så jag tränade lite med honom. Och kikade samtidigt efter en snygg bakgrund till hans konst.
It’s the social aspect together with the image creation that has me loving street photography. At Esperantoplatsen I met and talked to some skaters. One of them said (after I asked if it was ok for me to take pictures) that most people don’t have the right timing when taking pictures. “The picture must be taken at the peak of the trick. And not afterwards.” So I did some practising with him. While I at the same time looked for a nice backdrop for his craft.
”Red group 4”, Berlin 2014
En av de märkligare happenings jag varit med om. Vi kom gående på baksidan av Brandenburger Tor och såg ett stort gäng rödklädda, unga människo. De förberedde sig för att göra något. Jag har några bilder från hur de sminkade sig och så. När jag sedan gick till andra sidan av stadsporten, kom hela gänget dansande mot oss. Röda blodkroppar?
One of the stranger happenings I’ve been a part of. We came walking to the back of the Brandenburger Tor and saw a large group of young people, all dressed in red. They were preparing to do something. I have some pictures from how they did their makeup and such. Then when I went to the other side of the large gate, the whole gang came dancing towards us. Red blood cells?
”Blow me a kiss”, Rome 2018
Trastevere är en gammal stadsdel, med mycket liv och rörelse. Vi hade sett ett gäng på möhippa under någon timme i området. När vi kom fram till Piazza di Santa Maria var de vid fontänen. Jag gick helt sonika fram och tog några bilder. När hon såg mig, blev det en slängkyss, som jag tacksamt tog emot.
Trastevere is an old district, with a lot of hustle and bustle. We had seen a group on a bachelorette party for an hour or so in the area. When we arrived at Piazza di Santa Maria they were at the fountain. I went straight ahead and took some pictures. When she saw me, she just blew me a kiss, which I gratefully accepted.
”Coffee break”, Berlin 2014
En av de första storstadsresor jag gjort med kamera och kamrater. En fredag, vid lunchtid. Stället var lugnt (stängt?) och servitören tog en kaffe innanför fönstret. Jag väntade till han såg mig innan jag tog bilden. Och belönades med ett stort leende.
During one of my first big city trips with a camera and friends. A Friday, at lunchtime. The place was quiet (closed?) and the waiter was having a coffee inside the window. I waited until he saw me before I took the picture. And was rewarded with a big smile.
”Skull necklace”, Stockholm 2015
Hon och en manlig vän stod utanför ett danshak på Medborgarplatsen. En rast under en intensiv lördag. Med glädje. Det blev ett gäng bilder av de båda. Hennes blick på denna bild blev en favorit.
She and a male friend were standing outside a dance hall at Medborgarplatsen. A break during an intense Saturday. With joy. I have a bunch of pictures of the two of them. Her look in this picture quickly became my favorite.
GFN Street Photography 