The Summer Girl

Summer arrived on Friday. It was the warmest day of the year with around 24C. When I noticed Linn not far from my favorite cafe I knew I had to take her portrait (I have a thing for redheads). Linn lives in Handen and she has her whole life in front of her as she will graduate from secondary school in just a few weeks time. I tried a Brenizer method portrait (second photo), I took 15 photos but trouble stitching them together, so this is the result of three photos.

The Bicycle Fanatic

I have met a real bicycle fanatic. Robert from Sköndal. I knew I had to take a bike portrait when I noticed the wheels. Custom made in Gothenburg by Anders from Veloform. They are very photogenic and I'm not the only one who have asked to take a photo of the wheels. Robban bikes year around. To and from work for the last fifteen years. During the winter he just changes to winter wheels. Guess what he does on his vacations? Correct. This year he will discover Crete by bicycle. Previous trips have gone to Spain and Scotland where Glentress is a favorite. His son is old enough to join him now, so it is possible that the whole family will be biking together soon. My kind of people! Shot using the brenizer method at f1.8. This is 22 photos stitched together.

Camilla

Camilla was waiting for the bus when I spotted her in Handen yesterday. The spotting was very easy. I noticed her lipstick, coat, earrings, glasses, hair color and hat. Camilla lives in Västerhaninge. She works as a preschool teacher. When she's not busy with her cool outfits she enjoys playing the piano and the organ.

Ewe & Lamb

There's a grassy slope at Glasbergavägen in Lida where this time of the year you can often see a group of sheep. And that is exactly what I saw the other day.

Mounted archery anyone?

This is Caroline. I noticed her lipstick, hair, and outfit in Handen yesterday, hard not to. After a bit of hesitation I decided to ask her for a portrait. Caroline recently moved to Handen from Norrköping. She works as a substitute teacher. A tough gig as she can be called in with just an hour or so to prepare. On her free time she enjoys Lindy Hop. And Mounted Archery, which is a new sport for me, but after hearing Caroline's explanation of how it works it sounds very tricky.

Flower's blooming everywhere

It only took a few warm days. Now, everywhere you look there's cherry blossoms and blooming tulips.

Sixteen Recent Snaps

Three street portraits. Detail from the hood of Janne's BMW. The old tree. Web address to a funny diary. A wooden bridge at the Rudan Nature reserve. Old carriage where once the Nödesta barn stood for two centuries.A blue sky. Old farm building at the Tyresta national Park. Panorama with the farmer from Nödesta in his tractor, followed by a few hundred gulls. A yellow tractor at the same farm. A tent belonging to the reporter and photographer Johan Bjurer. Wood anemones at the burial ground in Jordbro. Wood pigeon in Johan's garden. The book Skärgården, written and photographed by Johan. Köp boken här: www.adlibris.com/se/product.aspx?isbn=9157480729

What are the odds?

Heading home on Friday I noticed a cyclist walking his bike. That is never any fun. The chain, which was brand new, had broken, so the cyclist had time for a portrait. When I handed him my card he laughed. At me. Because we have the same name. Stefan Jansson. Never met another person with my name before. Stefan has his own company. He repairs musical instruments. When he is not out walking his bike you can find him at the aikido club in Brandbergen where he is an instructor.

Floral Roundabout

The municipality is spending some extra money on floral arrangements. At the moment two roundabouts in Handen are slowly coming alive with color from red and yellow tulips. Skywatch Friday.

Green Vehicle

It's green. It's a vehicle. But maybe not eco-friendly. This is a 1974 Pontiac Ventura Custom. Both photos shot using the Brenizer method.

View From A bridge

As I always do on my visits to the nature park in Handen I took a photo from the wooden bridge. I will have to go back when it all has turned green, shot this a few days ago.

Cadillac DeVille

I spotted the photogenic Anna the other day. She told me that she is looking to sell her 1960 Cadillac DeVille. So if you have 100 000 SEK in a drawer somewhere, this old beauty could be yours.Tricky to shoot in the parking lot, I was squatting on the grass to get as low as possible I used 20 photos for this Brenizer method shot.

That Old Tree

It looks like we will get Summer temperatures this week. A bit unexpected, but very welcome after the cold Spring. When I headed down to the old tree it was maybe 15C and a bit windy. I passed the two girls out on the road, but luckily for me they were heading the same way, so a few minutes later they came riding down the path, which made for a fine photo. I wonder if I'm going to have to borrow a chainsaw from the farmer and remove that broken limb myself.

Berrin Sahin

The folk singer Berrin Sahin and her band performed at Poseidon's square in Handen a couple of days ago. Mostly ballads from Turkey and Azerbaijan. They used different flutes, guitar, bağlama and key harp. A bit windy outside the cultural centre, but great with music outdoors. And just as I told the sound guy (he is a dedicated cyclist), that it was great with live music on the square, the presenter informed us that the lunch concerts will be back in September.. I sure hope I heard that wrong.

The Music Student and the Magician

Sure was a fine day Friday. I'm guessing around 14C. Perfect weather for a bit of longboarding. This is the love birds Elise (the girl can sing), and Alex. Spotted them near the mall in Handen. Elise will graduate from secondary school studies this Spring. She works extra at Foderboden. Her boyfriend works at the book chain Akademibokhandeln. One of his hobbies include stage magic. This is another Brenizer method shot, nine photos stitched together. Shot with the nifty fifty at f.2.0.