The Dare Devil

This is Björn Tegnelund. I met him in Handen. He is a bit of a dare devil. He enjoys extreme sports. He is a skateboard pro. If you would like to see him in action check out these videos from Painkiller. He turned 25 recently, and got a tandem parachute jump as a birthday gift. You can watch the parachute video at Vimeo. Björn also has a flickr account with a few photos.

Water Snake

I visited the lakes at Rudan earlier this week. The idea was to shoot a few autumn reflection photos from the lower lake, and I did get a couple of those. But as I walked out on one of the piers this water snake swam past me and I was lucky to get one shot before it was gone.

The Parking Lot Workout

I will never go anywhere without a camera because you never know when the next photo opportunity will present itself. From a distance I heard music and a woman's voice shouting something. Closing in on the SATS gym in Handen the other day I noticed a group of women working out on the parking lot, so I parked the bike took a few quick snaps, jumped back on the bike and was gone in under 60 seconds. I wonder what they all though about that.

The Green Tunnel

I use this old road sometimes. It is called Blåkullavägen. It dates back a long time. Just before this green tunnel you can stop and have a look at the Viking era runestone by the side of the road. The inscription reads: Sven had this stone raised after his father Rodisl. The snake on the runestone symbolise Jörmungandr. If you continue towards the horse farm at Blåkulla you can use the tunnel to get over to Ormsta and that is what I did.

Dressed in Black

This is Karin. I noticed her in Västerhaninge and knew I had to take her photo. She is a secondary school student, studying the tech science programme at the Fredrika Bremer school. Karin spends a lot of time playing Cabal. She also enjoys baking cakes, so I guess she eats them while playing! Another hobby is photography. She told me that she had inherited her clothing style from her dad, so he must have been a cool guy back in the day.

Autumn Avenue

On my way home after a lengthy bike ride yesterday I stopped at the tree lined avenue at the Nödesta farm for a few photos of the trees. The forecast for tomorrow is a good one. Looks like summer is returning for a few days, we are expecting 20C.

A Different View

One of the places I often return to is the nature park Slätmossen in Handen. It is always fun to see the changes from the last visit. Today's photo is rather unusual. This is Ami and her boyfriend Tomas. They were standing on the bridge when I arrived, so I figured it would be fun to take a portrait of them, especially since Ami was sitting on her boyfriends shoulders! And if you would like to see the changing seasons check out the slideshow, it is 50 photos, the oldest one dates back to December 2004 and the newest is from Thursday. To see it full-screen press on the four arrows to the right.

High-voltage transmission

An intricate and complex sky. Power lines this way. Wires that way. Looking at this grid you almost expect a blackout. And as I took this photo the commuter passed underneath the wires.

Skywatch Friday.

Yellow is the new Black

I met Kjell-Åke at my favorite cafe a few days ago when it was still warm and sunny. He was enjoying lunch with his wife. I liked his new style with Black and Yellow. Very different from how he used to look. Kjell-Åke is a keen photographer, and a member of the local historical association, just like I am. I have met him at many different events over the last few years. He has been feeling a little under the weather lately, so it was great to see him happy again.

Yellow and Venomous

I was enjoying coffee in the sunshine on the veranda yesterday when this yellowjacket flew in and landed on the railing. They sure are photogenic when you zoom in a bit. We call them Getingar.

Check out my Yellow Set for the Utata Color Project. I took all six photos at the Raggare meet back in August.

Lingonberries Anyone?

Another Autumn sign. I like my lingonberries with meatballs and potatoes. And Vargtass, which is a drink made of lingon lemonade and vodka. Skål!

Color-coordinated

This is Emil Ingeson from Österhaninge. I spotted him near the commuter station in Handen a couple of days ago. He is a university student, but not for much longer. He has a Master of Science in Engineering (mathematics and chemistry), and is now also a qualified secondary school teacher, after graduating from a unique course at the royal institute of technology in Stockholm. When I met him he was on his way to the employment service. I asked him if he had any fun hobbies. His answer was short, No, no time for anything but studies for the last few years.Hopefully that will change now. It's a good spot for portrait this. A while back I photographed Nora here.

Early Signs of Autumn

Everywhere I go I see signs of Autumn. Walking down the path towards the old tree on Saturday it was easy to see that the tree looked red in the afternoon sunshine. The berries are ripe and soon the Bohemian Waxwings will have a feast.

The Forest Gold

A basket full of golden chanterelles. That's what Kerstin is holding in her hand. I met Kerstin and her husband Bror near the Björklund farm yesterday. They found the chanterelles somewhere in the nature reserve Gullringskärret. The exact location is a secret, but there's plenty more to be found. Kerstin and Bror loves the outdoors life. Be it in the forests, or on the water. They have sailed in the Stockholm archipelago for more than forty years. A few years ago they sold their house and now live in an apartment near the old vicarage in Västerhaninge. One of their neighbours (and good friend), is the former Mayor of Haninge whom I met here last year.

Straight Up

This is one of many cell towers in Haninge. They are all equally ugly. But if you stand at the bottom of the tower looking up at the sky it gets a bit better. I have taken a similar photo before with a point and shoot but this was shot with the new Canon.

Skywatch Friday.

Red is the Color

I have two reasons for posting this photo.
(1)The poisonous mushroom is always very photogenic.
(2)I took part in The Utata Color Story this summer.
Utata is a very active and fun flickr group. This photo project was based on colors. The idea was to pick one color and go out and shoot up to six photos with that particular color in mind. I choose red and quickly decided that I would shoot six portraits. You can see my Red project here. A month or so into the project I realised that I probably could do a few more colors, so in the end I did four colors. I will post links to the other color projects in the next few days.

Emma

I was at Poseidon's Square when I noticed a pretty girl walking towards me. She was on her way to the commuter station when I stopped her and asked if I could take a portrait. I told her that it was her black nylon stockings that made me look one extra time. She said something like "I have heard that one before". Emma is a secondary school student. One of her hobbies includes horseback riding. She is a member of a local club and has competed in dressage. I asked her if she had any plans for the future, after secondary school and that she had. You are looking at a future lawyer.

Cool Ride of the Day

Out on my photo walk with Jim the other day we spotted this cool ride. It's registered as an amateur built car, equipped with a Chevrolet engine. Heading home one hour later I noticed (and heard), the car driving towards me. Behind the wheel sat a middle aged man wearing a leather helmet, he looked pleased with himself. Vroom!

Babes of the Day

Spotted these two women in Handen on Saturday while out on a photo walk with a friend. I walked over to ask them for a portrait. They didn't understand a word I said so I tried again in English and that worked better. This is Alexandra and Iva from Serbia. They were in Sweden visiting Iva's sister who lives in Haninge. I figured them for fashionistas, and that was spot on. They are colleagues in the fashion business, selling branded clothing.

Ten Years Ago

The world changed for the worse on this day ten years ago. I was sitting in front of a computer with no internet access when a family member told me that a plane had crashed into a building in New York. I didn't think much about it but remember asking if anyone had been hurt. A few minutes later I turned on the TV and couldn't believe my eyes.

A Rahman Revelation

This is A Rahman Revelation. He is a musician from Gambia. The reggae star has played in a number of bands since the early 1970s. He has travelled all over the world with his music. Today he is based in France. This summer he has played at a few events in Sweden, including Öland Roots. I saw him with Simon Peter and the Medicine Men back in August in the park in Tungelsta. I met Rahman in Västerhaninge a while back, where he and a few band members have been staying at Birdman's place. He told me about two upcoming gigs with his band Sagaj Roots in Linköping and Norrköping. Since I took this portrait I have met Rahman again when he was playing a few songs together Birdman and a female musician.

Engines & Black Leather

There were many different types of bikes the Easy Rider festival. Lots of Harley's, but also many Japanese bikes and a few unique rides. I saw several vintage mopeds, and a few old military motorcycles. In the slideshow you will see three years of photos from this annual event.

The Biker

I had to shoot at least one biker portrait at the Easy Rider Festival. This is Ulf, he lives at Närtuna but will move to Heby in a few weeks time. He drove to the meet on his Rocket III. He was used to having his photo taken. Ulf was interviewed and filmed for a new bike show at another meet earlier this summer. I noticed a cool detail on his bike. The Chinese dragon. He found it in China and knew that he had to buy it.

The Priest

This is Carl Henrik Widlund. A priest from the Österhaninge Parish. I met him at the Easy Rider Festival in Handen on Saturday where he was looking at all the bikes. He also gave me a copy of a bible with a difference. The Engine Bible. It's the New Testament plus a number of interviews with religious race drivers and what have you. He was also at last weeks car meet and handed out many copies of the same book. I asked if he knew Sara the Priestess, which he told me that he did.

Easy Rider Festival

I visited the annual Easy Rider Festival in Handen last weekend. A few hundred bikers gathered at Vegabaren for a few hours of fun. There was a few titles at stake, like Best Ratbike where this bike, the Superlative Conspiracy was my favorite. This event attracts all sorts of people. Bike enthusiasts that build their own unique bikes. Harley riders, photographers, families, and I did also notice a few members from The Hells Angels. More photos in the coming days.

Too Cool for School

These days when I see someone that I would like to photograph I usually tell them what it was about them that made me look one extra time. In Anton's case is was his symmetrically trashed jeans. He has ripped them himself. I was in a class at school one day and it was so boring that I started trashing my jeans was his explanation. Anton is a secondary school student. On his free time he plays floorball for IBK Handen. A sport that first saw the light in Sweden in the 1970s. Anton plays in the Boys 95 team, but is hoping to make it into the Men's Team. Oh, I should say that I have played the sport myself, although in a less serious environment, you can see the proof of that on this old photo.

You can't take photos here...

Yesterday was the annual Tungelsta Day. It's not a day I look forward to. The event is very boring. Hopefully that will have changed to next year, at least that is what I have heard. We have a green park here and for some reason it is never used during this day. You could have all sorts of performances there. On the former tennis courts in front of the gymnasium there was a flea market, and on the soccer field (second photo), a few organisations were informing about this and that. You could also buy flowers, crocs, and very cheap wristwatches. I have a thing for watches so I had a look at the stand and decided to take a few photos. And that's when the following conversation took place. You can't take photos here. Yes I can, I just did. But these are my watches, you can't photograph them. Sure I can, we are at a market, on a soccer field, it's a public space. I could even take photos of you if I wanted to. No you couldn't. Yes I could. This went on for a bit, and then I told the idiot that I would tell the world what a great salesperson he was. All the wristwatches had the same price tag, 125 SEK. I didn't buy one.

For a better look at the 360 panorama press here.

The Cousins

These two girls are cousins. Sara, on the left is an eight grade student. She lives in Jordbro. Her cousin Sihint lives in Farsta. She is a secondary school student. The dress is called Shalwar kameez something I didn't know. I noticed the girls in Jordbro the other day. They were taking photos of each other so I stopped and asked if I could take a few portraits. I asked them if they had any fun hobbies. The answer was the very typical teenage response "hanging out with friends and listening to music".

Rock'n'roll never died

Remember that redhead I photographed just a couple of weeks ago? Linnea. Here she is again, although looking very different dressed as a "Raggarbrud". So much so that I didn't recognize her at first. I hate it when that happens! Her two friends are Nathalie and Rebecka. Be sure to check out the slideshow with all my photos from this fun event. In there you will find a few more portraits and some unusual cars. This meet has a few contests. One of them is for worst looking car, so some of the rides will fall into that category. You will also see a few tired people having a nap, it's a tough life being a raggare. You will also see me in one photo. Taken by one of the raggare, I'm sitting on a car holding a beer in my hand. The guys in that shot travelled 500 kilometres to get to this meet.

The Double Perspective

The very narrow birch alley at Söderby in Handen. The left photo shows the upward path toward the old estate, and the right half the same path from the top looking down. No idea who planted the trees like this, and why, but it's a nice alley to walk through, and perfect for this months theme which is Perspective.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants