The scent of Summer

If you know me you know that I can't just pass an opportunity to photograph a blooming canola field (Rapsfält). So a few of days ago while out driving with a couple of mates we stopped at two blooming fields so that I could get my photos. But the light was wrong, it was late in the afternoon and I had to shoot into the sun to get the snaps that I was after. However, the following day I took my new bike down to one of those fields and this time I got the colors I was looking for. These fields can be found at Kalvsvik, across the road from the Husby GC. I have been here many times before as I find the hill that you can see here to be very photogenic in both Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. I usually bring a light lunch with me and on this occasion I ate it while keeping an eye on the sweaty golfers out on the course. The third photo shows Kikarberget, a hill from where you have a decent view of the surrounding rural landscape.

Horseback rider

Young girl out horseback riding on the path near the old tree. They were riding slowly because the horse had been around for a long long time. And also because it was another beautiful Summer day, and no one is in a rush on days like these.

Oak Landscape

Four photos from my walk at Stegsholm on the Gålö peninsula. It will take you through a wonderful landscape with a lot of majestic oaks, cow pastures and cliffs down by the water. It's a short walk, around 2.5 km. The weather was perfect, around 24C. I met no more that five people, all in all a great experience.

Stegsholm

I visited the picturesque dairy farm Stegsholm yesterday. The farm dates back to the middle ages. It has a very popular cafe with a lot of home baked pastries. Ladder is Stege in Swedish. The Stegsholm farm got it's name from ladders that were used to cross the strait between the Gålö peninsula and the mainland a few hundred years ago. The whole peninsula is a fantastic nature reserve, very popular and open for everyone. On this visit I had a look at all of the farm houses before heading out on the 2.5 km nature walk in the Summer landscape. Photos from that walk tomorrow.

People out and about

A collage with candid photos of people out and about in Handen. Taken at Poseidon's square and from my favorite cafe, Malmens konditori. The fantastic Summer weather continues and as I'm typing this it is 24C and I'm getting ready for a trip to Stegsholm on the Gålö peninsula.

Summer Fun

I can't remember any month of May that has been this warm. New records broken every day. And most people seem to enjoy the "extra" Summer time, like these two guys out driving their expensive toys. I spotted the motorcycle in Handen and the Hot Rod in Västerhaninge. They toys I used to document their fun is also expensive, but worth every "krona".

Clara Elisabet

This is Clara Elisabet. I have seen her at my favorite cafe a few times over the last year or so. I find her very photogenic so when she was getting ready to leave the cafe a few days ago I stopped her and asked if I could take a few portraits. I suggested a tiny park nearby so we walked there for the shots. Clara works at a cat shelter in Handen so she will often drop by the cafe before work.

Summer at Lövhagen

Lövhagens Kaffeservering & Vandrarhem. Cafe & Hostel in the neighbouring municipality Nynäshamn. Beautifully situated near the sea in Nynäshamn. If you are hungry try the waffles. There are plenty of interesting paths through the forest to check out, and the beaches and cliffs at Knappelskär are only a short walk from the cafe. I visited over the weekend with a bunch of friends. Great Summer weather, perfect for a coffee in the very green garden followed by a nice walk. www.lovhagen.se/

Sunbather

A good photo to illustrate the weather situation in Haninge since a few weeks time. Warm and sunny. No complaints.

Sarah

Sarah and a friend were out on a walk in the fine Summer weather we are having, and I thought she looked good in her white dress, so I asked if I could take a few portraits. Photo taken out on the pedestrian bridge that crosses Gudöbroleden in Handen.

The Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival took place yesterday in Handen. The weather was fantastic. Several hundred people filled up Poseidon's square for a few hours. The performance group ReAct! entertained the crowds. If you walked through the big tent you could pick yourself a free bouquet of tulips, and the queue for that never ended. So sit back and have a look at the slideshow. It is 77 photos of tulips, people, tulips, people and more tulips. If you can't see the slideshow press here to see the photos at flickr.

1949 Volvo Tractor

His dad bought the tractor many years ago from a farmer. When his dad stopped using it it ended up in a barn for 25 years. Two years ago he started it and it worked like a charm. That was not the case on this occasion. I spotted the tractor a few days ago now by the side of the road. The planned trip to the summerhouse out on the island had to be put on hold for a while. His son was on his way to help out. They only use the old tractor twice every year. To get the boat into and out of the water. Why it wasn't already on the island I do not know.

Isabelle

This is the very photogenic Isabelle. I spotted her a while back on one of those really warm days. As soon as I saw her I knew that I had to ask her for a few portraits. I hope everyone can see the slideshow, if not just follow this link to my flickr set.

A casual pose

Mathilda came walking over the bridge at Gudöbroleden just as I had stopped to see if I could get a few photos of vintage cars, but I gave up on that idea as soon as I noticed Mathilda. Midday and strong sunshine, perhaps not the ideal time for portraits, but if you see a photogenic woman what are you to do!

That Old Tree

Finally. The recent Summer heat did it's trick and even the old tree, a slow starter, is now green again. Around 25C when I took this photo earlier in the week.

Madde As Police Woman

This is Madde. Out on patrol with the police K9. She's a narcotic detection dog Madde said jokingly. It was another hot Summer day in Haninge and I had stopped at the pedestrian bridge that crosses the ever busy Gudöbroleden in Handen, hoping to get a few photos of vintage cars and/or cool motorcycles when I spotted Madde crosing the bridge. She is a huge DIF, (soccer/icehockey club), fan. She has a few cool tattoos on her left arm, including one of her maternal grandfather. Another tat shows a hot looking (female), police officer. And that is also Madde's dream, so you could be looking at a future police officer.

Party Soldiers

I spotted two guys in Handen on Saturday claiming to be Roman soldiers. They were carrying a lot of beers and after I stopped them telling them it was time for a few photos they wondered how long it would take them to get to the party in Tungelsta if they were going to be stopped like this every fifty meters. I directed them towards the tulip field near Poseidon's Square for a Summary backdrop. As soon as I was done with my photos, two other guys interested in taking their photo turned up.

Amy

Amy's 'fro was what first caught my eye when I noticed her in Handen on Friday. I complimented her on her great hair before asking if I could take her portrait, she smiled and said of course you can. And it wasn't before she told me her name that I realised that I had met and photographed her before!

Tulip Festival

Everywhere you look there's tulips in central Handen today in a colorful preparation before next weeks tulip festival. If you live locally more info here.

No Work Tomorrow

Summer. No work tomorrow. Some wine. A few beers. Maybe a barbecue with a few friends. Life is good.

The view from the new observation tower

The new observation tower at Tornberget. The highest point at Södertörn at 111 m a.s.l. It's a 25 minute hike through the forest if you walk from Tornbergavägen in Tungelsta which is what I did together with my buddy Hasse earlier in the week. The old tower was dismantled back in 1981 and this new tower opened for visitors a couple of months ago, although the official unveiling was last weekend. On a good day you can see the medieval church in Västerhaninge, Jordbro, Handen, Brandbergen, the archipelago, the old masts at Nacka, Tyresta national park, the Globe Arena in Stockholm and a quite a few more buildings in the nations capitol. We saw all of that as it was a fantastic Summer day with a blue sky and maybe 24C. The different parts of the tower was assembled at the Tornberga farm and then flown by helicopter to the hill side where it stands today. This will be a popular place to visit from now on, I have several friends that are planning to either hike from handen or bike through the forest on mountain-bike. I will return to the tower myself in a few weeks time equipped with more zoom power and a sturdy tripod and also with barbecue material as the tables near the tower are a good place for a picnic. On the second photo you can see the power plant in Jordbro. Third photo shows the medieval church that I showed you on my Walpurgis Night post a while back. The fourth snap really shows that I live smack in the middle of a forest as that is all you can see of Tungelsta, it is the new buildings at Lillgården that I have shown you a few times during their construction. The last photo shows a few famous buildings in Stockholm including the Globe Arena and the Kaknäs Tower.

JJ Audio Bass Face

Summer arrived and with that my urge to go out and photograph cars with a difference. Like this 1966 Cadillac Deville that I spotted from the pedestrian bridge that crosses Gudöbroleden in Handen yesterday. We probably broke another temperature record, and I'm all for that sort of thing, as I am sure is that very happy guy with the large loudspeaker on his convertible.

The colors are back

Finally! It was a long and cold wait but now the colors are back, everywhere. I pass by these trees at Nederstaleden in Västerhaninge most days and it was a great feeling seeing this.

Requiem for Peace?

The long black arm was suddenly there in front of the cultural centre in Handen. Then a few hours later when I passed by there again, it was gone. A mystery that needs to be solved.

The second day of Summer

Cycling on the old road to Nynäshamn these days means that you are only likely to meet other, (happy), cyclists. Very different from a few years ago when this was one of the most accident ridden roads in the country. The new highway opened for traffic back in 2010 and the only people using the old road are locals and cyclists like these happy riders.