The national flag of Ukraine

The national flag of Ukraine flying at Stockholm City Hall earlier today. It has been up every day since last Friday, when the madman decided to invade Ukraine.

Barnängen

Two photos from an area on Södermalm near Hammarby lake known as Barnängen. The name comes from a childrens hospital that you could find here five hundred years ago. Top photo shows Färgargården. Built in 1730. Part of a textile factory owned and operated by Jacob Gavelius. They dried the textiles in the open attic that ran the whole length of this building, today an apartment building. Second photo shows the portal leading into Barnängens Gård from Barnängsgatan.

Square knot

A big square knot in front of the Citizen's building at Medborgarplatsen. I decided to wait until someone walked into the photo and that took maybe ten seconds. The sculpture is fairly new from last year I think. Made by Kristina Matousch and Anders Soidre.

Spot the odd one out

Fifteen photos from Södermalm, and one shot from the Woodland Cemetery. Tasty America next to the institution that is Jerusalem kebab at Götgatan. An elderly woman standing outside a café deciding on what to buy, a semla maybe? You can also see the Gullmarsplan metro station. A classic furniture store. A sad photo showing people queuing for handouts. Three street scenes. A man enjoying a quick lunch at the Danish fast food joint at Medborgarplatsen. In the bottom row I just missed two people kiss. Last photo shows a group of men walking down the stairs at Fatburstrappan.

The Troubled Poet

This is the headstone of the writer, artist and poet Sonja Åkesson. You can find it at the Woodland Cemetery in Enskede. Åkesson was born and raised on Gotland, before moving to Stockholm. She had a few different jobs, including working as a waitress. She became a household name in the 1960s. A true feminist. She was married three times, had five kids. Her most famous poem was called, the question of marriage. She passed away at the age of 51.

A moment in time

One of those “a moment in time” scenes. Taken near the Ringen shopping mall at Skanstull on Södermalm. A beggar from Eastern Europe looking for something in her bags. A woman selling the magazine Situation Stockholm. A monthly street newspaper sold by homeless people. A dog out walking it's human. An elderly woman with a walker. A man in his own world, maybe listening to a podcast, standing in a door opening with a package. Two smokers shortening their life expecancies. And also at least two people looking at the photographer trying to figure out what that is all about.

Around the block

Street photos from a recent walk on Södermalm. A guy getting a haircut at a barbershop at the Malmen hotel. Family business near a 7-Eleven at Kocksgatan. A colorful woman appearing before I was camera ready at Åsögatan. And a few more street scenes from the area around Götgatan/Folkungagatan/Åsögatan.

Commedianterna

Sculpture by Peter Linde at Bofills båge on Södermalm in Stockholm. A building named after it's architect, Ricardo Bofill. I did take a photo of the building and you can see part of the "Bofill's Crescent" if you press here.

Tallumpaviljongen

Back in October I showed you a few photos of the Tallum Pavillion at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skogskyrkogården, the big cemetery at Enskede. It is a favorite place of mine and I find it impossible not to go in for a few photos every time I am in the area. So here are a few more photos of the cafe, and vistitor's center. Designed by Gunnar Asplund a century ago. Tallum was the name that Asplund and his friend Lewerentz gave to their winning plan for the new cemetery.

Götgatsbacken

This is Götgatan, and more specifically Götgatsbacken at Södermalm in Stockholm. I often use this street, coming or going to the Nation's capitol. There's always something to see or do here. Lots of stores, pubs, restaurants and more. And also a good spot for street photography. It can get very crowded, especially in the Summer, with tourists, locals, delivery trucks and what have you filling up the street, but this time of the year not so much.

No Winter Maintenance

Back at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skogskyrkogården in Enskede. I parked the e-bike at the stairs leading up to the Meditation Hill, Almhöjden. From the top of the hill you have a good view over the cemetery, and from there you can walk the 888-meter-long Seven Springs Way down to one of the chapels. Everything at the cemetery was designed by two young architects a century ago. It was a bit icy on the stairs, so I walked up on the grass despite wearing my icebug boots. I took the second photo of the Meditation Hill from the pond next to the Monument Hall.

Waiting at a red light

While on the bike I will often have the camera ready to shoot, as you should. Here are two such photos taken along the bike path at Götgatan on Södermalm in Stockholm, while waiting at a red light. The first one is the intersection with Folkungagatan, the guy in the tracksuit needed directions and it looks like he got an answer from the woman with the green/yellow knit cap. The second photo is closer to the big shopping mall Ringen at Skanstull and you can see the Globe Arena in the background. From here it is a 90 minute bike ride home.

Urvädersgränd

A classic Stockholm building at Urvädersgränd on Södermalm where once Carl Michael Bellman, lived and worked. You really need to read that Wikipedia article btw. The building dates back to 1723. Today owned by Par Bricole, a Bacchanalian order society. Usually open for the public on Sundays and if you ever visit, expect to hear some of Bellmans music performed by someone dressed from that era. The alley Urvädersgränd is named after Simon Uhrwäder who lived here some 400 years ago. It is quite steep as you can see, and the cobblestones can be tricky to walk when it is Winter, cold and icy, but no such problems on this visit. The street on the other side of Götgatan is called Sankt Paulsgatan

Mosebacke

Södra Teatern at Mosebacke. The oldest theater in Stockholm. The outdoor terrace, Mosebacketerrassen from where I snapped this, is the place to be for a beer and a bite to eat come the warm Summer evenings. Oh, and if you enjoy that sort of thing you should check out Champagnebaren. To complicate matters, something I always enjoy, I shot this with my new Canon R, using the Viltrox 85mm lens, so this is fifteen or so photos stitched together. Just to see if the camera and lens were up to it. The second photo shows the Mosebacke portal. The last two photos are the view over Stockholm from the terrace. Some of you will recognice the Nationalmuseum in the first of those photos. In the second one you can see Skeppsholmen.

The Orthodox Cemetery

I bought a used Canon R a while back. This was my first photo with the mirrorless camera. I also bought the Viltrox adapter, and the Viltrox 85mm lens. I got to try them out on a visit to the Woodland Cemetery at Enskede in Stockholm last week. I headed over to the Orthodox area of the cemetery for a few photos of the cross and I also found the grave of Aleksander Paulus, an Estonian orthodox clergyman.

Constellations

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skogskyrkogården, the big cemetery at Enskede was designed a century ago by the two young architects, Asplund and Lewerentz. They even designed the stools and the benches, and now one hundred years later this is the new updated bench. Called Constellations. Designed by studio näv and constructed by Artek. Looks like they used cork. I didn't try the bench, as it was a little too cold for that. This one can be found at The Meditation Hill. Snapped with my new Canon R, using the Viltrox 85mm lens.

The Sisters

A sculpture at Mosebacke torg on Södermalm, in front of Södra Teatern. It is called the sisters, made by Nils Sjögren. But in reality, it probably shows two lovers. After a tragic incident when two women drowned themselves in the Hammarby lake a century ago. Shot with my new mirrorless camera, the Canon R and my new Viltrox 85mm lens.

Drevvikens sjöisbana

A lone ice skater calling it a day at the frozen Lake Drevviken earlier this week. A fine Winter day, around 5C and a lot of sunshine. The plowed track is 21 kilometers long. I parked the e-bike on the icy path that was closed because of the icy conditions and walked down to the Hökarängsbadet beach for this panorama. Try here for a larger view.

Os Gêmeos

I went for a walk around Mosebacke on Södermalm yesterday. A culturally important area in Stockholm. My goal was to photograph a famous mural, made by the Brazilian twins known a Os Gemeos. It took 1000 spray cans and a few Summer days for the brothers from São Paulo, to finish this masterpiece. This is a panorama from 9 photos. I tried a few different angles and this one was my favorite as you can see more of the building, and also the Mosebacke water tower in the background.

The Medieval Church

I am not someone who will visit a church anytime soon. But this is the cemetery where most of my family rests, so I do visit, with camera, every now and then. This is the Medieval church in Västerhaninge, the oldest part are around 800 years old. It was hit by lighning once and I guess that will happen once every 800 years or so. You have met the pretty priest, Sara, that works here a couple of times. This time I took a walk around the cemetery because of the mist.

Two bridges

Two more mist photos. Both showing pedestrian bridges along Nederstaleden, (a straight), in Västerhaninge. It was one of those days, really. Mist, mist and more mist. The first bridge is close to the commuter station and is mostly used by people going to and from the station, and the shopping center. The second bridge is a few hundred meters to the soutn and it is new. Well, not really, but as I remember photographing it when it was being constructed it counts as new in my head. From where I shot it, it will take you first to the pet cemetery, in a birch forest, and then to the Håga industrial park. But before you get to the industries you will walk by a place where I shoot Spring flowers most every year.

Dimma

Swedish word of the day. Dimma. Seriously misty the other day. Transmission lines on a field in Västerhaninge.

New row-houses

Two photos from the row-house construction at Lillgården in Tungelsta. Built by the local company Turbinen. I took the first photo with my Canon, 77D and a 70-300mm zoom lens. I snapped the second scene with my Canon 6D. It is a nine photo panorama shot with my Sigma 50mm lens. I believe this is the last phase of the construction here, they are still working on the school that you can see to the right under the crane. But, and it is a big but, just to the right of this view, the construction of what can only be described as a small city block got under way last week. I will show photos from that area every now and then from now on.

Still Winter

Out on the frozen lower lake at Rudan, 100 meters away from the coffee drinking vikings in yesterday's post, a few tough ice fishers were having no luck at all. But they are probably back there today.

Winter Picnic

Back at the lakes at the Rudan nature reserve in Handen. The cold weather was also back, around -5C, but that didn't stop this group of weathered vikings from having a picnic at the lower lake. You can never go wrong with a fika if you are Swedish.

That Old Tree

February. The week after the big storm, Malik. I decided to head over to the old tree to see if it had survived. There was a tree down nearby, blocking the very icy path. Guess who tried, and failed to cycle through that mess. Me, my first crash with the e-bike. Parked the bike and walked the last bit. The tree looked the same, at least I think so.

Stockholm Views

A few photos from the top of the Skinnarviksberget on Södermalm. It is the highest natural point in Stockholm at 53 m.ö.h. And if you ask me the hill has the second best view over Stockholm. The first two photos shows Norr Mälarstrand at Kungsholmen. I then aimed the camera to the right so you can have a look at Norrmalm with Klara church and the "Hötorgsskraporna". Followed by Norrström and the railway bridge, Stockholm Sheraton, The Aftonbladet building, and Rosenbad, where our new female PM works. The fifth photo shows Riddarholmen and M/S Rex, an Ekerö ferry. The final photo shows buildingg in the old town with the German church.

Skinnarviksberget

I took the first photo walking past the sculpture in yesterdays post. It shows you part of the island of Kungsholmen and Norr Mälarstrand. Then, after carefully walking up the icy path I snapped the second photo. It shows you part of a classic Stockholm building. It is called Münchenbryggeriet. It has an interesting history. I then walked over to the red picked fence and aimed the Canon towards the scenic walk, Monteliusvägen, that I showed you a week or so ago. Continuing up the hill, which is called Skinnarviksberget btw, I took the fourth photo which shows you more of the old brewery and more of the second best view over the Riddarfjärden bay. I shot that as a panorama, so it is nine photos stitched together and you can see Kungsholmen with Stockholm City Hall. Riddarholmen, with Mälardrottningen, and in the background Norrmalm. I think that is enough for today. I might show you a few zoomed in photos from the hill tomorrow.