Please, be seated

One of my favorite motives when out with the Canon, doing street photography, is people sitting on benches. So here are a few recent examples. A girl at Norrmalmstorg, the square that gave us the term The Stockholm Syndrome back in the 1970s. Next, a nearly naked guy looking towards the Cultural Centre. And in the third snap a photo of Sergels torg, the most famous square in the city. In the fourth photo a curved bench near a water feature at Brunkebergstorg where you will find Sveriges Riksbank, a few restaurants and the entrance to the oldest mall, Gallerian. Lastly, One sock on, one sock of guy at Sergelgatan.

A place to rest for a bit

Atriumgård by Fredrik Holmqvist. This piece was a project between schoolkids and the artist. Stood outside a school in Jordbro for many years. I was a student there long before that. The school is gone today, replaced with modern apartments. And the Atriumgård can be found in a nearby park. Photographed yesterday when I was out on a (slow), bike ride for the first time since the man flu hit. I managed 40 kilometers. Might try again today with a longer ride.

Inflyttarna

A new square opened just over a week ago. I missed the big opening ceremony, but beat them to it, as I was there just hours after it was opened. Located at Hagastaden, the new square, called Hagaplan, sits between the new Karolinska hospital, a glass facade hotel, the Carolina Tower, and that big circular building, The Scientist that I have shown you a few photos of. The best view is probably from high up, as there is a pattern on the square that is supposed to look like a fingerprint. It will become a big public transport hub with bus stops and a future metro station. There are thirty very different looking benches on the square. All part of an artwork by Johanna Karlin called Inflyttarna. The movers. A lot of people have already moved into Hagastaden, but this new part of Stockholm/Solna will not be finished before 2030. Johanna has moved 30 ready-made benches from all over Sweden to the square and placed them in a few different groups. I noticed a few patients from the hospital using the benches as well as people working in the area enjoying an outdoor lunch in the Autumn sunshine. I didn't photograph all the benches, so chances are that I will return once or twice with my cameras. Thirty trees will also be planted here which sounds like a great idea.

Look at that view!

This is a popular lookout point at Åsöberget, a hill on Södermalm in Stockholm. There are three benches here, but I cropped out one of them for artistic reasons. The last two times I was here, I remember eavesdropping on conversations as I sat down for a look at the view and for a bite to eat. Nothing like that happened on this occasion, as I was on my own. Or maybe there was someone else there, lurking in the fog. Who knows?

Available Seating

People enjoying the Winter sunshine from a few benches around Stockholm. First snap from Strömkajen. Second shot from Skeppsbrokajen. Blue sky with matching blue background at a bus stop at Slussen on the third image. Next a woman clearly enjoying the sun from a bench at Strandvägen while her friend speaks on the phone. The Knife Wrestlers is the name of the sculpture seen on the next photo, taken near the National Museum. Then a side-view from Strandvägen. And last we see a few people at Norrmalmstorg, it was the well-dressed bald guy that I noticed first.

At the pop-up cafe

A cafe opened in the greenhouse in the park in Tungelsta in December of last year. It quickly became quite popular in these Corona times, at least on Saturdays and Sundays when it was open. Back then it was possible to sit outside in the unusually warm winter weather but with the recent snow fall that is no longer possible.

Pause for a moment

While at the lakes earlier in the week I noticed something that made me smile. A number of benches along the path around the lower lake had positive quotes written on them. I'm guessing it was done by the municipality. It is now your job to try and translate them. The message on the first photo is Pause for a moment. Hint, try mouse-over the photos

Autumn Bench

Eskilsparken, the green lung in Handen in Autumn colors. This is the poodle photography bench by the way.

Green December

The little park in Västerhaninge. Quiet on this rainy December day, but very popular with the local screaming wino's for most of the year.

Watching the trains go by

This was a surprise. Brand new benches and tables along the walkway between Västerhaninge and the Krigslida commuter station. The walkway follows the Nynäsbanan railtrack. You have an industrial area, (Håga), on one side of the rail track and a farmer's field on the other. I remember reading an article about an idea to equip the commuter stations with better lighting, more places to sit and what have you so this must be part of that project. Second photo shot as a Brenizer method photo so as to put a little extra focus on the benches.

A Color Photo

Minimalism in Winter. Benches at the snowy commuter platform at Krigslida.