Berga Skola

Berga school. Not used as a school today, the building sits on the property belonging to the agricultural college. Back in the 1970s, I used to visit here with my parents as my dad's best friend lived in an apartment here.

Walkin' Down the Road

Being a local I know a few things about this scene other than that it shows two people walking down a road. The road is Nynäsvägen. Parts of it date back to the Viking era. A new road opened for traffic a few years ago so no one except the locals uses this road these days. It is close to Berga where you will find the agricultural college, and the two teenage boys are students there, so possibly they are two future farmers. The bus service from Berga to Västerhaninge isn't all that great so the kids will often walk instead of waiting for the bus.

Autumn at Berga

Two Autumn views from the Berga Agricultural College.

Sunflowers For a good cause

The agricultural college at Berga has planted sunflowers on both sides of the Stavsvägen road in Tungelsta. If you pick a flower they would appreciate if you could Swish at least 10SEK to The Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund. The number is: 123 538 1355

Dryshod or not dryshod

The usual suspects picked me up early (ish), on Sunday morning. Our goal was this stream. Vitsån at Berga in Haninge, next to the military base, Haninge garnison. We were around fifteen people, plus our guide Oliver Karlöf, not seen here. The hope was to see Havsöring, (Brown trout) mating/spawning i.e. jumping out of the water. Everyone was wearing sensible boots, not counting me of course. Hasse can't tie his shoelaces so he had a bit of a mishap. Oliver knows everything you can possibly want to know about fish, he is a fiskekonsulent, good luck googling that! He has written one or two books and the information never stopped coming, which we can blame on my buddy Hasse, (not seen here), who always have to ask a lot of questions about pretty much everything. Anywho we walked through the forest down to the stream while Oliver talked and talked. There were a few other photographers there but no one seemed to take that many photos. Which is perfectly understandable because there was no trout to be photographed. Oliver blamed that on the lack of rain and what have you. After an hour or so this guy showed up on the other side of the stream. It was someone's brother. I got the camera ready hoping he would end up in the water as he tried to cross the stream, but no such luck this time around. Twenty minutes later we gave up and headed back to the cars, but if Hasse has any say, (he has not), we will go back after the next rain fall.

Not just a sunflower field

Thousands of sunflowers blooming on a field near Berga. Nothing special about that, but there's a note by the side of the field. It's from the students at the Berga agricultural college informing us that they planted the flowers for all the bees and insects, and if you want a flower go ahead and pick one, but they would appreciate if you donated 10SEK for every flower to the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Winter at Berga

The sun came back today. With a blue sky for at least for a few hours, so I jumped on the bike and headed out for a spin. This is the Agricultural College Berga seen from the old Kapp Ekeby village road. Around 3C and no wind so it was a nice ride and I did meet a lot of people out cycling, jogging and walking.

The Agricultural College

Two photos from the Berga Agricultural College. The school opened back in 1921. I try to visit once every year on the open-house weekend in the early summer. Before this became a school it was a private property. There's a 300 year old mansion that you can see if you use the time machine. The students here can choose between several different programmes. You have met one student on the blog before. That was the wow girl.

How to hide in plain sight

Some of the soldiers from the Amphibious Regiment at the Haninge garrison were nearly impossible to spot. And that's how they like it. But I decided to prove them wrong! Proof No. 1 is the marine on the first photo. He is there, but you can't really see him, so you can't be 100% sure that he really is there! For that he can thank his ghillie suit. The diver on the second photo is also tricky to spot. He is a frogman. And is often out on dangerous underwater operations. But I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him and that is proof No. 2.

Haninge Garrison

Here are a few photos of some of the soldiers and civilians that I met at the Haninge garrison on Saturday. On the first photo you can see four members of the Swedish Amphibious Corps. In Swedish that is the Amf 1. They are part of the navy and have their headquarters here at Berga. Hands-on approach might be a good title for the second photo. Everyone that wanted to have a closer look at some of the weapons used by all the different soldiers could do so as proved here. And as the garrison is big and there was a lot of walking around to do it was nice to be able to try some of the freeze-drying food that the military had on offer. The meal here that I ate contained 800 calories according to the smiling soldier that served it to me.

007 Lindgren

This is 007 Lindgren. She is in charge of the minehunting on one of the minehunting vessels at the Haninge Garrison at Berga. Her job is to actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. She told me a little about her work when I met her at the Haninge Garrison. The Swedish Navy opened the gates for visitors today so I decided to pay them a visit. I stayed for a few hours and took around 100 photos. More photos to come in the next few days.

A picture is worth a thousand words

A moment frozen in time. A while back I took a photo (not this one), of an every day situation. A few people standing around talking as a car drove by. Since that day I have had my eyes open for similar photo opportunities. Pictures that speak for them selves. Where you don't need any words to describe them. Like this one. One of my favorite photos from this summer. Taken on a warm and sunny day at Berga. I was sitting on a wooden fence, talking to an acquaintance when I noticed this couple hugging so I just lifted the camera and that was that.

A Few Candid Portraits

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I shoot many street portraits with an added interview. But I also enjoy capturing everyday people out and about. That is, shooting photos without asking the subject, but always at a public space. Something I enjoy whenever I am visiting an event. So here are a few recent examples. All from the open-house weekend at Berga earlier this summer.

Campus Life

The agricultural school at Berga opened in 1921. Back then it had only male students. Today that has changed quite a bit, especially considering the very popular horse programme. If you walk around the 700 hectare big property you will find many different buildings. Both modern and old farm buildings. They have everything you would find on a modern farm. And there is also a 300 year old mansion (you can see part of it in yesterdays post), or here from my 2007 visit, and a little museum with many objects from the old days. The school is self sufficient when it comes to heating, via a modern pellet heating system. As I have already told you there are many animals at the farm and all livestock feed needed are produced locally, like oat and corn.The building you see here was built for when the school opened in 1921. Back then it had class rooms, campus eateries and student apartments. Today there are newer smaller apartment buildings here and my flickr friend Jim has a fine photo of those apartments. Both Jim and myself have flickr sets with more photos. Here is a link to Jim's photos. And my set is over here.

The Perfect Life

I decided not to shoot any portraits on my visit to the Agricultural College as there was so much else to focus on, but when I spotted Kajsa I changed my mind. I met her as the open house weekend was closing for the day. She turned out to be from Västerhaninge. She is a sailer, or a mariner if you like. Employed by the Waxholmsbolaget, the ferry company that runs the archipelago traffic in Stockholm. She works there six months of the year. The rest of the year she either studies, travels the world, or goes on two months long sailing trips. She's been all over the world, and when I asked Kajsa for a favorite place she picked Central America, with Panama and Costa Rica as two favorite spots. Seems like a perfect way to live your life.

Do Not Disturb

Obviously I did shoot quite a few animal photos at the open house weekend at the Berga Agricultural College. They have horses, cattle and pigs on 400 hectare. And who doesn't love pigs! Some facts about the college. The 250 students here can choose between the environmental programme, the farm programme and the horse programme. Most students come from around Stockholm. But there are student apartments on the campus, and there are plenty of activities for the students that choose to live at the school.

Barefoot is the only way to go

I can't say that I was walking around looking at peoples feet to get a photo for theme day, but as it was the warmest day of the year, it wasnt that hard to find a suitable photo at the Agricultural College on Saturday. This is a young woman and her dog. There was an agility show on a big grassy area that was surrounded by people. Seeing her running barefoot as she guided her dog through the obstacle course made me realise that summer really is here. She was quite good with the dog, and the crowd seemed to enjoy the show, and gave her a big hand of applause when they finished.

Today is theme day.Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Getting a face paint

I will probably show you a bunch of photos from the Agricultural College Berga in the following days. They had an open-house weekend and I visited on Saturday. It was the warmest day of the year, and the place was packet with people. I met a friend who was there with his school (Vuxenskolan), and he asked me to take some photos for them. And here are two of those. A little girl getting a face paint. We asked her mother if it was ok to take some photos and she agreed. The little girl on the other hand wasnt that amused by the nosy photographer. But ten minutes later when she was done and was enjoying an ice cream she did look more pleased.

HMS Visborg

This is HMS Visborg, a former minelayer, that now serves as a command ship. Anchored at the former Berga base in Haninge that is now the Swedish Amphibious Corps base. Took the photo a couple of weeks ago when I visited the beach at Årsta Havsbad. Shot this from one of the piers.

A beach panorama

The theme this month is water. I'm a bit of a beach addict. So I decided to take a bike ride down to the coast. It's not very far. Maybe a 20 minute ride. This is the Baltic Sea. The bay is Hårsfjärden. Where they searched after those Russian sub marines during the cold war. These days you are not likely to see even any Swedish subs as the Berga Base has been closed. The beach is called Årsta Havsbad. Back in 1929 a non profit organisation created Årsta Havsbad as a summer resort for workers. Around 600 small cottages (15-25 square metre), were built along with a hotel, convenient store, tennis courts and more. The hotel was overlooking a very popular open-air dance floor. The hotel is gone now but the dance floor is still here and the locals celebrate Midsummer here every year. Today many of these small cottages have been rebuilt and lots of people live here year round. During the summer month the beach is often crowded, but on this visit I counted maybe 10 people that I saw from the wooden pier as I took this panorama. It was a few locals and a group of anglers. HERE is a link to the original size. If you have a few minutes try the slideshow. And here are the rest of the blogs participating in the theme day:

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,