22 July 2008
the individual picture
Montmartre 1949© CHRISTER STRÖMHOLM
Courtesy: Bildverksamheten Strömholm
"I have too many different types of pictures. I seldom leave home without my camera. This means I'm prepared to simply be there and to be available and receive the reality I meet. And the reality is I, what happens to me, and if you're open there are so many things happening. Since I have so many interests in various areas for the pictures, my pictures can fall into thirty or forty different categories depending on the nature of the picture." Those are words by the great Swedish photographer Christer Strömholm, quoted from his last interview given to Gunilla Knape/Hasselblad Center autumn 2000 (Published in “La Caixa Catalogue” 2001)
I went to see the exhibition "Christer Strömholm 1918 - 2002 ON VERRA BIEN" late summer 2002 in Färgfabriken, Stockholm. It was a very strong experience to see Strömholm's work put together so brilliantly by his sons Joakim & Jakob in dialouge with Jan Åman director, Färgfabriken. The book from the exhibition is a treasure.
Christer Strömholm work has been labelled "subjective photography" and even "social realism". In an article called "Christer Strömholm and First-Person Surrealism" Anders Marner suggests an alernative angle of interpretation linking his work to the Surrealist aesthetic. You will find the article (in English) on Strömholm's official homepage along with many great photographs and texts.
The picture above from a cemetery in Montmartre, Paris was one of those I could not get out of my mind after seeing ON VERRA BIEN. It is so simple, still it holds an eternity. Strömholm sometimes spoke of the power of the indivual image and his statement in the interview shows that he was not making plans or projects with his photography. He said that "pictures are created in the photographer's head". Peder Alton writes in an aticle called "Long nights in Ploggatan"; "He had no comprehensive photographic plan. He was an itinerant photograher who allowed his subjects to come to him, like unexpected apparitions."
I went to see the exhibition "Christer Strömholm 1918 - 2002 ON VERRA BIEN" late summer 2002 in Färgfabriken, Stockholm. It was a very strong experience to see Strömholm's work put together so brilliantly by his sons Joakim & Jakob in dialouge with Jan Åman director, Färgfabriken. The book from the exhibition is a treasure.
Christer Strömholm work has been labelled "subjective photography" and even "social realism". In an article called "Christer Strömholm and First-Person Surrealism" Anders Marner suggests an alernative angle of interpretation linking his work to the Surrealist aesthetic. You will find the article (in English) on Strömholm's official homepage along with many great photographs and texts.
The picture above from a cemetery in Montmartre, Paris was one of those I could not get out of my mind after seeing ON VERRA BIEN. It is so simple, still it holds an eternity. Strömholm sometimes spoke of the power of the indivual image and his statement in the interview shows that he was not making plans or projects with his photography. He said that "pictures are created in the photographer's head". Peder Alton writes in an aticle called "Long nights in Ploggatan"; "He had no comprehensive photographic plan. He was an itinerant photograher who allowed his subjects to come to him, like unexpected apparitions."
Urban Dialogue
It happened somehow I found myself in a dance happening of Urban Dialogue. A creative laboratory open to performers who wanted to explore relationships between body and city. Part of an international project from Bucharest, Cosmin Manolescu met Aline Nari in Genova to perform. Among many other dancers, talented Gaia Chernetich of UBIdanza stood out for her body language and attracted me.
Walking through a gallery and coming into a closed wide space, the dancers have people participate in their experiment. A short expression of feelings and life.
A real success in communication. 
Photos and text by Paolo Saccheri
21 July 2008
Five minutes of Dogma
I am in the process of rediscovering my childhood ’after school recreational', the Stockholm Public Library, with its exciting architecture and with images from the Iliad- the story of a single man's anger.
"Sing, goddess, the rage of Achilles the son of Peleus,
the destructive rage that sent countless ills on the Achaeans."
I once took some photos of the Frisians on the walls. Today I have only a few minutes to spare and I have no plans for a photo session. However, I shoot a picture of a woman who is standing next to me speaking to her cell phone.
Suddenly someone is passing by. I take a picture almost on instinct.
Now I spot the woman in her strange and beautiful dress. She halts about five metres below at the entrance to the information. She seems to be waiting for someone. I take another picture.
I find the woman and her dress exciting in connection with the images from the Iliad on the wall. I step down to get closer, and take some more pictures.
I walk down behind the woman, looking for pictures from a different angle, and shoot two more pictures. Looking at the clock I realize that I am late and must leave the library. But there were some photos taken, mostly thanks to an exciting and beautiful dress.
The photos are taken according to my Dogma 07-promise: One camera, one lens, one film. The picture should be cropped directly in the viewfinder, which means that the it should be composed at the moment of exposure.
Equipment: Leica M6, 28 mm,
Film: Tri-X exposed after 400 ASA
Developed in D-76.
Text and photos © Bengt Björkbom
20 July 2008
Sustainability Experiment - DOCU 08
In the 70's an idealistic couple, their retired parents and their two small children came to the Sequatchie Valley area in Tennessee and formed a 300-acre homestead. Moonshadows has evolved into a model for sustainable living and an educational organization called Sequatchie Valley Institute (www.svionline.org).
This is Carol Kimmons, one of the founders, conducting a tour about edible wild plants. Recently Moonshadows offered the use of some of their land to a group of young couples who felt inspired to create an eco-village called Satya Village (named after the Hindu word for Truth). This band of modern-day pioneers live in army tents, tipis and campers. They raise organic vegetables, chickens and goats. They have added outhouses and showers (cold water only) and cook their food on woodstoves and propane campstoves. It is a hard and difficult life, but one they feel committed to pursue.
F of F - a few of my favourite things. Part 1: Monochrome
© Roger Ballen
© Fredrik Skott
© Christoffer Grandin
© Joy Goldkin
© Jeanne Wells
© Mick Ryan
19 July 2008
Docu 08: Kiviks marknad
"Kiviks Marknad” is the most well-known annual summer fair of Sweden attracting about 100 000 visitors during a few busy days in July. The market was probably set up already in the 14th century but the goods traded have of course changed.
Benny Persson, our friend from Blekinge sent these great impressions of this year’s fair that was held 14-16 July.
Kivik is a beautiful place in Skåne(Scania). People coming from Scania are called "skåningar." The legendary Mr Urbano, who is a "skåning", was in fact born not far from there. And for you camera freaks out there - Benny's camera is called Horizon.
Photos by © Benny Persson
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