Photography
Exploration is not just travelling. It’s how you look at the world, how you try new things, and how you learn.
I bought tickets to Taylor Swifts N3 Stockholm concern the moment I could, and it’s been something I’ve been looking forward to for months.
Due to dog related commitments, I didn’t manage to sign up for the Half Marathon this year, and only manage to pop along for a moment to capture a few images of the runners as they passed Arkaden at the 15km point.
There is a new member of the Tog’s Trek travel team. Merlin the Bernedoodle. More model than photographer, I met Merlin when he was just six weeks and four days old at his breeder, Bestcoast Kennel.
Saturday evening, I went along to the Open House at Majorna’s Co-Working Space, “Creative Spaces” offering a photography studio, recording space, co-working area and a jacuzzi. Aside from general good vibes and fun, three local artists performed live music for us all
A concert in Slottskogen featuring some big and not-so-big names of the nineties and early two-thousands
I've been lucky enough to do a fair few gigs in the past, primarily in small venues like 12Bar or the Windmill in Brixton, but also at some bigger venues like main stage at the Garage in Islington. Whilst I've written about my experiences doing these shoots, I thought it was about time to write something more detailed about my considerations when doing a gig.
Another walk through the forest and I found, aside from a random pumpkin, a few animals.
Another trip through the forest let me find a few more animals. Some elusive, some quite common.
With a brief break in cloud cover over the new forest, I was able to handhold a shot or two of the moon with my new Canon R5 and 100-400mm lens. The massive image resolution allows some pretty incredible cropping to be done and I'm really happy with how much detail can be seen.
For the first time in two years, I was back in the UK. It was also my first time using my brand new Canon R5 camera.
Organised by Sounds of Gothenburg, this gig was at a record store along Andra Langatan in Gothenburg. The session started with interviews with the bands before moving into the music.
Sound of Gothenburg is a new initiative of artists bringing local music to Gothenburg at Dirty Records cafe and the world through YouTube streaming.
Brunnsparken often has Palestinian protestors bringing attention to the ongoing situation between Israel and Palestine.
Much like my wander on Christmas Eve, I took an hours break from obsessively scheduled cooking to get some air and sunlight in the nearby Slottskogen Park. Winter sun is a tricky thing, it can be very bright, but its so low in the sky that you get long shadows or it is easily hidden behind low hills or high buildings, plunging your photos into the gloom.
Still waiting for my replacement tripod to arrive, I once again decided to do some handheld shots of the moon.
With Covid restrictions keeping me from my usual Christmas back in the UK, or my more adventurous winter breaks in places like Jordan, I spent my first Christmas in Sweden since starting to work here in December 2015. Perhaps it is appropriate that five years later, a month or two before I become a Citizen of Sweden and through it rejoin the European Union that I am here for the winter solstice and Jul celebrations.
Today I discovered that my new apartment's lounge windows offer a great viewing spot for the moon on those rare days when it is not covered by Gothenburg's near-permanent grey clouds.
Sometimes you just chance on strange things. Outside my window, a stream of motorcycles, all dressed as Santa passed along Linnégatan. Beeping their horns and revving their engines they gathered a surprised audience.
Despite the Coronavirus, more than four hundred cities around the world have marched in protest of George Floyd death and the lack of accountability for the detaining officers. Gothenburg's march brought thousands out in peaceful protest.
Recently, the Elk (or Moose if you are American as the North American Elk is a different species) in Slottskogen park have given birth to two calves (or Mooselings). These babies have caused much excitement and many visitors.
Every year, the Oscar Fredriks Kammarkör, the church choir for Oscar Fredrik's Church in Linne sings at my new building.
Sunday evening was a cold clear night and a half-moon over Gothenburg. I got out my 1D MkIII, 100-400mm Zoom and 2x extender and took it out into the cold of my garden.
Its been quite some time since I did any astrophotography, but my new 100-400 lens has been waiting for the nights to get dark enough to start trying to catch the moon again.
By a random chance, I happened to be in Cuneo for the final day of Illuminata, (Festival of Lights). It is a week-long event playing music synchronised to lights across one of the main streets.
I was fortunate enough to be in Croatia, in the town of Split for the 2018 World Cup final where Croatia had broken all their records to qualify to play France.
In Gothenburg this weekend, a group of Neo-Nazi's decided to hold a march through the city. Considering it is Yom Kippur its a particularly offensive action. Best estimates were 500 Nazi's marched and over 10,000 counter protesters turned up to object.
I spent a bit of time in my garden at about 1am last night taking photos of the night sky, trying to capture the Perseids Meteor Shower, unfortunately there was quite a lot of light pollution.