at the foot of the Andes

Lucia in Carolina Rediviva

2011-12-14T15:12:00.000+01:00

S:t Johannesgatan from the other direction

2011-11-25T20:22:00.001+01:00

Another view of S:t Johannesgatan. Indeed, many are the bicyclists that roll over these cobblestones each day.
Just to the left of where I'm standing is a fine café, Lyckan. Quite uniquely for a café in Uppsala, they offer home-made edibles, both of the sweet and lunchy kind.

Blogging from the air

2011-11-10T12:00:00.001+01:00

Vättern and its island Visingsö just passed by the window. I'm posting this picture from a plane heading for London. We have wifi on board and it's free, as it should be. Good work, Norwegian!

S:t Johannesgatan and Google+

2011-11-02T12:02:00.000+01:00

S:t Johannesgatan in September

Thanks to the advent of Google+, a whole new era of photography inspiration, motivation, learning and sharing has begun. At least for me. So, from now on, I will be posting mainly on Google+. But to there is no need to fear for the future of this blog, since Google appear to be integrating these services, as well as Picasa. What you post on G+ will most probably have an easy way of appearing on your blog, too. Interesting rumors on the subject suggest the brands Blogger and Picasa will be swallowed by G+.

I feel no apprehension to this, it is important to evolve with the times, and so must these information structures. The advantages of posting on G+ versus on a traditional blog are, when it comes to reaching out to the world, immense.
The advantages of this blog is that it is a fixed, easy-to-find location and provides a more concise history of posts and comments. And a nice graphical framing and layout, why not :). So there are still reasons to hold on to it.
Are you on Google+? Add me to your circles!

Sombre Sunday

2011-10-02T17:09:00.001+02:00

This is the tranquil and still
Sunday afternoon
on the second day of October.

An Air of Autumn

2011-09-26T10:56:00.000+02:00

Acorns and empty cupules on an oak by Ekoln.

Training Bus

2011-09-23T18:28:00.000+02:00

This may seem like an ordinary bus, but it is part of a rescue scenario at the Uppsala firemen's training facility. Yes, it is resting on its roof.

Picture of the Day #6

2011-09-09T10:54:00.000+02:00

Last night was smoke photography night.

I set this up in my kitchen, flash hitting the smoke from the side.

Two pictures composed side-by-side.

Picture of the Day #5

2011-09-08T10:22:00.001+02:00

Due to the rainy days we're having, I'm posting a picture from the archive. This one was taken on July 19 of this year. It shows Uppsala's iconic belfry "Gunillaklockan" (Gunilla Bell). The bell was donated by Queen Gunilla in 1588 to the Castle's church, and it came to it's present position after the great fire of 1702 when most of the Castle, and the city, burned down. It rings every morning at 6 am and every evening at 9 pm.

Picture of the Day #4

2011-09-05T11:49:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I was standing by Flottsund bridge in southern Uppsala waiting for Hasse to pick me up, and examined the building, a former gas station, now a hair salon. Turning around, I noticed this flower, planted where one of the gas pumps once stood. Picture of the Day!

Picture of the Day #3

2011-09-03T18:53:00.000+02:00

Linneanum, in the Botanical Garden. The original design by Olof Tempelman was revised by French architect Louis Jean Desprez on the request of Gustaf III. It was inaugurated in 1807, a hundred years after the birth of Linné. Along the sides one finds many trees growing in barrels, among them several laurels that were planted in the 18th century.
Overlaid texture by Skeletal Mess.

Picture of the Day #2

2011-09-02T11:48:00.000+02:00

Either these guys are some pretty reckless fishermen or they are biologists picking up fish for inspection. They are using an electric hoop to lure/paralyze the little swimmers. If anyone knows the specifics, please fill me in. Seems much more efficient than standing by the side with a rod.
The water is about 15°C at the mo, in case you were wondering.

Picture of the Day #1

2011-09-01T12:28:00.000+02:00

September is here, and I felt it's time to repeat last year's success - a picture every day of the month. It is simply a great motivator for photography. So enjoy this first picture - taken yesterday in University Park.

Studio Portraits

2011-08-03T15:44:00.003+02:00

From Studio Portraits

Studio photography with Clara, Vanda, Cloudy and Johannes. It was the first time I worked in a studio by myself (but with excellent assistants), and setting the flashes and backgrounds felt unfamiliar at first, but we got the hang of it eventually. What is the key to a successful studio session? I believe it is important to get a good idea of what you want to achieve, before you start taking pictures.

Also, take the time to relax your model and yourself. Don't be afraid to pose and give commands to your model, if the pictures come out well, they will always be grateful. And it might be good to keep in mind that a lot of things can be done in Photoshop.
For the first two pictures, I used overlaid textures by SkeletalMess. (The compression by Picasa Web Albums is, unfortunately, quite destructive to this kind of photos. Sorry.)

The Claremars

2011-07-20T11:31:00.003+02:00

Friends of mine Björn and Linda Claremar became husband and wife on June 18th 2011 in Gamla Uppsala kyrka. Please enjoy the pics below.

Summer Trip

2011-07-13T15:46:00.000+02:00

From Sommar 2011

Last week was spent in the spirit of the season - with family in nature's embrace, and visiting old friends.
First stop was Finnerödja, in the region between the great lakes Vänern and Vättern, where Sweden's most southern wilderness lies, Tiveden National Park. When crossing these forests, one can easily picture the friars who, centuries ago, had to move through here on their way to the monastery in Vadstena on the far side of the Vättern.

The second part of the trip was spent in Göteborg, visiting my old neighborhood Lövgärdet. There is a special enchantment to this suburb, being the last outpost of the city and on the brink of a natural reserve. Thanks to Carlos', my former class mate, and his fiancée's wonderful hospitality, I thoroughly enjoyed being there. Their flat is almost identical to my old one, and in the same building, so it felt like coming home. But they are better interior decorators, so it was even better.

DVD Cover Design

2011-06-25T22:07:00.000+02:00

The DVD of the musical is finally out, and I felt like sharing the cover design with you. It's made with photographs I've taken at different times. The only thing I've borrowed is the revolver. The DVD cover was printed in a limited edition of 50 copies.

To the Islands

2011-06-08T14:30:00.000+02:00

What better way to spend a long weekend than on and surrounded by water? Thanks to today's modern transportations, reaching the outer rim of the Stockholm archipelago is a matter of a few hours on board. Out there, a pure and welcoming natural paradise awaits.
We were lucky to arrive just before the great flux of vacationers, and shops and services still weren't open for the season. At the same time, it's hard to imagine how the boats could carry any more people than they did, being filled to the last corner!
A great time, enjoy the pics!

Running for Life

2011-06-01T14:38:00.003+02:00

Together with more than 10 000 people, we ran in the annual Blodomloppet, or Blood Circuit/Circulation. Despite a windy prelude, conditions were ideal when the start pistol fired and the contenders began flooding the track. Along the stretch, many spectators cheered on. An unexpected delight was the many musicians playing for us - a folk fiddler in traditional clothing, a complete brass band...

There were others toward the end, but by that time my focus was on the road. 10 kms takes its toll, and after crossing the line I was in need of some horizontal time... The best dressed in our team was Clara, who ran in the Argentinian colours. It was a great experience, and an inspiration to stay on the track. Thanks Jessica for the great photos and ground support!

Photos from Spain

2011-05-05T16:42:00.000+02:00

From Spanien 2011

What better reason for a trip than the wedding of two good friends? We started out in Alicante, then travelled north to Altea where the wedding occurred, continued further to Valencia before returning to Sweden. It is an enchanting part of the world, with all its mountains and history.

The great gathering of friends from all around added to the experience and resulted in many laughs. The writing of our song to the bride and groom was a highlight, and the dancing to the oh-so quiet disco music. Thanks to all. Let's do it again! It's OK, we can rest a little first...

Recent Portraits

2011-04-12T17:49:00.001+02:00

Spending the evening with Johannes at GHuben.

Pernille posing for the class in studio lighting at UFS (Uppsala Photographic Society)

Johannes sitting in a niche at Västgöta Nation.

Frida. Picture taken at UFS,

The studio lighting course I took at UFS turned out highly valuable. I'm now much more in-the-know about the do's and don't's of portrait photography, and especially lighting. I can warmly recommend taking the course.
Thanks to all the models!

Rising River

2011-04-04T17:11:00.000+02:00

More Fyris river observations. I did this with my mobile camera and a video editor. I used Microsoft Live Movie Maker (cumbersome name), a pretty capable little program. I couldn't make a fade out in the end, though. And the program can only save your movie in Windows Media Video. But apart from that, it did the job.

As you can see, the river is terribly high right now. It doesn't take much more before it spills over on some places. Not much we can do about it, though.

Celebrating the Bachelor

2011-03-28T23:29:00.001+02:00

From Johannes Svensexa

Johannes thought he was going to Stockholm to meet up with Oscar, but it was all part of the plan. When he showed up at the station, we had him right where we wanted him. Clara's cooperation in walking slowly and suggesting detours on the way also made up for us being slightly rushed with the preparations.
Johannes first assignment was to change into a student overall, reminiscing of his time as "teknolog". We all agreed it suited him really well. Next, he received a note with GPS coordinates. It was time for some geocaching! After a few kilometres' walk in the sunny but chilly day, we arrived at Uppsala's Gokart, and we got in an intense race of 8 minutes or 24 laps, to be precise. Because we were all wearing helmets and black overalls, the only one recognizable in the circuit was Johannes with his bright outfit.

Our next destination was Norreda Torp, a cabin not too far from the city with a scenic location by the lake. After settling in, which includes placing the beer on refrigeration, we clashed in a game of Kubb. It may have been the 2011 national debut of this game, since it is a summer game. The snow provided both possibilites, such as sturdy, half-buried wood blocks, and difficulties, such as sturdy, half-buried wood blocks. All this athleticism caused us to turn our attention to the dinner preparations, and the barbecue was fired up.
Before we laid our heads down for the night we also enjoyed the sauna. Unfortunately, the lake was covered by a robust, impenetrable ice sheet so there was no chance of a refreshing/shocking dip.
Thanks to all for the great time! Let's do it again sometime. After all, as Joakim once said, why wait for someone to get married to do this?

Spring (Beta)

2011-03-24T14:43:00.001+01:00

After a heavy winter, I was becoming impatient. Spring was needed.

Fyris river observations. Has risen from around 20 m3/sec to its average spring peak flow at 45 m3/sec, in a matter of days. I'm getting a feeling it won't have any problems reaching last year's high of 70 m3/sec, considering the amount of snow that we've had this winter. And perhaps beyond. The chance of a flood is rising every year.

The Orchids

2011-03-20T22:45:00.000+01:00

Mother, presenting her thriving orchids with radiating pride.
Setup used for this photo: NIKKOR 50 mm@f/3,2 at 1/250 sec. SB-600 with Dörr Soft Pro.

Sculptured Ice

2011-03-01T12:31:00.000+01:00

From Isfestival

After a period of contemplation, it's time for another post on the blog. One night about a week ago, I set out, dressed according to the -15°C outside, armed with the camera (no tripod needed with VR) to capture these ice sculptures, on display during the Uppsala Ice Festival.
You always learn something new. This time, that these sculptures cast a very interesting light around them, so the photo should include the surroundings too.
This winter has been really cold, and as a result, one has stayed more indoors. I made an exception for this, only for you, Dear Reader.

Less is More

2011-01-11T23:53:00.000+01:00

Once in a while, technology takes a leap forward, leaving piles of older gadgets hopelessly behind. That happened quite some time ago, but I am just now catching up.

I got an HTC Desire with an unlimited data transfer quota, which means I can remove the following things from my inventory; home phone handset, celular phone, iPod Touch, ADSL modem (!) and wireless router (but I will keep the last one for future needs). The Desire can handle all those things on its own, and more.

The upgrade includes a few new abilites. Being able to call, chat or email a friend from the same device rings (hah!) true. Video and "photo"-capture at any time. (I wouldn't actually call it a camera.) And so many things that I never missed having, that are rapidly becoming essential. I'm just sorry for the generations to come, who will be utterly helpless in an "offline" situation.

If you have any recommendations for Android Apps, I'm happy to hear them!

Christmas Greetings

2010-12-23T14:30:00.000+01:00

Merry Christmas to all of you! Here is this year's card, captured in the great outdoors.
There is also a second version with some down-hill action:

Friends & Celebrations

2010-12-16T18:14:00.000+01:00

Jessica's birthday just passed and, traditionally, her friend Margit from NL came to visit. It was conveniently timed with Sta. Lucia, and they witnessed the procession in Carolina Rediviva (where I participated). In spite of their busy schedule, I managed to seize them for this photo.

Nyårskonserter Tvåtusenälva

2010-11-30T14:34:00.001+01:00

Divine.
Foto: Hans Nilsson

Årets nyårskonsert med UAK repeteras för fullt!
På programmet står musik av Jean-Philippe Rameau och Henry Purcell. Som solister har vi bl a Divine, en trio som startat eget inom operabranschen och nu turnerar runt på olika scener.
Kören kommer även att framföra en koreografi som symboliserar solen och dess strålar. Det finns alltså all anledning att gå på detta, på nyårets första två dagar!
Biljetterna är uppdelade i tre kategorier (och placeringar): 275 kr, 200 kr, 100 kr. Om man går på den andra konserten så finns det mer plats och då kommer koreografin att sitta som bäst. Förköp ordnas enkelt. Välkomna!

New Early Music Website

2010-11-22T11:51:00.001+01:00

Just from the oven, with a rich and golden aroma.
Today we're publishing the new website for Englunds Tidig Musik (Englund's Early Music). On it you can read about upcoming concerts and music courses that they offer. I've been to their summer courses in Provence quite a few times, as you probably have read on this blog.

Apart from the new and refreshing design, the new website is very fast and light-weight. The editing is handled through CushyCMS and is incredibly easy. Differently from Joomla, for instance, this system doesn't obstruct you from designing the website as you want it, but only gives you tools to edit your code at the places you select. And it works!

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-17T15:29:00.000+01:00

From Uppsala

Just a picture from this morning.

Alexander

2010-11-04T16:06:00.002+01:00

The sunlight is retreating from these latitudes, setting the stage for the season of ice and snow. Unsuspectingly, the mallards of the swan pond waggle and splash around. The seasonal change is gradual and today is, at least to their memory, no different from other days.
In their midst is the pond's only permanent resident, Alexander. He is, though dressed in white, a sombre swan and the regent of this miniature kingdom. Compensating for all the dignity lacking in his sloppy subjects, he steers through the water in a singular majesty.
Singular, for his last "Queen", Fanny, past away in pneumonia three years ago. Since then, a new marriage has not been arranged, since wing clipping swans has become unethical. It seems he will be the last of his kind in the pond.
And although he is always surrounded by his feathered companions, he might have asked himself - will I be remembered, or will I vanish from memory like seasons past?

Sacred Pearls

2010-11-01T22:23:00.004+01:00

Stefan Parkman directing Uppsala Kammarorkester

You know those compilation CDs, where popular classical music has been ripped from its context and mixed together in a way no composer would have liked?
Well, that's what Sunday's concert is all about.
The program consists of excerpts from the following works: "Förklädd Gud" (God in Disguise) by Lars-Erik Larsson (thanks Magnus!), "Magnificat in D" and "St. John's Passion" by J S Bach, "Mass in c minor" and

"Requiem" by Mozart, and the finale is Händel's famous Hallelujah chorus where the audience will be invited to sing along - in the respective voices, of course. The audience will even be allowed to rehearse in separate rooms (bass, tenor, alto and soprano) in the break. The orchestra, Uppsala Kammarorkester, is truly well-sounding and to make music with them is a privilege. Don't miss this opportunity! Details on the side --->

Another Photo of the Fall

2010-10-31T19:34:00.002+01:00

From TelePano

Morning sun on Odinslund. Between these trees, planted by Linnaeus in mid 18th century, lies the oldest promenade of the city.

Can you spot the dog?

Autumnal Observations #1

2010-10-29T15:09:00.001+02:00

From TelePano

A spot of tranquility, in the middle of the morning traffic. These are 93 pictures stitched together. It's probably a bit over-the-top.

Perceptions of the Fall

2010-10-26T14:39:00.002+02:00

University Park

On my stroll towards the new office (a subject for another post) I cross University Park. Today, I paused for a few moments and it was impressive to actually hear the rustling of the falling leaves and the occasional hard thomp from chestnuts hitting the ground. This makes me think that a place can be perceived in different ways depending on if you are riding a bicycle, walking by or standing still. Also, as in the case of the park, there is much more going on above our heads than we usually care to look at. As ground-dwellers, we easily miss the vertical aspect of our surroundings. So, note to self: Remember to stop, and to look up.

Filming in Uppsala

2010-09-26T23:25:00.003+02:00

From Filminspelning

One of Uppsala's main streets is the stage for a scene in an upcoming big budget movie. The scene in question shows a Children's Day Parade in the 60's - with plenty of extras, vintage cars and all the scenery of that time. Strolling by, I joined many curious and delighted spectators who followed the cinematic events. It is great to see the filming taking place just around the corner from the cinema where Ingmar Bergman went to the movies as a child. Click the picture to see more pictures.

View of the River

2010-09-17T14:01:00.003+02:00

Just another view of Fyrisån. It is currently carrying 13,6 m³/sec at 12,5 °C. The water is still quite warm, at about the same temperature as in the air. At its peak in April this year, it carried 70 m³/sec, and the water level was about one metre higher. In some parts of the city, that is dangerously high.
Before the high walls were built in the 19th century, the streets were regularly flooded. The Linnean garden, for instance, was vulnerable to the river and the university's botanical garden was moved to its current location thanks to a donation by the king.
I might do another post about the river, stay alert! :)

Democracy's Finest Hour

2010-09-17T00:30:00.001+02:00

Only a few days remain before the general elections take place and political forces are on the move more than ever. On Thursday, it was time for the xenophobic party "Sverigedemokraterna" to speak to the public on a square in central Uppsala. As in other cities, people had gathered to protest against them. Despite police restrictions (the vuvuzela "orchestra" on the picture wasn't allowed any closer than 100 m.), the party members were completely drowned in a cacophony by protesters.

It seemed like a good idea, taking stands against racism and religious intolerance. But in recollection, I'm not sure. Isn't the point of a democracy to let people speak? Acting like this, how could we, the majority, accuse them of being undemocratic? It seems, we are losing an important argument in our rethoric.

Instead of muffling the counterpart, we should prove that we are different with our own words. After all, the voters are at the centre. In our enlightened age, they should know exactly what the options are.

"Solo Songs and Piano" CD is out

2010-09-13T16:18:00.003+02:00

I've finally finished the CD with solo songs! When I finished the course in "Solo song interpretation" in May, I felt I wanted to save the songs from oblivion. I also found them very good, and worthy to record. So I asked Susan Yondt, who taught piano interpretation at the course, if she was able to record them with me.

Said and done, the CD has arrived and features 7 songs, spread out from the early baroque to the early 20th century. Consider it a demo, or a (rather fancy) documentation of an academic course.
Thanks to Martin Nilsson and my brother Martin for helping me out with the recording!

Go to this page to listen to a couple of tracks and, if you like to, order the CD.

The Fountain

2010-09-08T15:36:00.006+02:00

The fountain at the entrance to "Stadsträdgården", the City Gardens. To the left you see the ships Linnéa and Sjösala, that travel up and down the river. Contrary to what you may think, this photo was taken quite recently, today even. But I converted it to black-and-white since it brings out so much more from such a picture. I've used a red filter, so the red flowers closest to the camera really stand out. This is actually a huge picture, some 90 Megapixels, and would, if shown here in it's real size, be more than 2 meters wide. See this outtake, which is at 50 % of original size.

Pictures of August

2010-09-02T09:50:00.002+02:00

The "Picture of the Day" idea turned out quite fun and spurred me to take a lot of photos. I hope you have enjoyed it, too. Here are all the pictures of August collected. If you want to see these pictures larger, click here.

Picture of the Day #24

2010-08-31T11:57:00.000+02:00

Observatory Park. The new student housing in the center and Ekonomikum to the right.

Picture of the Day #23

2010-08-30T07:00:00.001+02:00

Symbiosis.

Picture of the Day #22

2010-08-29T07:00:00.001+02:00

Large and small.

Picture of the Day #21

2010-08-28T07:00:00.001+02:00

The visual sound of Green, in its many intonations.

Picture of the Day #20

2010-08-27T07:00:00.002+02:00

A result of the rainy days we've had in August. But puddles offer light a new path, turning the ground into a mirror, a portal to the sky. Not all bad, is what I mean!

Picture of the Day #19

2010-08-26T07:00:00.002+02:00

The annual dramatization of the history of Uppsala, on the steps of the cathedral, involves many actors, both human and animal.
Update: I straightened the photo and removed the hand rails, by popular demand.

Picture of the Day #18

2010-08-25T09:58:00.000+02:00

Election Day is approaching rapidly (25 days left) and the candidates are making appearances everywhere. Here, the Red-Green opposition parties warm the crowd on a square in central Uppsala. The left-party leader and arguably the best speaker of the bunch, Lars Ohly, tells what prevents him from staying in bed on lazy mornings - the thought of another four years with sitting PM Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Simon turns 1

2010-08-23T10:05:00.006+02:00

Yesterday, a sunny and quite warm August day, we celebrated the first birthday of Simon. He began his party by taking a nap. Later, he enjoyed cake and presents (?) and smiled when we sang for him. Later, everyone gathered by the playground and Simon and Valentina worked in the sand. Valentina also took the chance to place kisses on Simon's head. Simon is quite a little character!

If you're having trouble seeing the gallery, go to the Picasa Album.

Picture of the Day #17

2010-08-21T13:56:00.000+02:00

Isabel and Roberto flanking our distant relative Borja Gumuzio and his friend Iñaki on their visit. They live in Getxo, near Bilbao, where Isa & Rob resided this spring. The boys were in Sweden for the concert with Roxette in Halmstad. I feel sorry for those who stood behind them!

Picture of the Day #16

2010-08-18T14:44:00.000+02:00

A miniature valley, deep inside the forest.

Picture of the Day #15

2010-08-17T09:33:00.000+02:00

This agile dog is passing by at an incredible speed but still has time to look at me. Taken at 1/1250 sec.

Picture of the Day #14

2010-08-16T07:00:00.007+02:00

Water, a vital substance to all known lifeforms.

Picture of the Day #13

2010-08-15T11:26:00.000+02:00

A scene from the outdoor play titled "Fruarna Först!" ("Wives First!"), that was performed the past week. The drama evolves around the lives of famous women who have shaped the city. Yes, the man you see is also playing one of these women. I was passing by and managed to snap this moment in the show.

Picture of the Day #12

2010-08-13T07:00:00.001+02:00

Valentina gets a kiss from an italian boy. Funny things can happen around small children and one should never let one's camera down. A chance meeting in the park turned into a brief romance.
I completely over-exposed this picture, but thought you'd still like to see it.

Picture of the Day #11

2010-08-12T07:00:00.001+02:00

Uppsalas newest and most colourful bridge, between Fyrisvallen and Svartbäcken.
Är man intresserad av Uppsalas broar och annat så kan jag tipsa om denna högintressanta blogg: Scribo.

Picture of the Day #10

2010-08-11T07:00:00.003+02:00

I wonder what feeling this picture evokes in you...

Picture of the Day #9

2010-08-10T07:00:00.002+02:00

The heavy rainfall of Monday, 9th of August. Focusing really near and using the on-camera flash, set to rear curtain, gave this capture. If you wanted to, you could probably calculate the speed of the raindrops, knowing the shutter speed was 1/80 sec and the aperture was 3,5. But there are so many other things in life to do.

Picture of the Day #8

2010-08-09T10:20:00.000+02:00

Please vote in the poll to the right!

Same concept as #4, but with a more generous depth of field. The last days' weather has been very mundane and not photo-friendly, I hope tomorrow will be better so I can keep this stream of fresh pictures coming!
If you are viewing these pictures from Buzz, I recommend going to my blog instead, linked in the header, because the pictures look much better with the black background.

Picture of the Day #7

2010-08-08T07:00:00.003+02:00

The camping area of the Uppsala Reggae Festival. The music was pretty loud at my location (the bridge) and I made a mental note not to forget ear protectors if I decide to enter someday. It's fun to think that our little city can host such a big music event. Have fun kids! (Insert moral advice here)

Picture of the Day #6

2010-08-07T09:07:00.000+02:00

Remembering the moment in time when so many innocent souls were ripped from this world. A hideous moment, and a wound in all humanity. We must not let this moment pass, but keep it present. It is the least we can do.

Like previous years, there was a solemn ceremony to commemorate the victims of the first nuclear bomb, by the river in central Uppsala. Small lanterns were set into the stream and glided slowly away. And birds passed overhead in parallell.

Picture of the Day #5

2010-08-06T07:00:00.002+02:00

Now, in early August, the Sun starts to go down earlier, striking a grassy field from the side. Nature's great blushing is in the making.

Picture of the Day #4

2010-08-05T07:00:00.001+02:00

The subtlety of gravity.

Picture of the Day #3

2010-08-04T07:00:00.001+02:00

In lack of other models, one must use what is at hand, namely myself. Equipped with a tripod and a remote trigger, the self portrait is a breeze. Once you've found the right spot to stand on, that is. I mounted the flash above me, looking down, just to try it. It's good to try things in the uncommon fashion.

Picture of the Day #2

2010-08-03T07:00:00.001+02:00

My mother at her previous workplace. Congratulations to the new job, mamma!

Photography Site Launched!

2010-08-02T16:32:00.001+02:00

Tired of taking pictures of yourself from an arm's length away? Or having family pictures where there's always one member missing? Do you live in Sweden, pretty close to Uppsala?

Look no further.

I've just launched a new photography site, where I offer my services as a photographer.
Also, on the site are a number of photos. Some have been posted on this blog, others not.
It was about time that I collected and structured my best photos, and made something out of it.

Please, feel free to check it out! (it's in Swedish)

Picture of the Day #1

2010-08-02T07:00:00.053+02:00

August is here and so is a new feature on this blog: Picture of the day! Expect a new image every day (or almost every day, can't promise..) and as always, you are more than welcome to comment.
Today's shows a dangerous place to park your bicycle, right next to the river. Every year, divers pull out dozens of two-wheelers from the shallow waters. I do see a practical reason for the colours, though, since your vehicle becomes instantly recognizable in the midst of thousands. And it looks really neat, too.

Summer in the City

2010-07-26T18:19:00.001+02:00

The summer in the city of Uppsala usually means emptiness, with all the students back home. Instead, you see people with maps and an enthusiasm for the buildings that most residents can't muster anymore. But today, on my way back from a visit to the photography shop, I found the centre quite lively. Perhaps it's time to scratch the old views, and start afresh.

Mon Bargemon

2010-07-20T14:46:00.002+02:00

From Bargemon 2010

For the fifth time, I took part of the musical week in Bargemon, in Provence, France. Differently from other years, the final presentation wasn't a concert in the church, but a masque performed in the multi-purpose village hall. It was a wonderful week, with a lot of music, wine, football-playing (taca-taca) and, of course, photography. It was the hottest year, according to those that know, and temperatures didn't go below 30° until well after sunset.

There were also traces after the devastating rains in June, which fortunately didn't affect Bargemon as bad as Draguignan, just 25 kms away, where dozens of lives were lost.

There were three small children present, Maj 4 years old, Lisa, 1,5 years, and Valdemar of only a few months. They sure helped bring down the average age of the group, and were the objects of fascination.

Enjoy the photos!

La Roja's Finale

2010-06-28T23:07:00.000+02:00

Tonight, around 200 people gathered at the riverside to follow the game between Chile and Brazil. 80 % Chileans, 10 % Brazilians and 10 % Miscellaneous. I got there with about 10 minutes left, and it seemed the three goals by Brazil had sunk into the minds of the supporters. The flags that had bounced and waved through the warm air, were now draped around their bodies, to fend off the chill. A few lame shots to the opponents' goal made the crowd raise a cheer, with minimal upward force.

But the sentiment was not one-handed. As soon as the whistle finished the game, a spirit of achievement and pride emerged. Flags were once again lifted, chants repeated, - we made it to here, and how good it was.

Midsummer in Skeppsmyra

2010-06-28T19:50:00.005+02:00

From Midsommar2010

Another Midsummer has past and I spent it with friends by the coast. More specifically on Björkö, a two-hour drive from Uppsala. It is truly beautiful in these parts. Quite different from the Uppsalian topography. We enjoyed our stay at Lyckhem Vandrarhem, located in the midst of the woods, and with plenty of birds and mosquitos. Luckily, Clara had brought her Mosquito Repeller (emitting a high pitched sound, imitating a mosquito in heat,

or something) and I was armed with a strong chemical/toxic deterrent which I smeared on exposed skin, and was saved from any bites. When I returned home, I did a rigorous inspection of my very person, to ensure no ticks were strolling over it, remembering the passenger I had brought home from last year's coastal visit...
Anyhow, enjoy the pictures!

Five Years!

2010-06-22T05:00:00.008+02:00

This blog was started up precisely five years ago, when I was living with my grandmother Ines in Santiago. It was a great, memorable time, and I needed a way to keep in touch with family and friends. Time goes by quickly, and I'm glad to have made a record of some of the things that have happened.
The blog is still going strong! Make sure to stop by often, or subscribe to the RSS feed (at the bottom of the page). Now, you may also give your reaction to the posts with a single click, just below. So easy. Keep those reactions coming!

All the best from me.

Viktoria and Daniel's Loveboat

2010-06-21T01:47:00.005+02:00

From Kungligt Bröllop

Together with Jessica, Johannes and Clara, I went to see the celebrations of the marriage between Crown Princess Viktoria and Mr Daniel Westling, now Prince Daniel. The city centre was completely possessed by the event, but in an unconcerned way. Apart from admiring the naval ships, we visited an exhibition with pictures by Annie Leibovitz.

Eventually, we found our spot from where to peek at the betrothed; from the quay in Gamla Stan. It was the perfect place. From the 21 round salute fired from a painfully short distance, the beautiful couple in their rowboat, to the formation of 18 Swedish fighter jets passing overhead, we were all smiling, knowing we had witnessed a scene to remember.

Tranquility

2010-05-31T17:22:00.013+02:00

Yesterday I spent a few hours by the lake Trehörningen together with Hele, Vanda, Jessica, Clara and Johannes. It is a nice place to visit on days with so-so weather, when it is not overrun by sun-bathers.
Update: Clara posted some great pictures - here!

The End of the Song

2010-05-28T12:18:00.003+02:00

Photo by helpful man in the park

The course in Solo singing at Uppsala University is ending. What remains is the final recital on June 1st. (See right-->) On Wednesday, we had a picnic in the park outside the faculty and enjoyed anecdotes and memories and shared plans for the future.

Unfortunately, the faculty of Musicology has decided to terminate the course, which was installed in 1999. It's been an eye-opener to new music and a great lesson in presentation skills. For this reason, I'm pleased to have taken part of it the last few years that it ran.

A Little Greener

2010-05-20T11:47:00.015+02:00

I took a stroll with the camera in hand and captured some of the bustling vegetation that has transformed the city. Along the way, I discovered a furry little fellow, running around in the canopy. He was just as delighted as the rest of Uppsala's residents over the warmer times. Click on the pic to meet him...!

Spring Concert

2010-04-18T21:19:00.006+02:00

After many months of persistent cold weather, spring has conquered our land. A change that softens our joints and invites to new, fresh perspectives.
This is also the case for yesterday's concert, where I played and sung with Pian' e Forte and Uppsala Kammarkör. It was the first time for me in the new Concert Hall.

I was impressed by the versatility of the small auditorium, Sal B, where a subtle artificial reverb filled in and enriched the choral sound.
I now appreciate the challenge in playing the drum and singing at the same time. The singing comes out quite well, but the drum sounds rather randomly... Hopefully, it amused someone!

The New Train Station

2010-04-12T23:23:00.004+02:00

From Uppsala Tågstation

Uppsala just opened its new train station; with underground access to the platforms (no more waiting for passing trains), shops, restaurants and SPACE. Much needed for a city with many commuters. Enjoy the pictures!

The Soloists

2010-03-28T13:12:00.003+02:00

From Solosång och Piano

A few pictures taken past Friday, when my course in "Solo singing and Piano" gave a lunch concert. The theme was "Songs of the Heart" and the repertoire ranged from Alessandro Grandi to Robert Quilter. Just a minute before we were going to begin our programme, I managed to steal these snapshots of my dear class mates. Seize the opportunity!

Kristian's weekend in Gdansk

2010-03-23T08:57:00.005+01:00

To celebrate the-soon-to-be-married Kristian, we lured him to spend a weekend in Gdansk, the gem on the Polish coast. He was brought over from Malmö by Tore and surprised with the full party awaiting him in the old part of town. Kristian was spoiled with wine (not the traditional drink of a stag party), amber shopping, spa with massage, smoky restaurants and clubbing at "Yesterday".
Beautiful Gdansk showed really good potential for a revisit in the summer season, being low cost and welcoming.

Enjoy the pictures!

Concerts coming up

2010-03-17T10:28:00.002+01:00

This weekend, March 20 & 21, I will be performing the Vespers from 1610 by Claudio Monteverdi with my choir Camerata Englund and musicians.

If you have the possibility, I warmly recommend you to come. The work is divided between tuttis, solos, duets and trios, and the instrumental parts are known for being rythmic and exuberating.

Welcome!

Details on the right side --->

Sympathy for Noise

2010-02-28T17:20:00.004+01:00

I was asked to illustrate an article about home-owners not showing sympathy for noisy craftsmen. The idea evolved from a photo of a man wearing sunglasses and ear protectors, to a baby wearing the same things for an added comedic effect, to finally an illustration with a mix of the two.

For the background, the idea was originally to have a craftsman on a ladder, but eventually I found it better to have only one character as the focus of the composition.
Thanks to Martin and Lina for your help! The photos that we took of Simon in sunglasses were an important part of the process.

Music in Ärentuna

2010-01-06T22:52:00.003+01:00

From Ensembles

Camerata Englund and Pian' e Forte defied the extreme cold that we are experiencing right now (-20 C) and celebrated the Epiphany (Trettondagen) in the church of Ärentuna, some kms north of Uppsala. Unfortunately, almost no one else did. The souls seated in the church could be counted on one hand. In any case, we performed our best for the few that were present. It also served as a rehearsal for the Vespers, coming up in March. With some luck, I'll update this post with a recording of these fine players.

Audi Coelum

2010-01-03T16:04:00.013+01:00

An extract from the Vespers by Monteverdi, which we are rehearsing with the choir for presentation in March.
This is a motet for two tenors, where the second tenor echoes the first. It is a remarkable portrayal of a man's dialogue with God. As you can hear on the recording, the echo is sung from a distant place in the church. It also repeats the last syllables of the first tenor, but with a new meaning. "Gaudio" (joy) is echoed as "Audio" (I hear), for instance. Below is the text in Latin and English.

My preferred recording on Spotify (Cantus Cölln, Konrad Junghänel)
Listen and follow in the text - A great experience guaranteed!

Audi Coelum, verba mea, plena desiderio et perfusa gaudio.		Hear, O heaven, my words full of longing and suffused with joy.
	Audio.		I hear.
Dic, quaeso, mihi : Quae est ista, quae consurgens ut aurora rutilat ut benedicam ?		I beseech you, tell me who is she that rises up, bright as the dawn, and I shall bless her.
	Dicam.		I shall tell you.
Dic nam ista pulchra ut luna, electa ut sol, replet laetitia terras, coelos, maria ?		Tell, for she is beautiful as the moon, exquisite as the sun which fills with gladness the earth, heavens and seas.
	Maria!		Mary!
Maria Virgo illa dulcis, praedicata de propheta Ezechiel porta Orientalis ?		That sweet virgin Mary, foretold by the prophet Ezechiel, that eastern gate,
	Talis.		The same.
Illa sacra et felix porta pet quam mors fuit expulsa, introduxit autem vita ?		that sacred and joyful portal through which death was expelled and life renewed;
	Ita!		Thus!
Quae semper tutum est medium inter homines et Deum, pro culpis remedium.		who is always a trusted mediator between God and man for the forgiveness of sins.
	Medium.		A mediator.
Omnes! Omnes hanc ergo sequamur, qua cum gratia mereamur vitam aeternam consequamur.		All! Let us all therefore follow her, through whom we may with grace deserve to attain life everlasting.
	Sequamur.		Let us follow.
Praestet nobis Deus, Pater hoc et Filius, et Mater cuius nomen invocamus dulce miseris solamen.		May God the Father, and the Son, and the mother whose name we invoke, grant sweet solace to the unhappy.
	Amen.		Amen.
Benedicta es, virgo Maria, in saeculorum saecula.		Blessed art thou, virgin Mary, for ever and ever.

Christmas Babies

2009-12-21T13:24:00.003+01:00

The result of a photo shoot I did with Aron, Simon and Valentina about a month ago. They behaved terrific. They ended up on home made Christmas cards that were sent to family and friends all around, on Facebook and now finally on this blog. Share the Christmas spirit!

Now Leaving "City of Angels"

2009-12-20T22:25:00.006+01:00

After some three months of rehearsals and eight performances in two weeks, it's time to say good bye to the cast, crew and stage of the "City of Angels". It's been a beautiful experience in the company of a some very special people. To see the acting grow and mature. Working together, playing with the text. The reward of an entertained audience.

Here is a teaser clip from the last performance, recorded by my pal Sven-Erik. This clip is from the scene where Stine caves in to the demands of his publisher to change sex on Detective Muñoz. Stone, another of his fictional character, reacts and openly questions his creator. Emil Gustafsson in the role of Stine, Margareta Clasborn as Muñoz and I'm playing Stone.

A Visit to the 1860's

2009-12-15T16:49:00.007+01:00

From Walmstedtska Gården

During the second half of the 1800's, Prof. Herman Rydin and family rented an apartment in central Uppsala. They were bourgeois and had six rooms.

When the wave of demolition swept through the city in the 1960's this house was spared, as one of the few remaining old residences in the city centre. The Rydin family's apartment was restored to its original appearance, and has since been a part of the Uppland Museum. it is known as "Walmstedtska Gården".

At this time of year, it is decorated and staged for the Christmas of the time.

I made a visit, and took some pictures.

One of the things that stood out was how dark it was back then. Furniture had to be placed by the walls, or you would risk tripping over them after night fall.

Vulgar Vikings in the Final

2009-12-07T15:14:00.015+01:00

A few questions for Joakim Englund, manager of the football team Vulgar Vikings.

Where and when is the Final going to be played?

- On hattrick.org, an online football manager game with 900 000 active users. It´s free to join and build your own team to compete with. My team is in the English Cup where more than 16 000 teams are playing. The Final is tomorrow (Tuesday 8th) at 21:00 (GMT+1). We are very excited about it.

With "we", you mean you and the virtual players?

- Yes, but to me they are very life-like.

How did you get to the finals?

- I've been studying the algorithms of the game. What parameters control who gets the most goal opportunities, the best defence or how leadership affects the players. In the long run, it is important to have a good economy, earn money and make your club profitable. About six months ago, I felt like trying something new in the game and sold off my entire team. They were mostly young talents and were worth quite a lot.

With that I bought old but great players, like Henrik Larssons, that won´t last very long but can perform great in the short run. The team became really strong and has taken me to the Final. But I doubt it will still be standing in a few seasons.

How will you prepare for the Final?

- I have to configure the team, decide on formations and other parameters. My opponent will probably buy new strong players, and I must follow to have a chance. Being a virtual football manager takes time, I am spending around 15 hours per week on this, and it reflects your chances to succeed. My family knows I've reached a high level in the game, and have shown understanding.

The best of luck to you!

- Thank you. When its over I will enjoy some time off.

In his real life, Joakim works as a statistician in clinical research. He is also a long time friend and co-singer of mine.

Update: Vulgar Vikings have won the Cup by 3-0! Congratulations!

City of Angels Cast & Crew

2009-11-22T23:44:00.005+01:00

The overall picture is coming together, and things start to make sense. Soon it's opening night and rehearsals are intensifying. We are close to the final stage, Reginateatern.

I volounteered to photograph the cast and crew, it was too tempting with such a handsome crowd.

Gallery updated on 23th of December!

Johannes and Clara around the globe

2009-10-31T13:48:00.008+01:00

Johannes and Clara began their trip around the world today, with good timing considering the gloomy months that await our fair region. In the coming three months, they will visit North America, Oceania, China, southeast Asia and India.

Best of luck to you! Your cacti look healthy and spiny, I will see to it they stay that way...

Follow their adventures on Clara's blog and Johannes' blog.

Trees in Fashion

2009-10-29T15:51:00.011+01:00

From UppsalaHöst09

A golden birch.

To celebrate the end of the season, trees have dressed in their most elegant and eye-catching outfits. Like models heading for the gala event of the year. And these models are well aware of their best colors.

They are the same every year, always right.

Click on the image to see this year's tree fashion!

Autumn in Wik

2009-10-24T21:13:00.007+02:00

This Saturday my choir visited Wik Castle for a theme day on "Living Early Music". On a coffee-break I snuck out to capture the autumnal colouring of the surroundings with the trusty old camera.

WiksSlott

Little Sleep Cinema

2009-10-22T23:27:00.004+02:00

Tonight, I joined Johannes and Clara to attend a screening of the Uppsala International Short Film Festival. The block was presented in the oldest cinema of our city, Slottsbiografen. Inaugurated in 1914, restored in ´94, with beautiful wooden panels, paintings and ... comfortable seats. Yes, you know where this is going.

The first feature was an animation by the Canadian Cordell Barker about a train chasing down an unsuspecting cow, naturally in an amusing presentation. Plenty of sounds and moving elements to appeal and excite the primitive parts of the brain.
The difficulties started by the second short, which dealt with a man finding himself marooned in an arctic circumstance following an accident of some sort. His head injury and/or hypothermia provoked strange illusions (not in me, in the film), until he lies down and succumbs. At least, that's what I think happened. A few nods, but I was still in the game.

The next topic to be projected on the silver screen was the Skype-conference between a Romanian man and his son in the U.S., and their joy of the son´s wedding. Not inexplicably, my brain decided it was sleep time.

It is always a bit embarrassing when the nod-offs become more than a subtle twitch. It must be obvious to the person sitting behind you that you're not exactly taking in every cinematic facet of the film. If this should occur, it can be remedied by a quick and clear reaction to something going on in the scene. Grabbing your chin in a thoughtful way can work, or joining in on a laugh that you don't know the reason of. But most likely, the person behind will see through this and value your respect for the flick even lower. So be it, you will have done what you could.

My attention had returned by the time a guest was presented to the audience. It was a collaborator on the "Romanian Skype-conference" thing, and was now accepting our questions. I was about to raise my hand and ask how the short had ended, but refrained.

By that time and for the remainder of the screening, my perception was as acute as an eagle's, and I could follow the programme in detail. It ended with "Poste Restante", a 14-minute-long tale about undeliverable mail. It was the story that touched me the most, and I sent the organizers an appreciative thought for saving the best for last.

Photo Safari

2009-10-20T22:45:00.007+02:00

For my birthday, I got a quite unusual present. A personal photo expedition with a professional wild-life photographer.

This is what happened:

On a day like any other, at 7 a.m., I was picked up in a 4x4 jeep. "I am going to take you to places around Uppsala you never dreamed existed". I´m exaggerating what he said to make the story a little more dramatic.

The sun was still falling in from a sharp angle and my guide squinted beneath his wide-brimmed hat as we navigated through the early morning traffic.

The first stop on this wild-life odyssey was the municipal water purification plant. More specifically, the fields where the "mud" is laid out to dry. I´ve never seen such fertile soil. Among the vegetation that sprawled with unrestrained lust for life, I noticed an abundance of tomatoe-plants. "They pass right through the human body unharmed", the guide explained. He meant the seeds. The reason for this stop was the long-legged birds that usually descend upon these fields, attracted by the water mirror. Unfortunately, the fields were dried out this time. "So, no birds, I´m afraid", he said. "Well, no smell either", I could´ve added as a positive side-note. But I didn't.

Nonetheless, the location offered some interesting motifs. There was a light fog that rose as the morning sun touched the ground, some bluethroats (blåhakar) that presented themselves and a large number of cows grazing on the field beyond.

At times, my guide went silent and immobile. He would stay like that for several minutes, his only vital sign being the uttering of incomprehensible words in a low, hushing voice. If he hadn´t had a camera stuck in front of his face, I would´ve been seriously concerned for him.

As we headed out of the city toward the final location, the guide turned to me, squinting beneath his wide-brimmed hat, and began to explain the mysteries of the red-winged grasshopper. "It is to be found only in two places in the whole of Uppland - a rare species, it is. At this place where we are going there are many-many, but you will most likely not capture a single one in flight with your camera. Trust me, I've tried. Most elusive, you see." While saying this, he did of course look at the road as well, being a safety-conscious driver as he was.

As the jeep stopped, the doors were opened gently not to discompose any natural scene that may have formed in the absence of people and that may be sensitive to inelegant sounds. Soon, we concluded that such scenes were not at hand, and continued toward the grasshopper location less discretely. The site in question is an island of untamed nature in an agricultural sea, not far from a major highway.

Just as the guide had briefed me, the red-winged ones were numerous. Quite easy to spot and follow with the eye, but most uncooperative with the camera. You see, from the ground where they usually are, they jump away and then open their wings. So, even if you had focused on one, it was hard to tell where it would be while flying.

After some chasing around we retired to the car, returned to the city and I was left where I had started. "So long, and remember...", the guide concluded with a squinting look before he pressed on into the day, like any other.

September ending

2009-09-25T18:31:00.004+02:00

Autumn has arrived a little later than usual. By the end of September, the days are still sunny and enjoyable. Compare with a similar post from a year ago. The tree to the right of the bridge is taking on a more reddish coloration this year. It will be exciting to see how things develop in the next weeks. Stay tuned...

The house cat, likes to cuddle and look for rodents by the trash.

Tried to kill my lens cap when it fell down the steps.

Musical kicks off

2009-09-08T23:39:00.005+02:00

Some of the musical cast

Since about a week, I´m involved in a musical production to premiere in December. The musical is called "City of Angels" and weaves together two plots, the "real" world of a Hollywood writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay and the "reel" world of the fictional film.

Tonight there was a showcase at the Regina Theatre, with a glimpse of all the productions of the autumn. We performed a song called "You´re Nothing Without Me", where the writer (called Stine) and my character, the fictional private detective (Stone) duel by song. Despite my freshness in the role, I think we did a decent presentation. Fortunately, we have lots of rehearsals left... It is going to be fun.

11 Second Club

2009-09-06T11:49:00.002+02:00

The 11 Second Club is a monthly animation competition, where the goal is to animate a scene based on a given audio clip. The clip is usually an extract from a film, with dialogue and/or sound effects. This is my contribution to the August competition.

It was great fun to animate to the clip and I think the result deserves a little better than the placement it got (#91)! Almost more hard work than the animation was the rating of all the other entries (188 in total), with the inevitable ringing of the audio clip in your ears. But it was fun. I might do it again.

The character is a freeware rig by Jason Baskin.

The Brakesman

2009-08-31T23:23:00.003+02:00

From Upsala-Lenna

This weekend I went along with Dad on the Upsala-Lenna museum railway, to check on his examination as a brakesman. The job description is to engage or release the brakes according to the signals from the locomotive. This particular train does not have a system to control these brakes from the front, so two persons are required to do this; one in the middle and one in the end of the train.

Everything went smoothly and JC was passed. So, as soon as he´s fitted with the uniform (a cap), he is ready to serve aboard! (More pictures if you click the pic)