Planket 2025 – Photo exhibition in Stockholm

17th of August, Sunday, Malmgårdsvagen 53,
Close to Vitabergsparken, Stockholm, Sweden

Yes, I’m taking part in a physical photo exhibition here in Stockholm. It’s a big event covering two days this upcoming weekend. Me and my photos will be there on Sunday. The exhibition is called Planket, I think that’s referring to the photos being exhibited on the fence surrounding the old Malmgård next to the park. If you are in Stockholm, you should come and visit. The area is beautiful, I used to live on the other side of the park, and I love it so much. The park – Vitabergsparken – have given me so many beautiful walks and inspiration. So, besides looking at photos, do drop by and say “Hi” and take in the amazing surroundings.

For people not present in Stockholm this upcoming weekend I thought I’d share some of the photos I’ll exhibit. Like the little puffer fish above that’s one of my favorites all time. The photo and the fish is from Amed in Bali, from where I just returned once again. Amed is a great place in general, and even more amazing if you enjoy diving and snorkeling.

I’ll also do a short interview with me about my photography which the participants of the exhibition have done.

When did you discover the joys of photography?

I’m not really sure when this happened. I’ve always been fascinated by photographs. Looking through my grandparents photo album from their time in Michigan. A peephole into another time and place, but with my relatives in it, a strong bond to myself and my life.

I think I discovered the joys of photography when I started taking photos with my phone, all of a sudden it was easy. Photography didn’t require lots of expensive equipment, I could experiment with the help of the camera on my phone and different editing apps on the phone. Photography became accessible. After a while I realized what kind of photos I wanted to take, and then, I realized that I needed a proper camera to take them.

What was it that you wanted to photograph when you started?

I wanted to photograph, capture, emotions. The feelings my subjects where feeling. First I thought I’d get into street photography. But nowadays people get so distracted when you pick up a camera and point it at them, either they don’t want to be in the photo or they try to rearrange their face.

My second, very surprising option, was to try sports photography. When people are playing sports they are focused on their performance on the field and what their opponents are doing, the last thing on their mind is my camera. So now, my camera and I capture a lot of feelings. Emotions all over the spectra. Since I love water, and get so happy being in water, I started photograph water sports and capture the feelings of happiness water gives people.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in museums and paintings. When I started photographing sports I was doing it in poorly lit gymnasiums. So I lacked one important part of photography in the conditions I was taking photos, light. When looking at paintings, especially the impressionists, I noticed they used color instead of light and shadows. And in their paintings sharpness wasn’t awfully important, therefor I wasn’t too concerned with sharpness in my photos.

Another big inspiration from the art world was photographs of Frieda Kahlo and Salvador Dali, not their art itself, but how they were photographed and how they themselves carried themselves in the photos, and what they wore. One amazing photo is of Salvador Dali and a couple of flying cats. It’s great and must have taken a lot of planning to accomplish. Just Google “salvador dali flying cat photo” and you’ll see it.

I’m also very inspired by fashion photography. Maybe not all fashion photography of today, but when I was growing up there where great fashion stories in the magazines, not just like a lot of the photography today is a display of products. I was sitting glued to my aunts magazines studying the photos, and the stories the photos were telling.

What, in the field of photography, do you want to learn more about?

I want to be more confident using lights in a studio. I know what kind of light I like, natural and flattering to the subject, and I want to be able to create that in a studio environment. I also want to take more photos that create specific feelings with lots of unfocused parts.

What are you looking forward to most at this years Planket?

Of course I want to meet people, I love taking to people. But I want my photos to be seen, to reach a wider audience. I want to show people my photos of the world and of water, the world around and in water, because it’s an amazing world that needs protecting from more environmental damages. Because, water is the source of life.