I always had a weak spot for the test strips from the darkroom. You know the ones you find under piles of boxes when you are cleaning the darkroom. Might be nostalgia, or the hint of process they somehow contain. I used to tape them up on the wall next to each other and watch them form new things together. Like an accidental collage.
I have started to feel that there is a pretty clear distinction between form and light. Experimenting with light is always fun and evolving but can sometimes get in the way of form, both in terms of actual form, physically, and in terms of representation. My old teacher in documentary photography at the university used to tell me focus less on composition and light and more on subject, or move on to fashion or advertising. (Hey kid, tell the story, don’t sell it!) Guess he might have had a point. At least in terms what suited me best.
From that I find it fun to take the light (so to speak) out of the picture and just do forms sometimes. Either as abstract sketching, or as just building a sculpture of whatever is in front of me. And sometimes just take a picture of that with my phone. Lets call it impromptu still life.
I love when you get a whole day in the darkroom. It happens less and less frequently. Coffee, a good playlist (today is a blue day ). Im about 300 prints into a new project all shot on film. The old Mamiya RZ, Tri-x and Ilford fibre paper. Its so soothing. Here are some random previews from my phone.
I have been working a lot in the last couple of years with the perfume brand Vilhelm Parfumerie. It was founded a couple of years ago by Jan Ahlgren in New York. It’s always so much fun to help with a brand from the start. Especially when it comes with a lot of freedom of creation. And the thing with perfume in particular is that it’s been done in such a similar way for so long, at least it feels that way. More of that later.
For these images we worked with the very talented Stockholm based ballerina Frida Hambraeus. And in keeping with brand spirit I collaged some as well. Hair and make up by Philip Fohlin at LinkDetails.
Went to Copenhagen in June and shot the campaign for dear Stine Goya with the very talented art director duo LA Graphic Design.
I shot some watches for Louis Vuitton in Paris a while ago.
Did a shoot for the new beauty magazine Narcisse with darling make up artist Ludovic Engrange in Paris last year. It was one of those shoots where everything just came together really naturally. Ended up doing a ton of pictures. Here is a couple of them.
Shot the latest Weekday collections. I miss the warm summer light.
Its been quite a lot lately, shooting in Stockholm and New York. Finally have a few days to gather up material and think for a bit. I think Im about ready to reveal one of the projects I have been working on when I cant sleep for the last couple of months. But first, here is some recent beauty.
Styling be the ever so talented Oscar Lange
Some recent work for weekday collections.
Some recent work for NK department store. In Paris right now. Don’t think I have ever seen a storm like this here before. Amazing.
A still life from a recent campaign with department store NK. There is only one sun, right?
Lenny Müller, from an old Weekday shoot.
The simplest of lights. Just waiting for the model.
Still life in the making.
Guess what. Art buyers are people too.
One of the images from the G.H Mumm campaignes I shoot earlier this year with the very talented people at Marcel, Paris. Set Design by dear Arnaud Roth.
Polaroids of Siri C from a shoot for Tiger Jeans.
Behind the scenes from a shoot for Molami headphones.
Molami Black on Black behind the scenes shoot from Molami on Vimeo.
Really felt like adding some colour…
Make up: Johanna Sylvan / LinkDetails
Hair: Martina Senke / Mikas Looks
Model: Andrea / Mikas
Ink on paper
The very early stages of a still life
Just picked up Self Service *37. I have always loved the magazine as much as a magazine can possibly be loved. This issue feels a little bit like it did a couple of years ago (in a very good way). Great photography, great interviews, great design. I always read it back to back. And it always fills me with a special kind of… stamina I guess.
Two things that equally annoy me are when people say “lensed by” when talking about who shot what, and production assistants that feel a need to call out “talent on set” when you walk into a studio in the morning. God!
Advertorial for Perfect Magazine and Svensk Tenn with very talented set designer Roberta Holm (LinkDetails).
Art Director: Jacob Huurinainen
Stylist: Samuel Drira / 2b Management
Make up: Johanna Sylvan / LinkDetails
Hair: Dejan Cekanovic / LinkDetails
Model: Linnea A / Elite
Model: Alexander Beck / Mikas
Stylist: Oscar Lange / LinkDetails
Hair: Dejan Cekanovic / LinkDetails
Make: Johanna Sylvan / LinkDetails
Model: Molly M / Mikas
Just finished reading Paradis sixth issue which have been lying on my desk a couple of days. Interviews with Cindy Sherman, Elizabeth Peyton and Chuck Close. And with Michael Thompson about his time as an assistant to Irving Penn. So very inspiring!
Stylist: Oscar Lange / LinkDetails
Hair and Make up: Henrik Haue / LinkDetails
Model: Ida Dyberg / Scoop
Model: Roger D / Mikas
Art Director: Jacob Huurinainen
Stylist: Emma Thorstrand / LinkDetails
Hair: Dejan Cekanovic/ LinkDetails
Make up: Johanna Sylvan / LinkDetails
Model: Ellinore / Mikas
Dansk Magazine, last season.
Stylist: Oscar Lange / LinkDetails
Hair: Sofia Ringberger / Agent Bauer
Make: Sara Denman / LinkDetails
Model: Dorte / 2PM
Casting: Sofia Nordström / LinkDetails
Studio: James&Perra
Old shoot for Plaza Magazine
Still lives for Dansk Magazine. Stylist Elin Edlund / LinkDetails.
Guess I went a little old school in these David&Martin ads….
A couple of images for the new swedish brand Christina Christersdotter. Lovely bags! And who doesn’t like leather.
Model: Alina H / Mikas
Make up: Johanna Sylvan / LinkDetails
Back in Stockholm shooting. Its nice working from my own studio after all the rentals. Here is some kind of backstage photo from a project I have been working on this week with Jacob for Weekday. Will post the story as soon it is out.
