As you can see, there’s nothing kinky, or even (50 shades of) Grey with these photographs. Just a clever subject for photographs of the swedish winter this year, so far.
Snow.
I am not a fan of winter. On top of the snow, it’s also quite cold. Has been for couple of days. I’ve been meaning to bring the camera out when walking my dog, but didn’t get around to it until today.
And let’s just say – my camera had to unfreeze when we got back inside, before I could empty it of the exposures I shot today.
There is really only one thing that I do like about winter, and that’s how the snow looks. I like and enjoy how monochrome the world is in winter, whether it’s white or gray.
Today, I am not showing you that many photographs. Part of the reason for that is the cold. My hands were freezing, as was my camera, and my glasses went foggy as soon as I raised it. 😀
Glad I did it, though. I can definitely use the practise. When it’s not as cold, I think I’ll go about it again, and perhaps even take some new photographs of my dog. After all, he’ll be 4 years old in 12 days.
Oh, and these photographs aren’t even b/w. 😮 Did you notice? 😀
I consider myself fortunate, having been able to photograph in this area. These are photographs from several occasions, taken in an old industrial site in the town where I live. These days, it’s mainly used for (to my knowledge, anyway) local business focused on varying kinds of technology.
Personally, I’d do quite different things if I owned this area. I’d probably live in one of those amazing buildings, and the rest I’d create some sort of art centre with.
Can you tell that I really, really enjoy brick walls? If not – let me tell you; I love brick walls. Especially when they are old, used, torn by time and nature. I’d really love to live in something like this.
There are secrets hidden in these walls. There’s history in the air. So much has happened on these grounds, and we don’t even consider it, stomping around on any given day.
Sometimes, I think we should be ashamed for how we disrespect our history.
On that note, at least I tend to see quite a gothic feeling in these photographs. They speak to me about those forgotten days, about everything that has fallen, not to rise again. It is sad and bittersweet, and utterly, utterly beautiful.
Do you see what I see?
When I was a child, my paternal grandparents rented a cottage outside the town where they lived. Behind the cottage, there was a forest in which I played all the time when I was there.
And everywhere I turned, I could see those tiny places where all the fairies, nymphs and trolls lived.
This idea has stayed with me ever since, combined with my very strong belief in the raw, magical power in Earth and nature itself.
In this type of photography, I look for patterns, details, entrances to the homes of fairies seen through a child’s eyes. I look for magic, the way I see it – and it’s right there, if you just look.
It’s breathtaking.
There will be more of this. These are only a small portion of the older photographs of nature (mainly trees) that I have. I’ll post more down the road, and even do some new ones for you to enjoy.
The idea of gothic photography has shifted over the years. The sort I am thinking about – the one that I am presenting to you, here, is my take on how lots of photography was done in the 19th century.
The style “gothic” has also changed a lot over time. Very simply, one might say that the gothic produced during medieval times is the mother of everything that’s ever been called gothic since.
The gothic subculture we’re used to today is in its expression quite far from the gothic that I personally like. The idea is still there, but it is presented quite differently, and I admit to preferring the old style better.
What I am showing here, is one aspect of the gothic expression in photography. Think of it as experiencing loss, letting the mind wonder down memory lane, the lack of that which was… combined with what I personally see as beautiful composition, contrasts between light and dark, and there you have it.
All these photographs (as with both previous posts) have been photographed at different times. I just wanted to brag and show off a selection of this kind of photography, since I absolutely love to do it.
I’ve closed the comments on the blog, but please, feel free to comment on Facebook.
These are my two German shepherds, Ella and Boyo. Ella, unfortunately, had to leave me due to age and health issues, in June 2019. She never got to meet Boyo, which saddens me to this day.
They would have absolutely loved each other.
Ella was a natural photogenique. Boyo, not so much. Ella always wanted me to photograph her, and I always promised to share on Facebook to show off my beautiful girl. Boyo couldn’t care less.
Over the years, I have developed my own way of photographing dogs. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I like it. At some point, I’ll show you how I photograph dogs when we’re in the dog park.
Let’s just say there’s more action and less of everything else.
If you’re interested in reading more about Ella and Boyo, or my take on dogs in general, please visit my (swedish) blog the Beast (can be translated into numerous languages).
This is Tone. She was born and named Thomas. Last summer, she came out as a transwoman, and chose the name Tone for herself.
Since then, we meet regularily to document her transition through photography.
I can’t even begin to tell you how exciting it is to see the changes that keep happening. It’s amazing.
These are photographs from the journey we’ve done together, so far. We met the first time on July 26, 2022. Tone was more man than woman back then.
Today, it’s hard to believe she’s the same person I met last year. I think of Thomas as a twin brother who has passed away. Especially since I’ve only known Tone as Tone.
I hope this project keeps going for a really long time.
I post new photographs of Tone at one of my swedish blogs (can be translated into numerous languages).
sonyamalinka.se/thomas-ar-tone/
