Category: Blog

Summer vacation in Sweden

Summer in Skåne

Once again I´m in Skåne for a quick vacation with the family. This time the weather was on our side and the sun shined for a whole week!

I went out a couple of times to take some shoots but it was almost too warm to be wandering around. Anyway, here are some of the shoots. These are taken at Ales stenar, a place well worth a visit!

Leica M9 and 50 summicron

There were a lot of tourists hiking in the beach and on the high cliff side. Almost everyone was stopping at this information sign to read the latest information regarding Ales stenar. The guy on the left side however was in some way involved in the studying or exploration of Ales stenar and by the looks of it, nothing new will be discovered within the next couple of years…

This is Ales stenar (Ales stones). The stone formation is almost 70 meter long and consists of 67 large rocks. No one actually knows what it is apart from being stones placed in a boat shaped formation. Some theories are that it has been uses as a calendar and some that it is a burial ground.

Looking out on the sea from a 30 meter high place is quite impressive.

Heading out to sea in this weather must be really nice!

On the slopes everyone was really struggling not to fall, except the sheep’s.

/Thomas Tanisawa

August 2, 2012
Dalarna

Dalarna, the Swedish of Sweden

Made a quick visit to Dalarna County a couple of days ago. There was a quite heavy rain coming down that day and by just looking at the clouds you knew that something was going on.

Leica M9

Something is coming from the horizon…

The sun was shining and it was very nice until large bluish almost black clouds appeared. The contrast between the sun and the dark clouds made the pictures look like I have manipulated them heavily in Photoshop but actually they reflect the real condition quite well.

There is rain in the clouds, no question about that.

As fast as the rain clouds appear, they disappear and leave white clouds instead. Much nicer!

This is Dalälven flowing through Dalarna County. The water level was much higher than normal and you could see that some of the houses was dangerously close to the shore line.

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 18, 2012
City walk in Stockholm

Spending a day in Stockholm

Today was a sunny and hot summer day here in Stockholm. I took my camera and went in to town to have some lunch and maybe shoot some pictures. It was almost too warm to be walking around but when the sun finally shines you are not allowed to complain…

Leica M9, 28 and 50 summicron was used.

Looking out from his outpost over the city.

Beach chairs has been put out on Sergels torg for tiered walkers or for those who want to have maximum attention.

Heavy rucksacks in the heat.

Family discussing where to go next.

A silent disapproval.

An umbrella in the sunshine is somewhat of a contrary, but it’s clever.

Just waiting for someone.

On vacation in Stockholm.

In the old part of Stockholm there are lot of small restaurants among the narrow streets where much needed shade could be found.

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 9, 2012
Melissa Horn – Stockholm 2012

Concert in Stockholm

Last night there I was at a concert here in Stockholm. Melissa Horn and Anna Ternheim, both Swedish singers and songwriters was live on stage at Långholmen. The island Långholmen is locaded in central Stockholm and was until 1975 the location of a large prison were Swedish last execution took place in 1910. Now days the island of Långholmen is used as a large recreation area with lot of beaches and summer residential.

But tonight, Melissa Horn and Anna Ternheim was live on stage doing a great performance!

Leica M9 and 50 summicron

There is a lot of places in and around Stockholm where you can have you boat, but this one must be one of the most central spots.

I was waiting in line before the concert when I saw the baby and his dad.

Like father like son!

In Sweden you are not allowed to drink alcohol in public places without permit. Obviously not everybody takes that as a being a “law” more like a guide line.

Melissa Horn in action.

Melissa Horn in action.

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 8, 2012
Asakusa

A trip to Asakusa

Asakusa located in the northern part of Tokyo is well worth a visit. You can walk there for hours just to absorb the atmosphere, the sounds and the smell of everything from city pavement to newly baked cakes filled with vanilla custard. Asakusa was once mostly famous for being the number one entertainment district in Tokyo but now days it is the Buddhist temple Sensō-ji that stands for the main attraction (and of course the market that surrounds the temple area).

This is the main entrance to the market in Asakusa.

Tiny shops are cramped together on each side of the streets. Here you can find everything from kimonos, candy, swords to more ordinary “welcome to Tokyo” souvenirs.

Not everything that looked like “sweets” where sweet. Let´s just take it as a learning lesson in Japanese traditional sweets.

This huge bronze burner with incense stands near the entrance of the temple. The smoke says to be holy so everybody embraces them self with it in hope of good fortune and happiness. And no, there is no connection to the smoke, the burner or the temple to the German Nazi party. The Swastika has been around as a symbol long before the German party used it after the First World War.

Light a candle and make a wish.

Or just make a wish (but don´t forget to offer a coin as well).

Looking out from the main temple you can see the bronze burner in the middle of the courtyard and to the left there is a well where you should wash your hands and mouth before entering the temple.

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 6, 2012
Seaside

A day in the Swedish archipelago

Went to one of the many beaches in Stockholm. The water was NOT warm though it didn´t stop any kids from jumping in. I think the temperature was somewhere around 20C and that´s far too cold for me.

On the other side is the town of Waxholm and marks the entry of Stockholm’s northern archipelago. There is a lot of ferries that start from Waxholm so you catch one of the many boats you can reach almost every island out in the archipelago.

This is a quite typical picture of Stockholm archipelago. Most of the islands and covered with vegetation and then all the rocks are sanded to a smooth finish by the wind and water.

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 2, 2012
Evening walk in the neighborhood

Walking in the neighborhood

In the afternoon I went out for a walk around the neighborhood. I live a just little bit north of Stockholm but when looking at these pictures you might get the impression that I live out in the wilderness…

Machine waiting to be used…

Roslagsbanan, local railroad that transports everybody into Stockholm. When growing up I took this train every day to school. It was a different train set then but the scenery outside the windows still looks quite the same.

Harley Davidsons Swedish HQ is located here. I wonder how they came up with the idea to buy a real steam locomotive…

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 1, 2012
Short walk in Stockholm

Went out on the streets of Stockholm to catch some new shoots in the beautiful weather. The summer 2012 will go into the history as one of the coldest for as far as temperature measurements have been taken in Sweden… Anyway, this day was perfect!

Tourist everywhere. Funny how fast taking digital pictures has taken over from analog and the way that you get instant result on a small screen instead of waiting for a week or so. I once worked in a small photo shop and it wasn’t that unusual that one 36 roll of film contain photos from more than one Christmas…

Slowly walking down the old streets of Stockholm.

This kid has found something on the ground that obviously was a lot more interesting.

The combination high heels and streets made of round stones was a bad idea.

A stop for one of the most important shot for almost every visitor, a portrait with the Swedish royal castle as background.

Tired of walking? Park yourself on a bench and relax while watching everybody else rushing on to the next sightseeing goal.

A more and more common sight in Stockholm, beggars.

/Thomas Tanisawa

June 28, 2012
Stenshuvud nationalpark

This day was spent at a small beach near Stenshuvud nationalpark on the east side of Skåne.

Sometimes you find people taking pictures of the most unusual things…

…like other people taking their pictures…

The sand, sea and sky justs melts together.

Summertime in the sun.

Warm sand between small toes at the beach.

/Thomas Tanisawa

June 25, 2012
Southern part of sweden

Just spent some time with my family down in the southern part of Sweden, Skåne. Skåne is really the home of green and golden crop fields. In the evening when the last sun hit the fields is sometime magical. So if you got some to over to spend in Sweden it´s well worth the trip!

In the evening the birds try to find shelter for the night.

I like patterns. So you probably find the pattern to be a reoccurring pattern among my pictures here at the blog…

This is what soon (might be a little bit more than soon) will become a new apple field. Skåne is famous for its apples and has several producers in the area.

/Thomas Tanisawa

June 25, 2012