Sweden +

I'm heading to Sweden in the middle of April... hopefully our renewed passports will arrive before then.

Our destination is Kalmar and ... How do I get this infernal machine to write the "O w/ umlaut" ... Oland. We'll land in Copenhagen, stay for a day or two, and drive from there.

Anyone like to meet for an akvavit and/ or whatever - and, I'm bringing the Hasselblads - any suggestions for photography?

Ed, Hope some Swedes will chime in about the photo oportunities, there will be a lot between Copenhagen and Oland.
All i can suggest is to buy the Akvavit in Denmark



jan

I live in Lund, about an hour's drive from Copenhagen, 10 km or so north of Malmö. You'll be going past us on the E22 as you drive to Kalmar.

Lund-Kalmar takes two and a half hours if you sit precisely at 10km over the speed limit and there are no other cars. In normal driving conditions it's about three hours. Plenty of opportunities and time for a break, but only half a day from Copenhagen if you want to just get there without fuss.

What sort of photography are you interested in doing? Perhaps more importantly, is the main aim of your trip photography or tourism? There are plenty of photogenic tourist destinations where you can snap away while absorbing the local culture, but also places like the local beech woods which are like beech woods anywhere, but are very photographically rewarding if you like that sort of thing (and could well be carpeted with wildflowers in mid-April).

Kalmar is a lovely town, with a fairy-tale castle and an old town center. Öland is one of Sweden's most popular holiday destinations in the summer, and has a photogenic mix of old churches, sandy beaches, windmills, bronze-age forts, limestone pavements and a wierd, twisted oak forest. By contrast, it also has a zoo and funpark where some of Sweden's most famous social observation photography was done. Quite a range.

Between here and there are a bunch of cute small towns, ancient monuments, runestones, wildwoods, fishing harbours, artists colonies and a complete C17th naval base. Not much social deprivation or Grand Nature, but lots of the sort of stuff that rewards contemplation. If you can give some idea of the sorts of things that most interest you, photographically or as a tourist, I'm sure I and the real Swedes here can help you winnow the guidebooks.

I'd love to share a 'snaps', or even a whole smörgåsbord (Sunday lunch is traditional at that time of year). I will be travelling myself mid-April, but if I'm around when you pass through it would be great to meet another APUGger.

Hi Ed
It should be possible to do some street-, nightshots or architecture photography in Copenhagen. The Opera is fairly new and the pics I have seen are impressive. We also have the "Black Diamond" (library), Christiansborg (parliament) and Amalienborg (the Queen). Whether those are Photo-opportunities or just tourist must sees I will let others to decide. beer, Wine and booze is definitely cheaper here than in Sweden but other neccesities may be cheaper in Sweden.
I travel from my hometown to Copenhagen everyday (1h each way) and I'll gladly help if you need info or advice of some kind.
Cheers
Søren

Thanks for the replies, everyone! They are MOST appreciated!!!

We visted Scandinavia some time ago... the single most impressive attraction (~ more or less - difficult choice) was that awesome statue near Copenhagen, of the three celestial oxen with plowman that created the "sound"" between Denmark and Sweden - complete with the stream diverted through it ... breathtaking!!

There were SO many others.

Our plans are still sort of fluid. I'm going to bookmark (? - something like that) all that responded ... and keep in touch.

Our passports arrived today!

Struan Gray: "10 Km OVER the speed limit" ???

Here is a link:
http://smaland-oland-eng.auderis.se/
Rather tourist-y, but nontheless informative.
I used to live in Växjö (yes, that is the actual spelling) about 100 km west of Kalmar. Öland was frequently visited for both vacation and photo-reasons. You also have a whole bunch of traditional glassworks in Småland, several of them open for visitors. You will have no problems spending a week or two -- and a lot of film.

-- MW

Ed Sukach said:

Struan Gray: "10 Km OVER the speed limit" ???

Click to expand...

Yeah That is correct. The Swedes has some wierd ways to get money out of the tourists
Cheers
Søren

I've just checked ... that statue I wrote about was the "Gefion Fountain". between the "Little Mermaid" and Amelienborg. BTW - there were four oxen, not three, Gefion's converted bothers. Gefion was a godess ... must be some significance there....
Spectacular!!!

What's this I read about Christianana?

I'm PSYCHED....!! Really looking forward to this trip....

Garrison Keillor has a nice bit in one of his books comparing the Little Mermaid, Gefion and the Danish National Character.

Far be it for me to comment on the moral character of my fellow drivers, but as a dedicated observationist I have not been able to help noticing that '10-over' is a regular practice on major roads and motorways all over Europe (N.B. absolutely not in built-up areas, where there are playing children and more of those brutally effective speed cameras). In the UK this gets you a bit more wind in your hair than over here, but even so I am told it adds up over a long journey. I have no idea if that is true or not.

Enjoy your stay.

Ed Sukach said:

I've just checked ... that statue I wrote about was the "Gefion Fountain". between the "Little Mermaid" and Amelienborg. BTW - there were four oxen, not three, Gefion's converted bothers. Gefion was a godess ... must be some significance there....
Spectacular!!!

What's this I read about Christianana?

I'm PSYCHED....!! Really looking forward to this trip....

Click to expand...

What did you read about Christiania? I wouldn't take my camera there. Some of the people seems to have an adversion against photographers
Cheers
Søren

I am not often in that part of Sweden, though I have been sailing to Öland many times and must say that the landscape is great. Especially I remember Trollskogen, "The Troll forest" and Neptuni Åkrar (Neptuni fields) from when I was a kid. Trollskogen has a lot of pine trees extremely twisted by the wind and Neptuni Åkrar is a beach by flat stone. Both are located at the north part of Öland.

/matti

Ed Sukach said:

I'm heading to Sweden in the middle of April... hopefully our renewed passports will arrive before then.

Our destination is Kalmar and ... How do I get this infernal machine to write the "O w/ umlaut" ... Oland. We'll land in Copenhagen, stay for a day or two, and drive from there.

Anyone like to meet for an akvavit and/ or whatever - and, I'm bringing the Hasselblads - any suggestions for photography?

Click to expand...

Soeren said:

What did you read about Christiania? I wouldn't take my camera there. Some of the people seems to have an adversion against photographers
Cheers
Søren

Click to expand...

Somewhere, in searching for the "Gefion Fountain", I discovered "Christiania" in a list of suggested attractions. It must be a very interesting place. We have a number of "Communes" similar in the united States, if not so intense ... as a matter of fact, I was reminded, somewhat, of the entire State of Vermont... and Provincetown, Massachusetts.

One link on the "Christiania" web site led me to "Christiania, You Have My Heart" ... the film by Nils Vest. Very good film.

It always seems to upset the "establishment" when something outside the "accepted social model" becomes successful and thrives so well.

matti said:

I am not often in that part of Sweden, though I have been sailing to Öland many times and must say that the landscape is great. Especially I remember Trollskogen, "The Troll forest" and Neptuni Åkrar (Neptuni fields) from when I was a kid. Trollskogen has a lot of pine trees extremely twisted by the wind and Neptuni Åkrar is a beach by flat stone. Both are located at the north part of Öland.

Click to expand...

That is specifically where I am headed - the northernmost area of Oland.

I also remember a barren place where they made "Ölandssten", cutting the red rocks to make paving ston for gardens etc. It is located in Byxelkrok, by the harbour. I sneaked in and played there as a kid. If it is still there, I suppose it might be worth a look, if you like to make pictures of old rusted machines, etc.
/matti

I forgot to mention one good thing for photographers in Sweden (and Norway?). You are allowed to enter other peoples land, as long as you don't disturb them (like putting up a tent in their vegetable garden).
/matti

Yes, i've heard of "allmansratt". However, it is NOT a license to ignore common sense or respect for other people's property!

Mycket tack!! for the information about Byxelrok. I'll be on the other side of Oland at about the same latitude, so I'll certainly visit there!!

I'm not sure if it has evaporated along with the cold war, but I'm pretty sure part of the north end of Öland was a restricted military zone. Foreigners were either not welcome, or were required to register with the local police. Foreigners with high-resolution cameras were particularly suspect.

I've never heard of this being actively policed, but the law allows them to take your film, should they wish to. Not a problem with the standard photogenic areas like the twisted forest though.

A friend of mine got married in the ruined chapel at the iron-age fort of Gråborg. Amazing place, and less tacky than Eketorp, its more famous reconstructed sibling.