Booksigning at Kassel Photobookfestival

Tomorrow morning I'm going to Kassel Photobookfestival which is celebrating it's tenth anniversary to sign my new book (my first one as well). You can see it here. Journal will be there with a lot of incredible photographers. It will be great fun!

Hot hot hot

31 degrees Celsius in my hometown. In Scandinavia, in May, northern Europe. Sweet soulmusic and a beer.
And they say that swedes are cold...

Facelift

I probably live in the less segregated area in Gothenburg - Gamlestan. Here is where SKF once started and I have relatives who worked there and were proud of it.
It all started in the fifteenth century and then it was called Nya Lödöse, that was long before Gothenburg became, exactly Gothenburg. Gamlestan, as it is called now, had a bad reputation for many years. My grandparents managed to get a small flat here in 1949, the house was brand new. It had a fridge and a flushing toilet, what a luxury! (I, myself, live in the same house now.) Not all houses here were that modern. A lot of immigrants/working labour came to work in SKF and the company started to build good houses for their employees. It was a workingclass area, and it still is. Here you can find all kinds of people from all over the world.
20-30 years ago there were many problems with gangs, shootings and dealing. That´s not the case now, they have moved to other places. But still, we had a bad reputation.

I love this part of the city. There is a lot of creativity, music, a lot of things going on here. And we have social problems as well. But it seems to work.

Now Gamlestan is the new prospect, they are building houses, a new central station, a lot of enterprises will move in, new infrastructure. New cafés and restaurants. In 2030 it will all be settled and a lot will have changed. Gamlestan will be the place where people would like to move to and to live in.

I think this old part of the big city earns this facelift and I enjoy to follow the progress. It´s no longer the barrio that God forgot.

Eager beaver

I had the most fantastic day today. Walking in the forest together with someone I haven´t seen for a long time, someone important. Someone who I had difficulties to reach. You know, sometimes it´s enough to stretch out a hand. If it´s received it could be a day of magic. Long talks, raining was hard, but didn´t matter because we had a reunion. My mother and I.

Soulmate

My fourlegged best friend is sleeping beside me. She is snoring, making little jumps and I hope she is in a good place in her dreams. Deep sleep.

Dance!

Enjoy the simple things in life. Dance and sing. And breath...

Simplicity

Recently I started to shrink my equipment, changed it and that is a bless. Less stress and more fun.

I bought an old and cheap camera, one lens. This is the camera I will work with in this blog, nothing else. No prestige, just creativity and joy.

This is part of my philosophy when it comes to many things. Get rid of the things you don´t need, the weight, if you will. Do things that are good for YOU. Don´t mix with people who are taking your energy without giving. Stop reading what people tell you to read. Stop listening. Go your own way. Don´t imagine that anyone or anything can make you feel fulfilled except for yourself and what you do. Make it simple, have fun, and look forward. Reflect.

New beginnings

My name is Susanne Otterberg. I make images.
I made a revolution within myself some time ago. Skipped internet with all that comes with it. It was no choice of vanity, disgrace or pride. It was one of the choices I had to make to survive. No more Facebook...never Instagram, I could continue...
But I would not like to start my blog with that crap. So I don´t.

Why? Something happened to me that changed everything, that should be enough information.

That´s my most honest today confession ever in this blog to come, you will never get it again. You will get more on what I have found important to me, maybe to you as well, real life, the life that you can touch...