It is supposed to be dark during night. On the countryside it is really dark, and during winter darker still. If we get snow the little light that there always is, it is never completely dark outside since some light is bounced inside the atmosphere and gives you a tiny bit even if the moon isn’t visible due to clouds. So with snow it gets kinda’ light. This night there was neither moon nor snow, so high ISO-numbers and and long exposures were required. Even though I wanted a pretty dark image. Enjoy.
The Cement Factory was an important part of the prosperous development of 20th century Sweden. In the mid 1970’s, competition stiffened and the site was deemed too small to be profitable in the long term. In 1979 the machinery stopped for the last time. Quite a few jobs disappeared, but since small businesses have been thriving in the area in increasing numbers after WW2, most of the workforce found new jobs over time. In just a few years after Cementa closed it’s doors, Paroc opened up manufacturing of stone based wool for insulation and is today the largest employer in Hällekis. Population dropped by about 30% from WW2 up to 1970, and has since stayed pretty much the same. The surrounding landscape including Kinnekulle and lake Vänern offers stunning scenery that show lots of trace of the historic importance of the land around Kinnekulle, including Swedens oldest functioning church Västerplana Kyrka and Husaby, where Swedens first christian king was christened and baptized.
I personally enjoy visiting those abandoned spots in everyday society that has been forgotten or simply hangs there in limbo until suddenly the town or its owner remembers it and decides to do something about it. Until then, they are there for us to enjoy, let fantasy rip, use visually…
Den bortglömda Cementa-tomten i Hällekis. Skrotade maskiner från cementfabriken.
Prints of my fashion and artsy fartsy stuff make good X-mas presents! 🙂
In my Tictail page I have a lot of prints for sale. Many different motifs and places. Ranging from Italy to Sweden, to New York City and to fashion. Check it out! Order before December 10th to get them in time in North America, and before December 15th to get them before X-mas in EU. The prints are glicée prints from a professional Epson printer on archival paper. Here are a few examples. Shop away! 😉
This image has been posted here before. But now is the season of the year when it gets really, really dark. At least up here in The North. For me this time of year yields more interesting photography. And a special challenge: what to photograph when there is very little light.
After a day of hefty rains the next day is sunny and warm, making the sand dry up with a uniform crust on the top it. Another day on the beach of Roseto degli Abruzzi
