No Roots, a photo from Varmland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken in September 1987. It is a scan from a negative. The place here is L錸gan鋝udden (Long Isthmus Spit) and the lake is 講re Brocken (Upper Brocken). This is in the municipality of Torsby. You are looking north here, the forests far away are part of the so called Finnish Forest. You can read more about the Finnish Forest here.

This is V鋜mland, one of the most beautiful provinces of Sweden. V鋜mland belongs to Svealand, but mainly of political reasons. Culturally and historically V鋜mland is clearly a part of Gotaland. You only have to listen to the dialect here to realise this fact!

I was born in V鋜mland but I have no roots whatsoever in this province. I was not really born in Torsby either, which is in the northern part, but actually here, in Koppom, in the municipality of Eda, closer to the Norwegian border.

However, my own roots are firmly attached in Gothenburg and Bohusl鋘, as I have already mentioned here.

tyro, Royaldevon, bukitgolfb301, ChrisJ, snunney, holmertz, dta, s_lush, Buin, ellelloo, Graal, jlbrthnn, jhm, serp2000, Kielia, jafadabret, TopGeo, yeln, danos, clic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tyro (30513) 2011-01-12 12:09

Hello Gunnar,

Well, this seems to be the time to upload pictures from our archives!

This is a most excellent scan from a colour negative. You have managed to deal with the colours very well, with no evidence at all of that usual horrid colour cast which makes skies turn green instead of blue. Did you have to do much in the way of colour correction after scanning this one?

As usual, the composition is excellent. I know that the horizon is almost in the middle, but that accentuates the large area of bare ground and the long, spreading roots coming in from the right. Somehow, the eye is automatically drawn onward to the reflections in the lake and the little collection of buildings in the distance.

A lovely picture with lots of impact. And an interesting and informative note to accompany it!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

vasilpro (41801) 2011-01-12 14:33

Hello Gunnar,
I like the scan quality and the pastel colors, excellent low POV, beautiful landscape.
Have a nice evening, Vasilis.

Royaldevon (85932) 2011-01-12 15:09

I understand your problem with trying to remove the horizon from a central position, Gunnar. Cropping the f/g would have lost some of those wonderfully gnarled roots; cropping the sky would lose the tree detail. In this case, I think you were right to leave it as it is.
Those tall verticals are well positioned and are balanced nicely by the horizontal roots in the f/g.
A most interesting shot and so well recovered from a negative.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2011-01-12 22:52

My dear Gunnar

Another wonderful shot. A little over exposure, intentionally? Best framework, nice low angle and very well considered composition as usual. Thanks for your sharing with finest work, have a good day and best regards,

Takero

danyy (0) 2011-01-12 23:28

Bonjour Gunnar,
des airs de Canada pour ces lieux su閐ois, la nature � l'閠at pur dans ses 100%. Une photo pour moi un peu surexpos閑 mais on y voit tout ce qu'il faut rep閞er. Beaucoup de profondeur et sentiment de libert�.
Mes compliments.
Daniel;

ChrisJ (171878) 2011-01-13 0:06

Hello Gunnar,

The eroded & twisted roots speak of a tough existence for these hardy trees. Good color, sharpness & framing. Tfs!

wolf38 (30) 2011-01-13 1:00

Hi Gunnar. What a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. The roots in the foreground are a real eye catcher. The quiet countryside like it very much. The composition is expertly realized. Everything here has the perfect place. Informative and readable text. Rgds, Wolfgang.

snunney (130967) 2011-01-13 2:29

Hello Gunnar,
A successful transfer from negative stock with good colours and sharpness. I like the composition which has great depth to it and a pleasant atmosphere. The rootless tree has the appearance of a giant disembodied hand and is slightly spooky.

holmertz (102760) 2011-01-13 3:16

Hej Gunnar,
Slightly different from the kind of pictures you ususally take nowadays. Still it's a fine composition with the roots providing a good foreground to the distant view across the lake towards Finnskogarna. It's a good scan too, with hardly any noise visible.
H鋖sningar,
Gert

dta (98848) 2011-01-13 3:22

Hello Gunnar ,
At first glance , it seems that it lacks the high part of the pine trees . But when we open the thumbnail , this is not a problem . The view of the lake between the trunks is oustanding . The roots in the sand in the FG provide a superb effect .
Excellent quality od scan .
Bravo

s_lush (16602) 2011-01-13 5:09

Hello Gunnar,
This nice photo has an undoubted aesthetic, symbolic and even historic values, as it was taken 24 years ago. The beautiful nature, pines and especially their roots are shown perfectly, with natural colors and very high photographic qualities. Excellent capture and highly interesting note!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Buin (42580) 2011-01-13 8:43

Hallo Gunnar!
Ein rundherum sch鰊er und interessanter Beitrag - und ein pers鰊licher. Offenbar ist das in Koppom Dein Geburtshaus. Mit all den Links und dem Text ein "runder" Beitrag hier auf TE.
Man m鯿hte wirklich in dieses Foto hineinsteigen. Ein herrlicher Ort...
Gre aus dem Dauerregen!
Frank

ellelloo (6572) 2011-01-13 10:45

Hej Gunnar,
A beautiful landscape with a lovely summery atmosphere and a very good scan. The composition is pleasant and interesting with the foreground roots and the trees on the left. Good colours. I like your personal note with links to your other photos from the region and Finnish Forests. An excellent TE contribution!
H鋖sningar,
Lasse

Fis2 (170839) 2011-01-13 13:30

Witaj Gunnar!
A very interesting place.
Wonderful landscape.
I like frame and composition.
Roots are impressive.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

Budapestman (82620) 2011-01-13 16:38

Hello Gunnar,
a beautiful landscape with spectacular composition and very nice details, superb lights and depth, Tfs! Have a nice evening! Kellemes est閠 k韛醤ok!
Gy鰎gy

emka (158204) 2011-01-13 23:23

Hi Gunnar, You look for old photos in your drawer as Gert. Charming old picture. Wonderful composition, pine trees, the coast partly sandy, partly covered with forest. Very nice calm atmospere .

Warm regards

Malgo

mesutilgim (0) 2011-01-13 23:40

Hi Gunnar,
At thumbnail I was thinking it's somewhere in Pacific. But it's in Sweden.
Very nice compo with soft light and soft colors ; of course a perfect message.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Graal (103040) 2011-01-13 23:59

Hi Gunnar,
well scan. Nice landscape, an interesting note with links to complementary photos. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

pablominto (53746) 2011-01-14 3:04

Hello Gunnar,

Torsby in V鋜mland... more than 20 years ago!
If I don't recall wrongly this is where a famous Swedish football coach comes from, Sven G鰎an Erikson...
A pleasant composition with the four pines framing the lake, colours seem well preserved in the negative..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

jlbrthnn (76043) 2011-01-14 3:32

Hello Gunnar,
The sharpness of the scanned picture is quite acceptable. The light and colors are natural. The landscape is beautiful, quiet, pleasant to watch. A nice place for summer. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Jo雔

jhm (211736) 2011-01-14 3:46

Hello Gunnar,

13 Year old but exactly a picture of yesterday.
When I look to my archive than find I always lovely pictures, sometimes a pleasure for two hour the look for in different old discs, sometimes with my old PC in Windows 95.
Splendid picture for look at, a lot depth and nice perspective.
Sharpness and clarity are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

rodgerg (55767) 2011-01-14 4:07

Hello Gunnar,

Superb landscape full of serenity and excellent view of this landscape with an excellent depht thaks the large FG and the great prospect open. i like too the tenery color very well collected.
Have a nice WE,
Roger

serp2000 (47063) 2011-01-14 6:56

Privet, Gunnar,
Good documental shot. Excellent quality for a scan. This view reminds me the bank of Kama river in our region. An interesting memories in the note.
have a good WE!
Serghei

diomed (13926) 2011-01-14 8:58

Hi Gunnar,
a very good scanner quality!
A lovely and sweet landscape with pastel colors and with a peaceful atmosphere. Thanks for sharing
Antonio

Silvio1953 (221695) 2011-01-14 13:09

Ciao Gunnar, great quality for a scan, lovely pastel colors and beautiful light, wonderful composition, very well done my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

UlfE (14641) 2011-01-16 2:42

Hej Gunnar,

An excellent scanning job, really fine composition and really beautiful scene. The root pointing to the bottom left corner is a great inclusion. TFS and have a nice Sunday!

H鋖sningar

Ulf

Kielia (24077) 2011-01-16 9:36

Dear Gunnar,
outstanding POV on this cherished place! A very well composed impression as already mentioned before. But for me the light is a bit strange and therefore I would suggest a B&W version, but this one however is also fascinating. The scan is excellent. And the title is also very nice. My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

Glint (6171) 2011-01-16 10:35

hello Gunnar,
I very much like this low and pleasing pov.There is soething nicely artitsic about it.There is a lightness and summeryness that I envy as I struggle through the dreary grey days of a Scotttish winter!
I enjoyed following your links,
best regards,
Bev

jafadabret (56501) 2011-01-17 9:54

Bonjour Gunnar,
Ces racines font un excellent sujet pour cette photo. J'aime ce paysage tr鑣 serein.
Amicalement
Jacques

jurek1951 (42198) 2011-01-17 21:16

Hi Gunnar,
this is a fantastic landscap photo. the color and the composition of the picture was successfull. congratulation to this photo,
Georg

abmdsudi (95869) 2011-01-18 22:35

Hi Gunnar
The title and informative note have influenced viewers' attention into details of this picture, and I find that you have succeeded in conveying the message to greatest effect. Excellent composition, the real roots are dominant as strong attractive foreground subjects to ensure viewer attention is held firm, good choice of pov. Nice peaceful scenery, the threes are effective frame of the LH with breathtaking view in the backdrop whilst the water and blue sky are secondary attractive subjects. Your reproduction is not bad, credit to good archiving. Congrats and thanks for sharing. Wam rgds.

siolaw (38294) 2011-01-20 9:00

Hi Gunnar
That is a nice landscape and an interesting foreground with those roots and trees in the sand.
I thought it looks a bit bright, so i tried a little WS.. hope you don't mind!
Regards
Laurent

TopGeo (38220) 2011-01-20 9:30

Hi Gunnar Great choice! is an excellent part of this composition with the view of the BG the beautiful detail and quality gives interesting results. A beautiful view here and a very pleasant surrounding.
Kind regards
Georgios

yeln (11516) 2011-01-26 11:25

hi Gunar
gladina jezera je kakor ogledalo z izjemno refleksijo na vodi. čestitke tudi odlične barve in ostrino, ki je "scan"!!! bravo! lepo delo!!
prijeten večer 瀍lim, vojko

danos (110407) 2011-01-27 0:35

Good morning Gunnar,
nice shot with the roots of the trees to be out of the ground crating a spectacular scenery.I like the low POV as lead-in the eye on the far end of the lake.

Have a good day,danos

jemaflor (147204) 2011-01-28 8:42

Hi Gunnar,
Nice landscape with a stronf light, well composed with these roots in the fg and these trees on the left side.

scroller (3451) 2011-05-03 6:37

Hej Gunnar,
Great Swedish inland summer landscape! This is what I am longing for. I am moving back to Sweden i July so I expect the best!
H鋖sningar
/Stefan

elenimavrandoni (0) 2013-04-23 21:10

amazing picture from the old times!
beautiful landscape and perfect composition!
I like!
warm regards,
Eleni

pajaran (115963) 2014-03-25 1:01

Dobar dan.
Dobar tekst o mestu, lep pogled ...
Dobar rad skeniranjem negativa, lepo pokazano mesto i trenutak, lepe boje.
Dobar rad, lepa priroda.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good afternoon.
A good article about the place, nice view ...
Good work by scanning the negatives, well shown the place and moment, beautiful colors.
Good work, beautiful nature.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best.
Paja.