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Artiklar: 1-30, 31-60

Dokumentation zum Schutz des Mount Everest kommt bald
2011-10-24 18:36:00
Im kommenden Jahr werde ich mehrmals nach Nepal, in den Sagarmatha National Park und zum Mt. Everest reisen, um eine Bild- und Text-Dokumentation zum Schutz des Mount Everest zu machen, der Fokus liegt auf dem Erstellen eines Buches, das das gesamte bis zum Herbst 2012 andauernde Projekt umfasst, für Frühjahr 2013 ist dann eine Ausstellung ...

Nikon-Kampagne erneut vorgestellt
2011-10-24 18:36:00
Letzten Sommer startete ich zusammen mit Nikon eine Kampagne in Europa, bei der ich Tipps und Informationen zur Reise-Fotografie gab. Teile davon wurden jetzt erneut im I AM NIKON Blog gepostet.

A Winter of Writing
2009-09-22 20:33:00
Another picture from Ecuador; don't you just want to jump onto this river-cruiser? Seems like out of the movie "Anaconda" or something...In a massive creative burst I've begun writing, and words are flowing again. The time needed to process all of this summer's experiences was long indeed - but it seems once I've begun the pages just wash away beneath my tapping of the keyboard. First off has been digitalizing the journal I kept writing all throughout the trip, as well as digitalizing all the notes. Books can burn, but once I've written them into my file-archive, they can be backuped and secured.A monkey skull, stacked with alligator hide and other findings at Sani LodgeFirst off is a couple of travel reportages, since all the material from Ecuador and Peru surely make for interesting tales; ones that should be told, to encourage others! Eco-tourism will be a main theme, as well as the perspective of keeping nature up-close.Alongside the travel pie...

Both nature and documentary
2009-09-22 20:33:00
After two weeks of work and studies, I'm beginning to delve into the stack of images again. I'm making a collection out of several categories; keeping images separate is important to know where to use them.Here's two examples of what I'm working with; one out of the nature section, one out of the documentary one.One of the many species of frogs we photographed in PeruThe Chipaota patrol; made up from retired army-guys, they keep the village area safeBe sure to check in during this fall; even though I'm sometimes quiet work is underway! The Project Carpe Diem documentary will get a new website before year's end, and you'll get to see the final material from the first trip.

What people need to see
2009-09-22 20:33:00
In this slideshow from the Behind the Scenes series of the NYT LENS blog, you get to see a picture uncommon in newspapers. Yet this is a daily image for soldiers, American as well as Afghan. I think we need pictures like this. It's just as the reporting from WWII, when newspapers held back the images where people (soldiers of the nation, that is) actually die. But why should we? People should see what wars are really like. Because in war, people die.http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/behind-13/

Sign the petition; save Bananas!*
2009-09-22 20:33:00
The American company Dole's colourful website sends a message about nutritious living and happy times. Something that can hardly be said about the lives of the company's employees; escpecially not for those in Nicaragua.Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten has recently made a documentary about the Nicaraguan banana worker's struggle against the company; especially against Dole's use of the hazardous substance called DBCP. Now Fredrik Gertten, the film's producer and their company are being sued by Dole.Even though this law-suit probably will end well for Fredrik Gertten and his film, and the commotion actually draws more attention to the film itself, companies acting like Dole must be stopped. Being the world's largest banana company, their claims are seriously affecting wheter documentaries like this can ever be made about a global industry and it's largest actor.Reporters without borders are gathering names on a petition, acting against Dole's ...

A fountain of youth for the lady in gray
2009-09-22 20:33:00
Rumours about the New York Times financial problems seems to mount up even further; the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter today boasts a large article about it's downfall - though naming diversity its saviour. But will this diversity - these debate-creating articles spearheading the news industry - be enough to save the high-quality journalism in it's printed form? I've been a devout subscriber and reader myself, but paper cost too much. Will subscribers and buyers stay? I think many people doubt it.I think there's another perspective to it though; new ways bring new opportunities. Stop resisting change, and you'll find the process of adaption can actually benefit the goal above others. If the NYT realize that internet will be their greatest partner, and go all in; by creating a bastion of high-standard journalism among all the bad ones, they will for sure secure their position forever. Go for it, Bill Keller - make internet your priority; while from the pape...

Matters unresolved
2009-09-22 20:33:00
Lots to do.I've been home for over a week; took a 7-day-rest after a bit of sickness towards the end of the South America-trip. Now though, I'm up and running - with lots directions ahead of me.I've just got pictures organized from the backed-up harddrives we brought on the trip. Now comes the indexing, the keywording and the endless selecting of images. Will post samples as I progress with the Carpe Diem documentary, not to worry. It might take a couple of weeks to get things organized, though.

The end of the beginning
2009-09-22 20:33:00
The first trip of Carpe Diem is almost over; certain is that there's more to come.I've had an incredible experience in Muchuk Llacta de Chipaota, the village in the Perucvian highland amazon we spent the last week in. Stories from this place will resonate, I am sure. RP has proven quite some capabilities; most of all I'm impressed by the work of Lucia and Jaso, RP's local coordinators. They do amazing work, and have wide knowledge of the macro-perspective one must heed in a project such as the ones present.Now we're in Lima, packing our stuff together. We fly to Madrid tonight, spend the night there, and tomorrow fly for Sweden. Will be nice, as always, to get home; I dream of swedish youhgurt, swedish strawberries and of by swedish standards really clean socks.

Carpe Diem!
2009-09-22 20:33:00
We're having amazing days in Ecuador. The stay in the Quechua community of Sani Isla was amazing - I'm definitely going back here. The sights, the sounds - but most of all the people - amaze me. Sleeping in my hammock under star-filled skies and waking up to the laughing of the Amazonian kids; I feel very privileged to experience this. And I am devoted to bring their stories to everyone's attention; as they need knowledge and aid in getting on their feet economically - and with that being able to provide for themselves, preserve their culture and protect their environment.Susana, one of the Quechua girls of Sani Isla. Click on the picture to go to the Project CD BlogMost of my blogging from the South America trip is psoted on the Project Carpe Diem Blog; go there to see what the rainforest take of my Carpe Diem documantary series is experiencing.Me, with Susana and her siblings

Not without my Kodachrome
2009-09-22 20:33:00
Wheels are turning, as the project manager Niyanta puts it. We are on our way. I'm propped up against an airport wall; Alfred is reading beside me. We'll soon board for Madrid, and from there lift to Quito.We will meet Niyanta and the RP team once in Ecuador, and from there start excursions into the Amazon area of Ecuador. Focus on the first part of the trip will be the rainforest regions and adjacent cocoa plantations. We'll also visit the Sani Isla community, where the villagers work in keeping a kind of Eco-Lodge for tourists; a place striving to provide environmentally friendly tourism. More on this focus later.Squeezed in between the cameras and our other equipment I have 4 little pieces of sentimental value. I bought the last Kodachromes from Scandinavian Photo; the last ones in stock. As you probably know, Kodachrome is a legendary positive film that has been taken out of production recently. I actually got hold of 5 rolls; one is to be framed. It's an ama...

Planning Project Carpe Diem
2009-09-22 20:33:00
Dates are set; we leave on July 21st.We're nowhere near a fully planned trip, but things are taking shape. We have an outline of what we need to do, how we will do it; travel arrangements will be made so our photography can shape the rythm. We need to have a loose base, as pictures come first and we must have the ability to adapt to the situations.We will first go to Sani Isla, Ecuador. There the Rainforest Partnership have just started up their new project village; a new base for giving knowledge about saving the rainforest in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon basin. We will document the village, the indigenous people within, and depict the start-up of an international project on this very intimate place.After Ecuador we go to Peru, to Chipaota - Rainforest Partnership's already established project village. Here they've worked for some time, and we will document the impact the project has had. Focus is always on the people, not the overhead politics. How do these fam...

Back on track
2009-04-27 12:34:00
Finally feeling better, I've started up the engine of my life again. The last couple of months have been awful, doctors blaming it on something "tropical", "untreatable" and whatnot. The drop that made the cup spill over was a flight to China; giving me an instant sightseeing of a routine Chinese hospital visit. Kinda fun, that last part, but I'd rather it hadn't happened at all.Erik getting the fire burningNow I'm back on track; and had a speedy start. Took a short hike yesterday with some friends, just to a local natural reserve. Felt incredible to get out, I haven't excersised one bit through all of 2009. We took an easy route, made camp; all the while making adventuring plans for the rest of the year. The walk home this (early) morning was not even cold; spring has come to Sweden.At the office, I've got a couple of tasks to do... Portfolios are to be sent to a vast number of clients and agencies. Last week's pictures of the ...

Archipelago adventures; military style
2009-04-27 12:34:00
Today me and my friend/colleague Jonatan went out to Vaxholm in the Stockholm archipelago for my photoshoot of Combatboat 90 - a vessel out of the swedish marine corps. I did the shoot for Rindö Marine.After we'd had a lunch of fresh perch (!) at the dock restaurant, we went for the ferry over to Rindö to meet up with the client; missing the ferry by a couple of seconds. As I called my client to tell about the delay, he figured we would be better on schedule if they simply came and picked us up. Within minutes they steered the huge Stridsbåt 90 up against the tourist dock by the hotel in Vaxholm, and we jumped on. Sun was shining - but we we're behind schedule; time to work.The daylight was awful; sharp shadows everywhere. But blue skies must count for something. The client, Magnus, let us off on a small islet in the middle of nowhere - and as they cirled us in high speed we got the shots right. Sun kept on shining, leaving minimal possibilites for good detail lighting; sh...

PREVIEW; New website coming up
2009-04-27 12:34:00
Every now and then I update my website www.martinedstrom.se, mostly to change the theme or design. Now I've not only started a large reconstruction; but started to rearrange the very core of which images are to be shown. As part of this, my friend and colleague Simon Maddock has helped me arrange my black and white out-of-africa portfolios, and they will play a large part in the new martinedstrom.se.As I start the process, I will post thoughts and a couple of preview pictures for you to see. I will need comments on what you like/dislike, as well as what you generally think should stand out about my new page. So whenever you have a suggestion; post it here. Or just send me an email. As you can see, three preview pictures are featured in this post.Thanks again to Simon Maddock for his help in editing.
Mer om: General

Timestamp: Flight 994
2009-04-13 16:47:00
[What's a Timestamp? Read here.]11th Day of May, Year 2009Aboard an airplane belonging to Scandinavian Airlines, heading from Beijing to Stockholm. The specific flight route is numbered SK994.The passengers all board the aircraft after heavy security procedures, everything in line with and according to law; preventing people from bringing water, liquid foods, important medicines, perfume or other harmful devices aboard the aircraft. Guns and sharp metal objects are also, of course, prohibited.Onboard the aircraft, people are divided according to what they payed for the ticket (the piece of paper that ensures passage onboard). People who pay more, sit in the front of the aircraft. They have large seats, a lot of space and a curtain to shield them from the rest of the aircraft containing commoners. Those are the people who haven't payed as much, and who sit in the section further back. They have smaller chairs than in front, and subsequently this section fits more people per...

Impressions of China
2009-04-13 16:47:00
BEIJING, China - China's capital is a place of peace, where I thought I'd find a buzzing hub of the east. Influences of the west seem smaller than I expected, though visible within all the upgrades brought on by the Olympic games of 2008. In between complex designed blocks of skyscrapers there's many a part of old Beijing left; I've seen rickshaws parked a stone's throw from the highway, rickety shops between Prada and Swarov.Seeking spiritual experiences, Beijing is full of them. One may want to find some backwater temple hidden from tourists, but the main vacation attractions also turn out to be the most frequented by religious patrons. The Lama Temple, located in the middle of Beijing, is one example; an important centre for Buddhists all over Asia. Of course there's tourists, but keeping them off your mind, the temple shows to be a true symbol of national importance.I leave for Sweden in the morning, feeling I would need several weeks more here in B...

Downtown Beijing
2009-04-07 04:24:00
Parked rickshaw in an alley, just blocks away from the boulevard.BEIJING, China - Beijing is beaming. Not that I didn't think it would; but even so, even more. We arrived in a 20° China, and took a cab to the hotel. The landscape is unfolding leaves of spring, people are everywhere - biking, walking and oddly enough, sunbathing.Been to Bangkok MBK? This is the Beijing equivalent; equal in both clientel and quality of goods.Taking a short walk soon shows another side of Beijing as well, as every turn onto a side-street leads upon small houses and workshops; reminiscent of a China that was forgotten long ago, but still lingers. It's easy to miss beneath skyscraping structures, but rewarding when you remember. A boy ran up to me while walking down an alley, simply to get his picture shot. He was amazed when I could show his own image to him upon an LCD. I have no idea what he said though, and he probably did not understand me. More on that later.

Mongolian Fighter Escort?
2009-04-07 04:24:00
During the flight to Beijing, I had the individual entertainment system set to Camera Down for a while - thereby watching a direct feed from a camera filming what we fly over. I began watching as breafkast was served; we were flying over Mongolia and at that point Ulan Baatar.There was mostly arid landscape to be seen. But two separate times a small fighter aircraft sped into sight and then dissappeared! The first time it was up close; meaning it flew very directly below our aircraft. The other time it was further down, in sight for almost a second.The fact that it appeared twice directly under our aircraft, would point to its actual interest in our specific plane. I don't think we needed an escort, there's no one that important onboard. Wierd, huh?

Springtime
2009-04-07 04:24:00
Going for Beijing, we went for a flight last night; it was full, we will try again today. It's a bummer packing your bags just to go and return home withing hours; but spring is here, and so are smiles. I hear birds, the cats are playfully fighting in the garden - and Sweden is actually bathing in sunshine. Checking on Facebook, status-updates are much more positive than during depressing winter months. But maybe enduring the crappy slush for several months doesn't pay off until now; maybe we need a couple of bad waves to recognize when the tide has turned? I'm glad. The sun is shining. It's not every day this far north; cures anxiety and travel-eagerness alike.

A voice from Uganda; Pope's outings "most unfortunate"
2009-04-07 04:24:00
This is continued from my post Holy might may not be right.As there's been a heated debate in Sweden, following the Pope's words on condoms in relation to HIV/AIDS, I feel the wrong people have been cited in the media. Our national newspapers have quoted bloggers and people who shouldn't even be involved in the first place, e.g. a couple of catholic bloggers - who in encouraging the pope, also deepen the rift between medical science and harmful beliefs.Dr. Mugyenyi at the AIDS2008 Conference in Mexico CityVery few experts have been quoted at all, and I believe it's important to publish statements backed up by actual knowledge. I contacted my friend Dr. Peter Mugyenyi, the head of the JCRC - Joint Clinical Research Center in Kampala, Uganda - a facility in the smack middle of the pandemic. He's a true expert on the tactics of fighting AIDS, and if anyone one should listen to him. What can you say of the Pope's remarks in Cameroon?"All I can say abou...

Attending a Beijing ER
2009-04-06 17:05:00
BEIJING, China - I awoke this morning with serious chestpains. The flight yesterday left me tired and a bit worn; but I figured it was all due to a streak of infections I've suffered from recently. But apparently one still lingered - and really scared me as I woke up.Due to the acute pain over my heart, we rushed to an international clinic nearby; the Beijing International Medical College Hospital. I was shown into the emergency room, quiet an impressive, comforting sight. I described my pain; within seconds they had me lying on a table with several nurses putting sensors and heart-monitoring equipment on me. At that time I felt it was a bit overkill; I presumed this could have nothing to do with my heart. But lying there, I realized: What if i do have a heart-problem? What if this was the place I would be treated for emergency trauma for the first time in my life? Suddenly the room didn't seem that comforting anymore. Tiles, breathing equipment and beeping machines. "...

Tribute to Jarl Alfredius
2009-03-31 14:36:00
[DN] Aktuellt-kollegorna sörjer Jarl Alfredius död[SVT] Aktuellts Jarl Alfredius dödToday Jarl Alfredius, a famous Swedish news anchor on the national network Sveriges Television, died after a time of suffering from prostate cancer.He was the kind of reporter I've always wanted to be; he was there, he was deeply involved, yet never took space from what he was reporting about. I did not know him, I've never even met him - yet I know his voice all to well to know that I will miss it.My thoughts are with his family and co-workers alike.
Mer om: General

Earth Hour Symbolism
2009-03-30 13:29:00
Shutting down; shouldn't we be gearing up?Many things can be said about the upcoming Earth Hour, when we shut down all electric equipment for an hour between 20:30-21:30. It's amazing that so many cities have agreed to shut things down; devotion have never been so great for a common cause, that of environmental concern, before. With even the Eiffel tower shutting down, you can really sense a movement.But is it enough, to promote this single hour? Of course the value won't be shown in power saved; one hour doesn't save anything compared to what we spend other days. The value will show in the way people, hopefully, start thinking. But this will be tricky, as it is way too easy to sit in the dark for an hour, and then return to a normal way of life in which lamps are switched on 24/7, computers stand running and iPod-chargers are always plugged in. A campaign like this can not come without a massive follow-up; what companies have advertised about today, they need to...

Abandon ship! JMK is going down
2009-03-28 15:16:00
Ever since I started at JMK in Stockholm - the "top" journalistic insitute in Sweden - I've wondered where the action was. Did I miss some lessons, the ones I'd been looking forward to? Or was this it? As course upon course proves to be mostly reading on your own, I can't help but wonder what happened. When people talk of the institute a couple of years back, they talk about an education that makes you a journalist - a hard, long and sometimes backbreaking journey leading into one of the hardest professions of the world. And it should be. With modern media converting news reporting into an iReport chaos, we need first class people to deliver us the news.This is nothing like what I've felt at JMK. Endless talk of modern theories of mass communication, studies of the gender aspects of journalism and surveys about internet as a medium; these things have replaced what I want to learn, and thought I would. I feel I'm pretty much formed to become a cultu...

Holy Might may not be right
2009-03-28 15:16:00
What does Pope Benedict XVI have in common with other celebrities?He can shape young people's opinion in a heartbeat. One with that power, should choose his words wisely.Catholic youngsters all over the world see their papa as holy, and what he says as truth. As the countries of Africa welcome him, they also welcome his words on how to fight HIV/AIDS. And this time, those words will not be to anyone's benefit. Least of all, to those addressed."You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the plane heading to Yaoundé. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."-- New York Times 17th of March 2009The first part is true indeed; condoms alone won't solve the problem. However, it will play a large part. In the cultures with traditions of polygamic relationships - as many sub-saharan african cultures are - condoms play a vital role in the prevention of HIV. People have sex, wheter the Pope likes it or not. ...

Photo exhibit and film launch
2009-03-28 15:16:00
Fancy food and hot airThe last couple of days I spent traveling, first to Washington D.C. and then to Canada, for Montreal. I went with Ophelia, as we released her finished documentary Together We Can!, and exhibited my pictures diplaying the making of it.My pictures were exhibited at the Newseum.At the events we made contact with lots of interesting people, of which I hope to begin working with several. Among the plates of food there was hot air indeed, but a lot of determination as well. As it comes to HIV/AIDS-related issues, it seems bureaucracy can sometimes be overthrown by simple, strong devotion. If none other, Ophelia herself would be a great example of this.

AIDS2008 in Mexico City - with focus on Ophelia Haanyama
2009-03-28 15:16:00
AIDS2008 Conference, Mexico CityIn five hectic days the enormous conference and event of AIDS 2008 took place in the beginning of August at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City. With about 25 000 visitors from all over the world - country leaders, chairmen of major corporations and pharmaceutical companies, activists, doctors, nurses, patients and several thousands of media representatives the conference turned the capital of Mexico into a teeming hub. I followed Ophelia Haanyama as her personal photographer.The many speeches and seminars were held by highly involved people, such as Bill Clinton in the picture above. Ban Ki-moon, the head of the UN and Margaret Chan, the head of the WHO were two others. Focus of many debates was centered on what we've accomplished so far in terms of prevention of HIV - and what we have to put our focus on in the immediate future. The conference's main slogan and theme was "UNIVERSAL ACTION NOW!", which was hard to miss. Most speaker...

Dakar
2009-03-28 15:16:00
Dakar, SenegalAfter leaving the beautiful isles of Cabo Verde behind us, we flew to DKR - Dakar - in Senegal. Stepping out into the middle of 20 or 30 taxidrivers all eager to help us made our first hour quite hectic - but we finally managed to get to the hotel in the middle of the Sacre Coeur district.A city framed by mud walls and many highways, Dakar seems an impossible place to understand. When asking for a map, you simply get the answer "A map, over Dakar? Why?". Yet everyone seems to know the neighborhood. Every corner boasts a street vendor showing off his mangoes, and the muslim taxidrivers are always present. The lack of safe cars is just as obvious - it's a wonder most taxi's can even start their engines. With help from Alaji, a local guide based on the Ile de Goree, we went to several beautiful sights of the capital city. From the saharan dunes to the many mosques scattered everywhere Dakar is an impressive city - with splendors as well as downsides. D...

West African Paradise
2009-03-28 15:16:00
Tarrafal, Santiago After a couple of days rest on Boa Vista, we´re now back in action. Thanks to TACV, the local airline, we´ve been able to do some serious island-hopping - which has landed us on the capital island of Santiago. Until just a couple of years ago, this WAS Cape Verde. Founded by pirates and seafarers, it´s now a vibrating hub with a mixture of local fishermen and farmers, businessmen and entrepeneurs. You can see some signs of tourism, but it´s mainly untouched here. Some know english, but without knowledge of the local Creole language you are very limited. Passing through Praia, the capital city, we´re currently in Tarrafal on the northern shore. With mountains framing the scenery, the town is small and quiet - with a large beach being the main social spot. At night everyone gathers here, playing games, swimming and relaxing together. Seems a total bliss. Young boys daring each other to dive from cliffs, and small girls trying the chilly Atlantic waters. And they´re...