A dull Midsummer's Eve, a photo from Sodermanland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

Just one more photo from Stockholm before I return to the Netherlands.

Last Friday Sweden celebrated Midsummer's Eve, one of the two most popular days of the year to most Swedes, the other one being Christmas Eve. It's a day of families and friends getting together to celebrate the arrival of summer, eating good food, drinking..., dancing with the children, playing funny games, wearing flower garlands. As the evening falls, and during the night, there will be the usual cases of fist-fights and stabbings...

This year the rain had been pouring down all through the night, at least in the Stockholm area, and during the day the sky was covered with a thick layer of grey clouds. I went for a long walk across Sφdermalm island looking for people having fun in spite of the weather, but all I found were these small groups of persons having picnics on the seats of an open air theatre in Vitabergsparken (White Mountain's Park). The lawns were still too wet. Nobody seemed to enjoy the day very much and the atmosphere was strangely quiet. Nobody took any notice of me as I walked across the stage and up the stairs. The happiest people were probably the man carrying a large plastic sack near the centre of the photo and his friend by the upper right corner. They had travelled across the entire European continent to spend three months in Sweden, hoping to make a better living from collecting refundable bottles and cans. They probably made good business on this great day of public drinking.

Here is a larger version.

In the workshop I have zoomed in on two persons sticking to Midsummer's traditions in spite of the weather.

Once again, trying to enter the carefully checked coordinates for the map view, I received this message:Invalid lat/long coordinate entered. As usual the note was bungled up, all paragraphs squeezed together.

tyro, papagolf21, jhm, pajaran, Fis2, alvaraalto, ikeharel, PaulVDV, ktanska, COSTANTINO, lucasgalodoido, Royaldevon, danos, ourania, ChrisJ, saxo042, Cricri, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (152607) 2016-06-28 2:53

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Je pense que le mauvais temps n'a pas trop attirι les visiteurs. Je ne sais pas si les traditions se perpιtuent ou non chez vous. Le monde nouveau semble oublier son passι, c'est dommage.
Merci pour les liens.
Amitiιs.
Philippe

emka (158156) 2016-06-28 2:58

Hi Gert, Looking at you main picture, I wanted to see these two girls. And this wish is fulfilled in Workshop. How funny! Specially the girl on the right is sticking to the tradition of good eating, probably not only on Midsummer. Strange that it is more popular then Easter.
We have also quite popular celebration this day, it is called St. John's Night. Earlier they went ot the forest to find the fern flower - a magic flower in Slavic mythology. Another custom that I still remember was to put the Wianki (Wreaths), on Vistula river. In communist time there was a "light and sound" event - a large-scale firework show. I was so busy lately that I forgot all about it and stayed at home :(.
No people on my today picture but I hope you will like Vilnius panoramas.
WArm regrads Malgo

tyro (30513) 2016-06-28 3:00

Hello Gert,

It was with interest that I read your note about the Swedish tradition for partying, eating and drinking on Midsummer's Eve but was saddened by the fact that such festivities can end in a very similar way to what not infrequently happens here with fighting and knife crime. But, if the dull weather put a damper on the festivities, perhaps it also reduced the number of casualties. It's also quite poignant to note the two foreign gentlemen working hard to scratch a living here while others relax and indulge themselves - I fear that in Britain, following the disastrous result of the recent referendum, many such honest workers are already facing appalling resentment and verbal abuse.

Despite the poor weather, this is a fine photograph though there is little sign that anyone's really having any great amount of fun - just sitting quietly contemplating the distant view or each other. Though the two rather cuddly young ladies in your workshop picture appear as though they have definitely made the most of the eating, if not the drinking, and have at least made the effort to wear their garlands.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

jhm (211736) 2016-06-28 3:41

Hello gert,

All the people are very quiet sitting on the seats.
A very nice place with a green lung in background.
You choose a very well angle, this create depth and perspective.
Sharpness and clarity are very well.
Nice done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

dkmurphys (79209) 2016-06-28 4:26

Hi Gert,
Nice enjoyable scene from this open air theater. I like the atmosphere, great summer scene.

Daniel

pajaran (115891) 2016-06-28 4:32

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici, dobar kontrast i perspektiva, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa tradicionalnog druzenja.
Lepo mesto sa druzenje i tradicionalno okupljanje.
Lepo popodne i sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good day.
Beautiful view and the moment, interesting and good text ...
Good work with beautiful photography workshop, a good contrast and perspective, beautifully captured moment with traditional socializing.
Nice place to socialize and traditional gathering.
Nice afternoon and all the best.
Paja.

Sergiom (117241) 2016-06-28 4:56

Bonjour Gert,

Le titre convient parfaitement ΰ ta photo du jour. C'est trθs vrai que les gens semblent s'ennuyer fermement et quelques uns tournent le dos ΰ la scθne.

Amicalement

Serge

lousat (139266) 2016-06-28 8:26

Hi Gert,2 interesting pics about this celebration of back of summer,not the best weather this year as i can see and read,but still nice too,warm and long days are always welcome in the northern Europe countries..ehehe...perfect captures,i like it! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Fis2 (170747) 2016-06-28 8:46

Witaj Gert!
Interesting notes.
Interesting trdycja a pity that so few people.
Good frame and colors.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (221593) 2016-06-28 9:48

Ciao Gert, lovely composition with a lot of people, good perspective, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-06-28 10:18

Hello Gert,
Bad weather at Midsommar, Sweden eliminated in the European football championship, no more Zlatan. Not the ideal start of the summer. And the TE-performance is again without any improvement. But also Sweden back in the UN Security councel and no Svexit, said Kristersson.
And two points for this excellent daily life picture.
Groet Rob

PaulVDV (62892) 2016-06-28 10:50

Hello Gert,
So that's how a Swedish amphitheater looks like!
The top is nicely lined by a lush green layer of plants and trees.
Midsummer, a north-European feast of which the tradition has never made it to Belgium. I think many people here will associate the name easily with 'Midsomer Murders' ...
Best regards, Paul

ikeharel (113345) 2016-06-28 11:01

Hello Gert,
The scene match what you had describes and gave the right title, but a nice daily-life or maybe celebrating-daily-life photo.
As for maps co-ordinates entry it is rather very simple: Always open a web-page with Google-maps, than right-click on the spot you chosen, a tab with a line saying "what's here?" opens - by clicking upon this line - you gat a notification-tab with the name of the place and the co-ordinates.
I always "narrow" to 4 digits max. after the dot. Make sure you first enter on TE the left-set number as "Latitude" only after you enter the right-set as "Longitude". Easy, you see...
By the way: co-ordinates as appearing on Wikipedia are not numerical but 1/12 of one degree.
Good evening,
Ike

ktanska (44766) 2016-06-28 11:57

Hej Gert,
I'm a bit surprised about the bad weather there. In Western Finland Friday was fine and Saturday just great. Here the view probably would have been pretty similar anyway, because people simply flee away from bigger cities in Midsummer (and drink somewhere else).
Kari

COSTANTINO (116490) 2016-06-28 13:37

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
a different photo from you with
useful and impressive notes explaining
that its a day of familiew and friends
getting together to celebrate the arrival
of summer eating food
welldone indeed
Costantino

Tue (92360) 2016-06-28 13:55

Hello Gert,
It doesn't seem to be a very vibrant Midsommar celebration, such a pity the weather wasn't very summer-like this year. A nice capture of the empty seats nevertheless with some people scattered around the place. Nice WS-picture of the two girls wearing flowers in their hair. Strange that you're experiencing these difficulties during uploading, it's working fine for me now, also the coordinates.
Lars

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2016-06-28 14:40

Olα Gert,
interessante fotografar esse feriado, e a origem dele ι curiosa tambιm. Bom ver as pessoas a vontade assim. Belo trabalho.
Parabιns e Abraηo,
Lucas

carlo62 (81265) 2016-06-28 15:08

Ciao Gert
guardando le foto e leggendo le note rimango sempre piω perplesso dal fatto che molti amici di TE si siano allontanati. Qui si scoprono nuovi luoghi, tradizioni e usi dei vari popoli e trovo bellissimo tutto questo. Probabilmente non θ il sito piω indicato per chi ama le foto tecnicamente belle, ma nessun altro sito che io conosco ha contemporaneamente foto e note come questo.
Era solo un modo per dire che la tua bella foto θ accompagnata da un'interessante nota.
Saluti
Carlo

Nicou (193806) 2016-06-28 21:18

Hello

quelle vue et compo quel graphisme de bancs et ces personnes dispersιes superbe effet la barre vιgιtative au sommet merveilleux.
Bravo et maitiι
Nicou

Royaldevon (85932) 2016-06-29 1:54

Hello Gert,

What interesting notes.
How pleasing that such traditions of family celebrations remain as part of the country's festivities. Sadly, you can't order good weather at will.
There is a real undercurrent of discontent and lack of respect, that some people resort to violence. Sadly it occurs in many countries!
I presume you spoke to the two men, diligently clearing the site, to know their b/g. It harped back to scenes that I have seen from underdeveloped countries, where families scrape a living from collecting 'rubbish'. Did they seem proud of their endeavours or demeaned by the work? If they make a decent living, it will be all to the good!

An interesting photograph to accompany your notes. Initially, I thought they were waiting for the opening of some outdoor theatre!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

jmdias (115156) 2016-06-29 2:03

gert

interesting the structure and the visual aspect with the people here and there.
thank you for the WS in my photo.

hugs

jorge

danos (110407) 2016-06-29 2:07

Hello Gert,
a really dull snapshot with all these people to are sitting on the wooden benches to celebrate the Midsummer's Eve.I don't know the events that took place but all these looks like to waiting for something?

Regards,Danos

GyurMaster (24830) 2016-06-29 4:26

Dear Gert,

Nice, genre and very informative note, as always! I particularly like the two ladies with the ornaments on their heads.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

fabianoleite (13575) 2016-06-29 6:16

Interesting information and event. The view of the people sitting, waiting for something nice, makes a good subject. And well surrounded by trees. Nice work, congratulations!

rychem (72187) 2016-06-29 7:10

Very nice scene, excellent reportage photo, I like both men and both women shown in WS :), calm and silent atmosphere
Very well captured
regards Ryszard

ourania (51103) 2016-06-29 8:16

Hello Gert,
a great description of this year's Midsummer's Eve, which unofrtunately turned out dull due to the weather. The same feelings occur in Greece too on Easter Day or May 1st when the weather is not good and the news, that keep warning the people many days in advance, make things worse, I think. Pictures and note describe the atmosphere perfectly, in a way that is both straightforward and poetic, like in films. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great evening,
Ourania

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-06-29 9:56

Hi Gert
A simple colourful street scene -something for the eye to be drawn to, that you have used the opportunity to grab nicely and it places attention to the relaxing people and the surroundings offer another perspective to daily urban lives. An excellent social observational shot, Congrats.
Best regards

ChrisJ (171822) 2016-06-29 18:46

Hi Gert,

A subdued looking Midsummer's Eve probably on account of the rain as you mention in the note. Still, at least winter is over and it is actually pleasant to go outside without stumbling around in the dark and icy streets. Tfs!

saxo042 (38078) 2016-06-29 23:09

Hej Gert,
Du har fεngat tristessen mycket bra. Kompositionellt ocksε mycket bra med alla parallella linjer etc.
Hδlsnigar
Gunnar

Cricri (176) 2016-06-30 4:41

Hi Gert
Un temps qui ne fait pas sourire comme chez moi en Belgique et les pays voisins
En attendant ces personnes prenne l'air sous une journιe sans pluie et passe un moment avec d'autres personnes, belle scθne de vie
belle journιe
cricri

worldcitizen (16072) 2016-07-01 10:55

Hello Gert,
Even though the weather is dull, thanks for showing us this year's Midsummer's Eve day there in Sweden. I can spot the two ladies in the WS sitting in the middle of the photo. Everyone does look a bit subdued. I had a teacher in high school who had a Swedish boyfriend. I clearly remember her devoting one day to telling us about Midsummer's Eve, and showing us photos of the usual customs. That always stayed in my mind...

mcmtanyel (68503) 2017-06-07 20:04

Hello Gert,
I like the repeating patterns of the bleachers and the occasional dots of color provided by some of the picnickers. I love the WS photo and I can spot those two in this photo, too.
Regards.
MT

Photo Information

Copyright: Gert Holmertz (holmertz) (102700)
Genre: ’νθρωποι
Medium: Έγχρωμο
Date Taken: 2016-06-24
Categories: Καθημερινότητα, Γεγονός
Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2016-06-28 2:26

Viewed: 2133

Points: 64

Discussions

To tyro: thank you John (1)
by holmertz, last updated 2016-06-28 08:21
To alvaraalto: no svexit (1)
by holmertz, last updated 2016-06-28 11:58
To ktanska: weather (1)
by holmertz, last updated 2016-06-28 12:36
To Royaldevon: talk (2)
by holmertz, last updated 2016-06-29 02:39
To GyurMaster: thanks Gyφrgy (1)
by holmertz, last updated 2016-06-29 07:55

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Sodermanland photo
Sodermanland photo

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Photographer's Note

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Additional Photos by Gert Holmertz (holmertz) (102700)

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