Contrasts in Varmland

Outside of the urban Sweden with the big cities like Stockholm and Gøteborg you will find, as in Vãrmland: forests, lakes, sparsly populated areas and some contrasts if you look for them...

Klick for a set of 9 selected photos of Varmland contrasts..

Carcassonne the medival city

Carcassonne one of the strongholds of the Cathars in the 1200. Later the city was expanded by the French. Today it presents itself as a giant tourist trap. Maybe a "must" to see in South of France but be there early in the morning or as here a bit out of season on a grey day to avoid the usual "tourist invasion"...

Klick for a series of 9 Carcassonne photos...

..or view all Flickr photo sets...

Carcassonne
City (pop., 1999: 43,950), southwestern France. Situated on the Aude River, it was occupied by the Iberians in the 5th century BC and later by Gallo-Romans. Muslims took it in AD 728. The French soldier Simon de Montfort captured it c. 1209, and in 1247 it was united with the French crown. It was burned by Edward the Black Prince in 1355 when he failed to take the citadel. A 13th-century church and cathedral survive, as do remains of medieval fortifications, the last of which were designated a World Heritage site in 1997. The city's main economic activities are tourism and retailing. (Ref. Brittanica)

Pont du Gard - Oh.. those Romans..

The best time to visit one of France most popular tourist spots must be in February. Being almost alone, taking time to study the place and the details of this facinating 2.000 year old structure.

Just klick here for a Flickr set of photos from the famous place..

Pont du Gard, Roman aqueduct across the Gard River, Gard dept., S France. Built in 19 B.C. to supply Nîmes with water, it consists of three tiers of arches and is c.900 ft (270 m) long and c.160 ft (50 m) high. This famous construction is admired for its architectural proportions. The lowest tier is now used as a road bridge.
It was constructed entirely without the use of mortar. The aqueduct's stones – some of which weigh up to 6 tons – are held together with iron clamps. The masonry was lifted into place by block and tackle with a massive human-powered treadmill providing the power for the winch. A complex scaffold was erected to support the aqueduct as it was being built. The face of the aqueduct still bears the mark of its construction, in the form of protruding scaffolding supports and ridges on the piers which supported the semicircular wooden frames on which the arches were constructed. It is believed to have taken about three years to build, employing between 800 and 1,000 workers.

The Pont du Gard was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985.

The Pont du Gard is today one of France's top 5 tourist attractions, with 1.4 million visitors.

Luxembourg in February

Not the best weather these days in February, on the other hand not so many tourists either at the popular place to visit.
(Photo above HDR, 3 photos bracketed, Photomatix)

For more photos of Luxembourg visit my Flickr set..

Luxembourg in the northwest Europe bordering on Belgium, Germany, and France. Created as a duchy in 1354, it was ruled successively by Burgundy, Spain, Austria, and France between 1443 and 1797, and it was made a grand duchy of the Netherlands by the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815). In 1839 the greater part of it passed to Belgium. The remainder became autonomous in 1848 and was declared a neutral and independent territory in 1867. Luxembourg is the capital. Population: 468,000. "

Winter days in Collioure, South of France

The little village Collioure in the region Languedoc Rousillon in the South of France. Very popular to visit in the summer.
Not so many to see around in January and February.
The photo above from the 'outside' of Collioure under some January storm 2007.

For a whole set of photos from January/February just click here...

Winter also in 2007

It took some time this year but in the end - like in January we had the snow up in the mountains. As here in our valley Tisleidalen, Valdres not far from the National park Jotunheimen.

You will find 12 selected photos by clicking here..

Beitostølen in December

Where the route 51 enters the high mountains of Jotunheimen there is a little village - Beitostølen. Just outside the village route 51 is often closed during the winter.
Photo: Blizzard at mount Bitihorn.
Be welcome to view the comlete set of 12 photos

December at Aker Brygge, Oslo

Aker Brygge was originally an old dockyard, which was rebuilt in the eighties and has become one of Oslo's main attractions. The unique multitude of shops and restaurants, combined with the special architecture makes Aker Brygge a place not to miss when visiting Oslo.
More people work at Aker Brygge today than in the days of shipbuilding. In the winter the residents more-or-less have the locality to themselves.
In summer and autumn thousands of people use Aker Brygge for recreation, and participate in the many activities that Aker Brygge has to offer.
More photos from Aker Brygge

Photos also in the "Resident" Magazine

After using 3 of my photos of some Cathar Castles, in South of France, in the English speaking magazine "Barcelona Metropolitan" the publisher now also have launched the article - and photos in the "Resident". Another English speaking magazine distributed along estate owners at the Costa Brava - popular region north of Barcelone ending in the border to France. For larger photo pls. click here.

Gioconda - before and now

It was my friend Gae La Rocca from Milan who detected some similarities between the famous painting of Leonardo Da Vinci: Gioconda and the streetshot I did of a young girl at an outdoor stand in Oslo where she displayed some CULT products.

Photos in Barcelona Metropolitan

Some time ago I had a request from the Magazine Barcelona Metropolitan about using some photos I had from 3 Cathar castles in the Catalan part of Languedoc-Rousillon in South of France. After settling the payment they was granted use of the photos for their printed Magazine in October 2006. And of course also to include a photo (left) at their webpage.
Enjoy the web article here >> or lookup this link for an impression of the magazine and article


Barcelona Metropolitan is published by Creative Media Group Creative Media Group was established to help English-speaking foreigners living in Barcelona and Catalunya through quality publications designed to inform and entertain.
Barcelona Metropolitan has been serving the city's foreign population since June, 1996. A free, monthly magazine, it offers articles on all aspects of local culture, as well as restaurant reviews, travel section and an extensive Listings.


Below the other 2 photos used by the Magazine

TrekEarthers in Switzerland

Back from an Oct. weekend in Switzerland (Val de Travers near Neuchantel) and a gathering with friends from TrekEarth.
This little collage presents some details of the event.
Klick for the large version of the collage here
And/or take a look at 22 other photos (Flickr) here..

Fall 2006

Fall again, here with some photos from the mountains in Mid Norway. The region is Valdres where we have our mountain cottage. Already in September the colours become typical for the fall due to the altitude of app. 1000m and also the nights as they become more chilled. Visit the photo theme at Flickr

Summer in South of France

With our apartement in Collioure as "base camp" we did some travels around in the region Languedoc-Rosuillon also this summer. This year we visited i.e:
Collioure, Port Vendres , Pruillans ,Prades , Canigou , Elne ,Thuir, Gorge Galamus , Rennes le Chateau ,Banyuls sur Mer ,Reserve Africaine, Narbonne ,Abbaye Frontfroide, Oppidum de Enserune and the empty lake Montady .

You are welcome to visit our theme at Flickr for some selected photos
Pls. enjoy ;-)

40 Photosets before 2007:

From 2007 pls. see the blog main menu

PHOTOS TIMELINE 2002-2006
2006: Norway - France - Spain - Netherland - Poland
2005: Norway - France - Italy - Sweden - Portugal
2004: Norway
2003: Norway
2002: Norway - Spain - France

PHOTOS TIMELINE 1900
1953 Easter/Påske

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Welcome

The new blog at the family home page is aimed to include some highlights from my interest in photographing.
Updating from time to time but not with too high ambitions for the blog.

Be welcome to surf around at our family home page and/or blog.
(...sometimes it will all be in Norwegian ;-)

Jack