hellocloud photography by Ken Lönnström

Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/400

F Number

1.8

ISO

100

Focal Length

50mm

Metering Mode

Center weighted average

“I miss you when something really good happens, because you are the one I want to share it with. I miss you when something is troubling me, because you are the one who understands me so well. I miss you when I laugh and cry because i know that you are the one that makes my laughter grow and my tears disappear. I miss you all the time, but I miss you most when I lay awake at night and think of all the wonderful times we spent with each other; for those were some of the best times of my life.”
Quote is borrowed from Jeanette Winterson on Thinkexist.com

True friends are absolutely amazing. They can make a chewing gum seem funny. A broken heart is definitely not a problem, they lend you their own heart until yours is whole again.  And even if we all knew that the End of the World were upon us, our true friends would make it feel like a vacation.

“Pack your bag light mate, we’re off to buy some ice cream so we can enjoy the fireworks peacefully. And oh, don’t forget the sunscreen.”

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/25

F Number

10

ISO

200

Focal Length

33mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Yesterday, the last day of the weekend, I went on a road trip together with my Jenny and two of our friends. Cramped together in our little V-dub Herman the German were also Matt, the awesome Australian and Masako, our cute Japanese friend.

We have all worked together a few months ago so it felt a little bit like a reunion to go somewhere in our orange suntanned Beetle. Straight after lunch we jumped in the car, put on some Swedish country music and just enjoyed a relaxed and fun day.

First we went to see this old bridge called “One Tree Bridge.” You guessed it, it was made out of a huge tree, in fact it was a Karri tree, which can grow and become quite huge. Other places we visited was “The Four Aces”, “King Jarrah Heritage Trail”, “Fonty’s Pool” and at sunset we went to “The Diamond Tree” just outside of Manjimup.

It is a 51 meter high Karri tree which is still used as a fire lookout. There’s a “ladder” that enables anyone to climb up to the top and watch in awe, the forest surrounding the area. This is also where I took the above picture and a few others. It is undoubtedly the most intense sunset I have ever seen. I took pictures for probably 25 minutes because everything changed the whole time.

The others climbed down 20 minutes before me because they did not want to climb when it was dark, but hey I did not mind. Not the slightest. Being alone 51 meters up in a tree gazing around as the world burns and becomes ashes is an incredible experience/memory. Serenity.

Oh, how I’m gonna miss Australia.

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Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Time

21/1

F Number

16

ISO

100

Focal Length

17mm

In seven hours time my friend Veronica is leaving from Stockholm on a well deserved vacation to Thailand. She will be gone for two weeks with one of her amazing friends. All of which made me think of this picture.

It is taken in Brisbane in September 2008, only a few weeks before my beloved came to Australia for the first time. I remember that it was one of those rare nights that seems to be filled with some sort of magic. With me, were my German mate mARTin and my friendly Irish room mate James. Both of whom I miss a lot. Quite a lot to be frank. We were just strolling around the park with our cameras, trying to catch some glimpses of the night life.

Isn’t it funny how some people you meet, only for a fraction of ones life, can make such a huge impact on everything? Honestly, what would life be without friends?

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Aperture Priority

Exposure Time

1/250

F Number

11

ISO

200

Focal Length

17mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Slow down and breath. Enjoy the beautiful silence the night and darkness brings. You can do it although you are surrounded by people. You do have the control of blocking out everything.

For instance, all around me there are people talking and drinking beer like old and new friends are supposed to do. They are fooling around and screaming in different languages to one another, but still, here I am in a chair next to our Volkswagen, closing my eyes and listening to a meaningful song by Staind called “Tangled up in you”.

I’m dreaming of my wonderful friends, both old and new ones and others I do not yet know. How I wish to meet all of you and just laugh. You great people are from all around the world. Germany, USA, Canada, England, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand and of course Australia.

The biggest dream I’ve ever had is to meet all of you at the same time. To just see all of you from every different age group there is, interact and get to know one another. Wouldn’t that be bloody brilliant?

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Normal Program

Exposure Time

1/250

F Number

11

ISO

100

Focal Length

17mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Time passes so quickly, in most cases too quickly. That’s what everyone says. Not only that, we hear it spoken aloud every day, we think about it every day and we remember it every single day. The years passes by and there’s no stopping to it. You could call it a never-ending battle, if you think of it as a battle.

What I find interesting though is tracing back ones past. Trying to remember what I’ve gone through since the age of six or think of an awesome barbecue we had a few weeks ago. Following ones own footprints is sometimes what can lead us on the right path into the future.

The above picture was taken a few days before New Years during a road trip up north past Perth, in a town called Cervantes. If I remember correctly. That road trip together with my love Jenny, our Australian friend Daisy and her two British friends Jess and Lindsey, were overwhelmingly hot. We spent the whole day sweating in the car but it was well worth it because we got to see the famous Pinnacles and we had lots of fun.

Now it is actually time for bed because we start work at five in the morning. Pictures from work will be coming up on the blog in a universe not too far away in a future we, as of now, can’t foresee. Good night and sleep tight!

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Normal Program

Exposure Time

1/50

F Number

5.6

ISO

1000

Focal Length

30mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

The last two weeks we’ve had such a bad luck regarding our journey to Western Australia and with the preparations. Every day there have been new delays which we begin to find exhausting, mostly because we are not directly responsible for these time-pushers.

Just too many things to count really and some of them are still pushing the time, like a bulldozer moving rocks ahead of it through a very long tunnel.

I am however very happy to have such wonderful friends. The above picture was actually taken more than a year ago in Brisbane when out walking with one of my best friends mARTin, whom I miss dearly and think of daily. Click here to read the blog post from last year.

It will probably take us one more day before we go on our long road trip, because of – you guessed it – unnecessary delays.

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/320

F Number

9

ISO

100

Focal Length

85mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

For a month now, since we came back to Australia, I’ve been struggling with different things. Dreams, thoughts and visas. That’s just a few of them. Although there has been plenty to do, I have enjoyed every moment of this time. It’s not until it is over, that you can look back and see how far you’ve actually come. Too see for yourself that you have changed, grown and developed yourself.

Also that things often turn out better than you’d expected. My 2nd work visa have been accepted, which means I’m not crippled anymore to just exist. We can go wherever we wan with no consideration that I have to leave the country in three months time, just to come back in a few days.

I have a clearer plan for the future. Instead of no map, I have now made one, showing some of the way to my future that I want to create for myself. In six to seven months me and Jenny are coming back to Sweden. Not to stay permanently, but to gain a much better chance for a permanent Australian or New Zealand citizenship. We are going to study for a few years.

Have finally decided what I want for a career and that is to work with my photography. That’s why I’m considering to study International Marketing, since that’s a big part of being a professional photographer. In my spare time I’ll focus on the photography and also take every opportunity for photo-meetings or that like. Also become more active on some photography communities, everything in order to get more critics and new ideas.

The action picture below is taken by my friend Veronica Orrholm Zentio in August 2008.

Manufacturer

NIKON CORPORATION

Model Name

NIKON D80

Exposure Program

Normal Program

Exposure Time

1/100

F Number

5

ISO

400

Focal Length

18mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Also when we are back in Sweden, we’re gonna have the best of times! Meet friends, whom I often think of, but that I see with too large gaps. Not any more!

One other thing that feels so good today is that hellocloud photography is finally open! I’ve spent so many weeks, just this last month, to work on everything with the blog. The design is new, the structure is new, the pictures are new even for some of the old posts. I do have a few new plugins, which there is probably only one that concerns you guys/gals…

If you are interested in photography and are wondering what settings I’ve used for the pictures… all you have to do is left-click the picture once and then all my settings will show. Click once more and it goes away.

Would you happen to have any thoughts concerning the new blog design or regarding my pictures, please feel free to write. I appreciate honesty.

Now it’s time for bed, but thanks for reading. Take care and stay happy!

Ken Lönnström
hellocloud photography

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/50

F Number

10

ISO

250

Focal Length

17mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

After our zorb-adventure we had planned on going to Rainbow Springs in Rotorua which is a beautiful spot to watch nature. In the tickets you get a 24h access to the park and they have open til 10 pm. From what I have read they light up everything very nicely so you’ll get a whole different experience.

Unfortunately because of the rain, we skipped that and will take it on our way back to Auckland in the end of the trip. What we did instead was to cruise along some small roads until we got to Matamata where Hobbiton lies. We just wanted to have a look at the place since we’d be returning the day after.

In New Zealand they drive wonderful cars. Both new and old ones. Compared to Australia they don’t seem to be as strict on the whole customizing area. The cars here are modified. So when we parked our campervan Bamse I saw this amazing Dodge Charger and just had to take a photo for my friend Lars-Daniel.

Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Normal Program

Exposure Time

1/25

F Number

5.6

ISO

400

Focal Length

53mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Normal Program

Exposure Time

1/30

F Number

11

ISO

250

Focal Length

59mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

Then our journey for a camping ground began. We drove around for probably for hours. Followed some signs, that ended up in this upperclass village. Anyways, that’s what we expect. It is called Karapiro Village. We drove and drove until we came to a road. And that road was named “Luck At Last Road.” We took a picture and turned. Found the campsite but no manager were there and it was quite expensive so we decided to have a wild camp. Again. Great fun though.

Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

30/1

F Number

22

ISO

400

Focal Length

17mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/500

F Number

2.2

ISO

200

Focal Length

50mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

That’s the name of two wonderful human beings. We have been lucky enough to have spent the day with them on a road trip with Herman. Herman also likes them, he said so on our way home. They made him smile! And blush, when I showed him the pictures I had taken. To be honest, it looked quite funny since he is already orange.

We have been to Beechworth, an old gold miners town which is quite famous in this area and is also filled with tourists. They have a highly recommended ghost tour in an abandoned mental hospital, a big candy store with lots of “black” dolls and with a no-camera-policy, an awesome brewery with real german pretzels and good bear. For those who enjoy that. And Jenny also notes that they have a great bakery.

After Beechworth we went to Woolshed Falls which is not far away, even with European standard. Jenny tried, as always, to fall down in a river. But this time a slightly larger one. I finally got the opportunity to adventure into an undiscovered area… Couple portraits! The hard drive is bursting with great pictures, although next time I’ll take even better ones.

For each time I pick up my camera, I learn something new. Either it is a new technique about my camera, another way of using my eyes or practising skills in making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. No matter what, it’s a great feeling of learning!

Have a wonderful night and thanks for today!

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Manufacturer

Canon

Model Name

Canon EOS 40D

Exposure Program

Manual

Exposure Time

1/2

F Number

4.5

ISO

800

Focal Length

33mm

Metering Mode

Pattern

We came home an hour ago to the kiwi orchard where we now live for an undetermined amount of time. We have been out in Myrtleford (45 minutes away) to a restaurant with a couple which we just recently got to know. Isaac and Janna. Wonderful people! Janna actually comes from Sweden and Isaacs mom is from Sweden but he was born in Australia. He lived with Janna in Sweden for four years but they moved back to Australia a short time ago.

All day have been a bit stormy, very big and dark rainy clouds have been moving over us. Just before we left tonight it began pouring down and by the time we left the car running for Janna and Isaacs door, the rain stood like fish rods in the ground.

The night was very pleasant filled with Swedish words and ugly songs. On our way home we had a few problems, or more like a test drive course to confirm the handling on Herman is awesome. Big sticks had fallen down from the trees. Some of the trees had also buckled for the weight of the storm. Luckily for us we were able to sneak around all of these trees.

Now that we came home to Leigh and Tina, they were awake waiting for us. They had been out tonight as well and a neighbor who drove before them had a chainsaw with him, so he began chopping the trees in the way. That’s why we could get pass. If we wouldn’t have gotten home until midnight they would have gone to find us since there is no cell phone signal.

Now it really is time for bed so we are ready to prune and tie down kiwi trees in the orchard tomorrow.

But how are you guys?

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