hellocloud photography by Ken Lönnström » personal

In this world of unnecessary hurry

Ken — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:04:24 +0000

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?

The Wheel of Progress

Ken — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:17:00 +0000

On rare occasions I have dreams that I actually remember. Most often they involve my past, what I’ve been through and they try to teach me things. At some instances when I’ve had problems or questions I’ve been pondering, they have been resolved not by me directly. They have been resolved by dreams. Sometimes when dreaming it is just like I’m an actor, playing a roll I can’t really change and experience things all over again, sometimes for years until they make sense. Do you recognize that sort of dreams?

On a different subject. Every day I think of you, my family and friends, wishing you were here to experience all these exciting things alongside me. It is a unique type of life I have experienced these last two years. Sometimes I get amazed myself when thinking about how far I’ve come and in that sense not only in distance. Personal development. Something all of us crave for every once in a while, to feel that we are getting somewhere. Not wasting the years, so that in the end you cannot remember which year you did what since they were all the same.

What I wanted to say is that I think of my family and friends every single day. Among those I count persons I’ve only met once that I still keep close to my heart. I promise never to stop striving for a life more suitable for me and wish you to promise the same thing to yourself. And not only promise, you have to mean it as well. Lets develop and expand and experience ourselves in all the ways possible for as long as we live. Come on, I dare you to live a unique life.

Time flies when love is all around us

Ken — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:54:52 +0000

One year have truly passed so quickly. Today it is one year ago since me and Jenny went to Fraser Island, ran up and down the beach like maniacs because of the jump sharks. Of course they don’t exist, but we didn’t know that because our guide lied to us. He told us that if we went to close to the water, the big sharks could jump up and bite us. Then patiently wait for the tide to turn in order to drag us with them.

We had just been to the Champagne Pools, was strolling back to the Indian Head where we’d left the car and as we walked back, all alone, we talked and held hands. After a moments hesitation I asked Jenny if we were a couple. We stopped to gaze at each others. Under our bare feets were the sand and the noise from the sea was quite loud when Jenny finally answered “Yes, I would like that. Really much actually.”

Exactly a year ago we slept in our tent and held each other so soft and hard at the same time. From that moment none of us have ever let go and never will.

This lovely picture is taken by Juliana Wiklund (morethanwords.se). She is an extraordinary gifted photographer who knows how to catch feelings and true love instead of just developing pictures. We were lucky to meet her on my birthday, just before we went to Australia.

Sorry guys but I’m heading off to bed to hug Jenny…

Lots of love

ps. Yes I put that very big watermark on the picture.

Brand new start

Ken — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:25:52 +0000

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.

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

Where would we be without youth?

Ken — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:05:22 +0000

Lately I have been thinking about kids and parents. All of us have different experiences. I have honestly disliked and have had problems handling kids. Just seen them as annoying and irritating, sometimes even bad tempered and horrible. And at other occasions seen them get ill treated.

The reason why I probably haven’t liked kids that much is because of my own life. They have reminded me of my childhood where I was afraid of going to school everyday. Everytime I see a kid treat another youth bad all I can see is red because I know the feeling of being pushed.

Lucky for me, just the last few years I’ve gotten to know some awesome kids. For instance my nieces. They are adorable and I miss them alot. That’s the hardest part about being in the other hemisphere, I miss them so much. It is a fact that they do grow centimeters and IQ everyday. And one day I want to take their photographies. Tell them stories, read to them and use all different kinds of voices. Just be there for them, because that’s what they deserve.

Unfortunately I only have good pictures of this little spillevink though I know my sister Petra have awesome pictures of hers and Niclas’ wonderful treasure.

I am so grateful of having the opportunity nowadays to associate the word “kids” with my nieces and others I’ve met, compared to before when all I could think of was the kids from school who chased me home, stole my things, called me names and tried to break my spine on a hand rail.

Back to the roots

Ken — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:10:14 +0000

After five years waiting I have finally taken the step combining the future with my past. What before felt so hard, just now feels so right. What is it that sometimes scares us so that we hide parts of ourselves? Working with Beetles will always remind me of the time me and my father spent together all these sunny days and dark rainy nights in the garage. Dreaming. Fantasizing. Discussing. Drawing. Spending time.

Why have I lost so much time not working with Beetles since I have so many wonderful memories linked together with them? They give me so many flashbacks from a time long ago, that during certain periods lay forgotten in the pool of memories. Probably because I know I will never ever experience and gain more mental pictures together with my dad.

But I can get many more special memories that will remind me of my father. And honestly, what is life worth if you don’t have any good memories to pull forth from the back of your head? Isn’t that really what life is about? Any day you want, just sit down and be able to go through everything that have made you smile, laugh or just given you that good feeling inside of your chest.

The cry of yesterday

Ken — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:34:42 +0000

Inside of me there is a great sorrow. Like that one after a loss of something you hold dear or someone you love. The feeling reawakens at certain moments, however most often when I am alone and have the time to think. Feel. Remember. And it is when I remember that my heart feels heavy and my eyes wet. Tears run down my cheeks, some of them get caught in my beard while others drip into my lap.

The music I am listening to plays the right strings and tones. It makes me remember everything as clearly as if I was just experiencing these particular memories. And at exactly that moment, I truly feel what I have lost. What I am missing. What makes me sometimes feel lost but at the same time strong. It is you I am missing. Because of you my heart aches, my tears flow. Why I feel sad when I just want you here, to confide in, hold, watch, talk, laugh or cry with. Those things other takes for granted.

When you disappeared as suddenly as the light of a blown out candle, it felt as when a cheerful song end and you find yourself in a dark unknown place. All there is left is this empty silence which comes closer, filling you with a terrifying cry and horror, wishing you could bang your head against a rock-hard wall splitting your head open cause this would feel much less than the actual pain of losing you.

What is more. I am happy. The loss of you two have made me realize, life really is too short to do things you don’t want. Live in the presence, do your hearts bidding and love every day. Cause tomorrow it might be too late. And know that for each day that pass I love you even more.

Everything is about something

Ken — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:46:20 +0000

A year ago. Everything was so different.
The world was probably the same as today. My friends and family are still what they used to be. Rock solid and the greatest. But everything with me, was so different. You might haven’t noticed anything, so you ask yourself where this big change is?

Inside of me. I couldn’t be any more different than I was a year ago. Sometimes I looked into a mirror and saw something. These dead green eyes. My, dead green eyes. Without flare, without hope. My lips they just lied instantly. “Smile.”

My eyes never lie as long as you look clearly into them. They never have. They can tell you deep down whether I’m happy, sad, tired, angry, terrified, mischievous or thinking of something else. They can tell you if I love, hate or despise you. A year ago they were barely alive.

Today they can blaze with the fiercest light at injustice and in an instant my lips get tighter and my nails clenching into my palms. My breathing getting heavier, I can almost breathe fire.
Today I can take you into my arms, hold you so near me as no one ever been and just get filled up by you, your sweetness, love and feelings toward me and the universe. I can just close my now soaking eyes and smile.

A year ago I smiled in order to live. Today, I live in order to smile for just one more day.

En stilla tankefull kväll

Ken — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:42:50 +0000

Klicka på play.

Lyssna på melodin som nu ringer i dina öron. Hör stämningen, känn efter med hela din kropp men bli för all del inte ledsen eller melankolisk. Visst, melodin kan betyda många saker men nu ikväll, denna kväll, ska du lyssna på den och det du hör är mystik, spänning och en gåva om att inte känna till morgondagen. Den bringar hopp om att livet inte enbart behöver vara ett slentrianmässigt stadie. Utan livet är det vackraste vi har. Det mest värdefulla och det blir verkligen inte mer än vad vi gör det till.

Föreställ dig följande. Dagen har bara för några timmar sedan släckts och nu finns inga spår efter en ny morgon. Luften är varm men du svettas inte, luften är samtidigt svalkande när du andas in – och ut.. Du blundar och tar djupa andetag. Bakom dina ögonlock ser du nånting vackert, du ser en person, en händelse som betytt mycket för dig och människor du saknar. Plötsligt fylls du utav känslor du inte riktigt kan förstå, de är så många på en gång. Men du känner igen en tomhet, sorg, en förlust. En tår rinner från dina nu fuktiga bildtolkar.

I nästa djupa andetag kan du känna hur din puls lugnar ned sig, dina axlar sjunker och du behöver inte längre tänka på att hålla dina ögonlock stängda, de är det iallafall. Du slappnar av och plötsligt känner du igen en till känsla – det är glädjen som sprudlar inom dig även om du ibland håller den gömd för dig själv. Tankar flödar nu fritt och du är inte längre ensam på det mörka stället under den stjärnlösa himlen i en storstad.

Du är på ett av dina favoritställen i världen, en strand, en restaurang, i ditt eller ert hem, kanske till och med i din kärleks famn? Din sorg blandas med den ofattbara glädjen du känner inom dig. Nästa tår faller inte på grund av sorg, utan av lycka. Du är så lycklig. Kanske inte alltid men innerst inne även om du ofta känner dig trasig som en oälskad porslinsdocka. Hitta lyckan, känn den. Föreställ dig vad som gör dig lycklig och varför du förtjänar att få le var dag du har kvar att leva.

Koppla lyckan till en bild, en sång eller ett citat. Skapa dig en genväg till lyckan. Om du känner dig ledsen vissa dagar så kan du lätt hitta tillbaka till den. Låt dig uppfyllas med varje andetag av den här kittlande känslan, låt den hitta sin väg till varje kroppsdel så du nästan får svårt att hålla dig för skratt. Fokusera på din genväg till lyckan.

Öppna nu ögonen. Jag sitter precis bredvid dig och ler mitt stora leende. Har kollat på dig under hela tiden du haft dina ögon slutna. Faktum är att du är aldrig ensam även om du tror det. Försök minnas genvägen till din helt egna lycka.

Kom ihåg att skratta när du är glad eller känner dig sprallig. Det är bara din kropp, själ och livet som påminner dig om varför vi lever. För att få vara glada och lyckliga.