Published in ‘BEST OF THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS 2014’ book by One Eyeland
Here it is, the golden book. Shining and glittering on my desktop this morning and I’m happy to say I’m published in “Best of the best photographers 2014”. As they state themselves, it contains the finest images in One Eyeland of 2014, chiseled from a raw material of over 107 000 photographs down to 191… And I’m in there. I take off my hat, and bow.
“We chase photographers from seven corners of the world. We tempt them, taunt them, badger them and sweet talk them into sharing their dearest images with us. Applying a ruthless filter called ‘exacting standards’, we then handpick the ‘Best of the Best Photographers’. The One Eyeland Book Volume 4 is an inspiring compilation of this crème de la crème. Melted from a mighty corpus of 107 000 uploaded pictures, and forged from a staggering shortlist of 24 500 images, the golden collection is a showcase of 191 scintillating photographs worthy of the yellow metal.” Sharad Haksar, Founder of One Eyeland
It’s “not just a book, it’s a collector’s item” and if you want to buy the book you can get hold of it here. But a good alternative is of course to check out the e-version here.
Music album cover art for Solala – stormy portraits in Göteborg
We had been waiting for that truly moody overcast autumn day, and when it came in October, we went out to the coastline outside Göteborg to shoot the music album cover art for Solala.
“Solala started by a kitchen table 2½ years ago and has since become an online phenomena with millions of YouTube views and a huge fan base. It was time for the release of their first album, Swedish Fishermen, and I got the honor and assignment to shoot their album art.”
Being from Göteborg the brief was to put this coastal band in their natural environment but at the same time to take their hallmark, the kitchen table, out to wherever they were. To create that blueish stormy feeling we went out really early one very rainy morning.
Although one of us slipped and fell, a table leg fell off, and loads of goose bumps… we had nailed the perfect set and we surely were a very happy crew! And it couldn’t have ended more magically then having coffee by the sea, and the guys treated me and Amanda (assistant) with a little private concert by bursting out singing their, by then not released, It’s gonna be me. To sit there out on that tiny island and just listen to the guys is something I could do all day 🙂
The graphic design of the album was done by fantastic Andreas Jacobsson of MOLLBYRÅN, and it was a really great collaboration.
“How do you tell a story in a creative image? Why is it important with a location scouting library, what symbolizes different colours in different cultures, and how can a single piece from nature build an entire story?“
A big audience of about 300 joined me when I shared why and how image storytelling is so important and has gotten such a big place in my heart (and yes… you are correct… I was on the verge of tears there for a while…). I talked about 5 tools you can use to help you create and adapt your story. Lastly I gave you an exercise you can use if you find it difficult to get going with your own storytelling. And of course I couldn’t help to spice it up with some anecdotes from my photographic adventures as well!
~ INTERESTED IN HAVING ME AS A SPEAKER? FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE! ~
Interview and feature for Moderskeppet – Behind the creative work
“In photographer Jenny Jacobson’s head fits lots of amazing stories, both her own but also others. Stories that come to life in photos after careful planning, photo shooting, and creative image processing. Jenny is an image narrator who fascinates and arouses emotions…
What are her thoughts about her creativity?”
That’s the description for the interview made by Moderskeppet last week. Through the interview I got to think about questions that I believe would be useful for every photographer to contemplate every now and then. Join me and get Behind the Scenes of my parallell worlds! READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE(it’s in Swedish)!
Questions asked: WHY DO YOU CREATE? DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR YOUR PHOTOS? WHERE DO YOU IDEAS LIVE? DO YOU COMPLETE ALL PROJECTS? DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE INSPIRATION, OR DO YOU JUST GO FOR IT ANYWAY? WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU CREATE? TELL US ABOUT AN IMAGE THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU. AND CAN WE SEE SOME BEHIND THE SCENES FROM CREATING IT? DO YOU WORK A LOT ON BEING VISIBLE AS A CREATOR? CAN YOU GIVE US A BOOK RECOMMENDATION?
MY TIP FOR FURTHER READING
Do you want to find out more, maybe in English?
You can find features, interviews, publications, and editorials about JENNY JACOBSSON under the category Features & Publications!
Create your own fantastical story by following me through my process of creating storytelling photography with my special version of realistic surrealism. I’ll teach you a simple method for coming up with a story, plan and prepare everything for your shoot, how to shoot it, and show you how you can approach the editing. With this course you can open the door to your own enchanted world of images.
THE COURSE IS IN SWEDISH so for you who don’t speak it… you might need some help to understand it… If you are interested in getting English training from me, let me know in the comments below because I’m looking into how I can broaden my spread of knowledge.
COLLABORATION WITH MODERSKEPPET
For this course I worked together with, and as a freelance teacher for, Moderskeppet (meaning The Mothership), who has been teaching photography and Photoshop for 10 years. At Moderskeppet they create video courses (about 500 available today) for you who are a creator. You’ll get unlimited access when you subscribe to them. Fantastic teachers teach you how to photograph, edit, make film, and design. They truly are an amazing, fun, and knowledgeable crew that I’ve grown to love dearly. For quick daily free tips, go to Moderskeppet – Knowledge for photographers.
In the spotlight of ‘f11 Magazine’ – 27 page feature and interview
“Jenny Jacobsson is a Swedish photographer from the city of Gothenburg. Her mission is to create a narrative, using expressive and emotional imagery. From concept, through construction, capture and post production, her images hint at stories where the impossible really does becomes possible. It’s a far cry from her previous work in neurobiology and the satisfying result of a decision to follow her heart and embrace her passion for creating conceptual imagery. Jenny Jacobsson – Storyteller“
Tim Steele
That is the description for the big feature and interview in f11 Magazine, written by publisher and creative director Tim Steele. I’m so happy to have been given the opportunity to be part of this amazing magazine written all the way from the other side of the globe, in New Zealand. In this October issue the magazine covers images taken from all across Australia (winning work from AIPP APPA Awards 2014), to the desert in southern Africa (Joshua Holko), finding its way to the northern climes of my home in Scandinavia, reflecting the global approach by f11. And it’s exciting!
Some of my favorite interview questions from the feature is
• Your subjects obviously inspire you to tell their stories, but what external sources also influence or inspire you? • I see strong conceptual pre-visualisation in the creation of your images, does the idea always survive the migration to the capture process?
If it’s hard to read from the images, read the full 27 page feature and interview here:
Do you remember the incredibly popular movie (and book) “Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe)”? I certainly do since it was one of my favorite movies growing up and the incredible story about friendship and strong women has always had a special place in my heart.
“The american author Fannie Flagg recently released a new book called “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion” and when the Italian publishing house Rizzoli Publications asked me if I wanted my image to be the book cover for the Italian version, I jumped up and down out of excitement!“
The cover image is one of the portraits from my series ‘Parallels‘. A big part of my work process is the inspiration that I draw from a particular location. Passing by this old gas station made my heart jump and thump and this little story evolved in my mind. I just had to make this shot! Bringing a 50’s inspired dress of mine I went back there with Andreas as assistant and after half an hour of shooting, and lots of cars passing by real close (as always I wonder what they thought…), this retro fashion inspired shot was done.
This image is proof that if you get that special feeling in your gut for a place, don’t hesitate to go at it. I’m happy to say that this image is one of the most appreciated as an art print from me. If you are interested or curious about getting this image or any other, check out my Prints section on my website and don’t hesitate to contact me.
Want to read the book? Go here if you want to buy it on Amazon.com in Italian, or if you want it in English (not my cover).
Creating the story of a phoenix, and setting fire to a man
“The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite; revive from ashes and rise.”*
When Anders came to me to tell his story through my portraits I got so excited. We had worked at the same office before, but I had no idea about the strong and gripping story surrounding his path through life. I feel so fortunate and honored to be one of those he wanted to open up for and to have been invited to hear the full story has truly enriched my own view of life. Hopefully, many more will get the opportunity to sit down with Anders and talk about his interesting life, and even more so, the fantastic transformation he is going through right now to come out a stronger person.
THE STORY OF A PHOENIX
The more he told me about his life the clearer it got that to me Anders is like a phoenix. Transforming in front of our very eyes, shedding his old life, rising from the ashes and coming out in all his splendour. Ready to take on the world again, to spread his wings and fly. Together we took this story and made it into that fabulous imaginative and a bit surreal reality we both are drawn to so much.
SHOOTING, BARBECUING CLOTHES AND SETTING FIRE TO A MAN
So we threw ourselves into creating this image and after loads of conversation and planning to come up with this final vision we went out to the archipelago here outside Göteborg (Gothenburg). The evening was warm and still and we gave ourselves proper time to do all we wanted to do. We had a marvelous picnic that Anders had made. We were barbecuing, not food, but clothes. We shot Anders for about 30 minutes and then we sat down on the warm cliffs and talked and talked watching the sun set.
Before any of you think I’m a terribly cruel person, setting fire to a man and pushing him off a cliff, I want to say that the whole shoot was safe. The clothes weren’t actually burning on Anders’s body, but instead the flames were added afterwards with some digital craftsmanship in Photoshop from frames that I took with burning and glowing fabric. “No men were harmed in this photography session” 😉
“ALL THE PREPARATION”
Since Anders seemed to have such a wonderful time through all of the process creating this portrait, later on I asked him what he found the very most fun part of it all. And it was so great to hear that he had enjoyed immensely the whole preparation phase, planning everything and the time we met up to tear up his clothes, and then later going into the photography day. And well… I couldn’t agree with him more 🙂
*Quote: Miguel de Cervantes, The Book of the Bizarre: Freaky Facts & Strange Stories (2008) by Varla Ventura
Large interview and feature published in Fotosidan Magasin
“GRAND MINIMALISM Jenny Jacobsson is the neurobiologist who stopped researching the human limitations and started creating new worlds where everything is possible.“
That is the headline and introduction of the interview and feature Fotosidan Magasin (one of Sweden’s largest photo magazines) just published about me in their latest issue. The theme of this issue is “creative editing” and Fotosidan called me up asking if I would be their featured profile for this topic. And of course I said yes (with a huge cheer!).
I want to give a warm thank you to the reporter Amy Lagerman for such a nice interview and conversations. It was a blast!
Winner in PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2014
I’m so humbled and happy to announce that a series of my images was awarded with a Silver Medal and an Honorable Mention in the renown 2014 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, in the Advertising/Fashion category.
The Px3 is regarded as one of, if not the, most prestigious photography competitions in Europe. The jury selected PX3 winners from thousands of photography entries from over 85 countries, and I must express that I’m so honored to have been selected as a winner. The PX3 is such an amazing competition and I want to congratulate all my fellow winners. There truly are such wonderful work awarded.
ABOUT PX3: The “Prix de la Photographie Paris” (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Winning photographs from this competition are exhibited in a high-profile gallery in Paris and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book. Website: px3.fr
Since it’s Throwback Thursday I want to revisit, and show you for the first time here on my blog, the conceptual portrait series ‘The creators’.
‘The creators’ is my examination exhibition project, shot and produced during my final year at Fotoskolan Göteborg (Photography School Gothenburg) and exhibited at Gothenburg Film Studios in December 2012.
THE CREATORS Examination exhibition series Portraiture
I – Pernilla – Writer, columnist, never-ending life reflector II – Eva – Dressmaker, fashion designer, bold style connoisseur III – John Ola – Composer, artist, stripped music hypnotist
Fascinated by the circle of inspiration and creativity, I knew I needed to focus my project on different types of creators. Reaching out to different types of artists, we initiated dialogues about what they do, why they create what they do, what inspires them, who they inspire, who they are… And the conversations shaped and carved out image ideas, building onto concepts. Through my portraits, I want to tell their stories, hoping to feed the circle of creativity.
ULTRA:EXTRA is an online platform for discursive conversations on visual art and culture in the digital age. They talk one-on-one with artists, writers, curators, critics, academics, and the public to create a forum for open and thoughtful discussion on what our eyes see in this world.
And when they asked me to take join in the conversation, I happily said YEAH!
If you want to see the interview and all the images featured on the ULTRA:EXTRA page, you can find it here.
‘THE BURDEN’ – a portrait of unrealistic beauty ideals
This is not a portrait of a girl. This is a portrait of all girls, who are suffering under warped expectations. A portrait of the burden of unrealistic ideals.
I’ve kept this place in the back of my mind for two years. At my first encounter I was blown away by it’s beauty and knew I had to make a portrait here one day. But I wasn’t prepared. And as we all know, the cherry blossom don’t last for too long. And when it’s gone, of course another year has to pass on by…
April came again. On my way from a meeting I took a detour to this park with my bicycle to check it out once more, and I got the exact same feeling again. Still I had no specific story in mind, but I felt a sudden urge to just go ahead and do something spontaneous. I started to ask around on my Facebook page for someone to model for me on short notice and Amanda, who is now attending the same photography school I did, volunteered. The timeframe was short, but with the wise words “GO JUST GO” as a tagline we jumped right at it.
the STORY
It so happened that Amanda only a few days earlier had posted a self made short film on YouTube that truly struck a cord with me. It’s called “För mycket hud i pannan” (in English “Too much skin in the forehead”) and is a very personal, very strong, message from Amanda about the effect the distorted beauty ideals can have on young women of today. But also about choice, willpower, and to be totally fed up with it. An issue that I, as so many others, have a personal relation to and feel very strongly about.
Sketching on the story for the image I couldn’t help but get inspired by Amanda’s story. It trickled down into my own tale, starting to crystallize a story about the price for the strive of beauty. In Japan, cherry blossoms are a true metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. They bloom out with such extreme beauty, and then they die within a few days, the petals floating like snowflakes to the ground. With this phenomenon and symbolism as a base the idea of a girl, or rather an entity, heavily weighed down by her task, started to form.
“To me, this image is a comment about beauty ideals, the pressure from the world around us, and the toll it’s taking to keep up appearances. But also, in this image lies a bit of hope, that the burden of unrealistic ideals one day will be lifted by our collective choice and willpower. Maybe even defeated.”
the PREPARATIONS
We decided to shoot the image just three days after me first bringing it up, not to risk the flowers to disappear. On the question of how early in the morning Amanda could imagine to come to the location her answer was “Everything for the arts – as early as needed”. Oh how I just love that attitude!
The day before the shoot I set the alarm to 05.30, grabbed my bike and went to check how the light looked at this hour.The light was how I wanted it to, but it was absolutely freezing cold and I was a bit worried that Amanda would be really uncomfortable with sitting still in a thin dress in that cold morning air. But again, Amanda just laughed at me worrying. And her enthusiasm couldn’t make more excited.
I also spent the day asking around for an old painter’s ladder, and happily, getting hold of one by the kindness of my former teacher Kalle. I also looked up a recipe for home made, environmental friendly… and hopefully more skin friendly… paint and went at it. It actually turned out better than expected! Creating my own paint bucket out of a strawberry jam container, going back and forth across town to get hold of the ladder, ironing the dress, packing some warm socks and a blanket… and we were good to go.
the (quite cold) SESSION
The shoot itself went very smoothly. Amanda was such a trooper in that dress, even with me splashing cold wet paint all over her and treating her like a baby, pulling ragg socks on and off of her bare feet to try to keep her warm between set ups.
It all took about 30 minutes from rigging the equipment until it was packed again, and then Amanda surely was well deserved to change into something more comfortable. Even though her skin to some extent was still covered in that, now dried up, pink paint… But she was still smiling 🙂
good work deserves a GREAT BREAKFAST
After the portrait was shot we went to the fantastic nearby, american diner inspired, Egg & Milk for breakfast and we spent a couple of absolutely great hours of chatting about hopes and dreams, upcoming shoots, and most things in life.
It’s so fascinating when you connect so strongly with someone you just met, forgetting about time, and just keep on talking about and sharing passions. It was such a lovely morning and I truly hope we get to do that again some day Amanda!
And I hope the good people of Egg & Milk forgave the strange pink stains we possibly left in the restroom…
Amanda Falkman is also a very gifted photographer with an interesting career on her way. Check out her work here and for Pete’s sake… GIVE AMANDA SOME LOVE for her participation in this portrait!
I’m so happy to say that the fantastic Papercut Magazine published my fashion editorial ‘The space that is and isn’t’ this month! The series is showcasing the collection made by fashion designer Emelie Arvidsson with whom I’ve had the honor of having a fantastic collaboration with.
You can see the full feature over at Papercut’s website.
I’m also THRILLED to say the main image for the editorial, ‘The space that is and isn’t – I’ (above) won the prestigous international One Eyeland Photography Awards 2013 – category Advertising | Fashion. Read more about the win!
