composite – JENNY JACOBSSON

Creating the story of a phoenix, and setting fire to a man

Posted on September 3, 2014February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

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.

How to add fire to a person in Photoshop

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.

Preparing clothes for a phoenix, barbecuing and burning fabric

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

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Behind the Scenes of ‘SEEKING NEVERLAND’ – a sister portrait session

Posted on February 12, 2014February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Behind the Scenes of ‘SEEKING NEVERLAND’ – a sister portrait session

“The strong bonds of sisterhood inspired the sisters Kristin and Ellinor and myself to go into the forest one sunny summer’s day. We wanted to capture moments that speaks of memories and closeness between sisters, and combine that with celebrating the imagination and innocence of a time past.”

This is a tribute to all of you that at some point were split between adulthood luring in the distance, and at the same time didn’t want to grow up. That found comfort in the idea of a never-ending childhood, protecting you from the world beyond. To you who let your mind be occupied with imagination and dreams of magical, more exciting worlds filled with adventure and innocence.

“This is a reminder that that magical place is still out there. It is never too late to visit that fantasy land, protecting you, even for a little while. This is to you, who is Seeking Neverland.”

SEEKING NEVERLAND
Full size here

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, ice, water, lantern, fairytale, Peter Pan, moat, cellarn, nightgown

‘Seeking Neverland’ is part of my in progress series ‘Parallels’ where the stories unveiled are parallels to the ordinary world we all can see. I would recommend to check the images out in their full glory and full size at the site of the series.

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Last, but not at all least, I want to give my love to you Kristin and Ellinor. Not only are you remarkably sweet, kind, and funny, but your positivity, generosity and helpfulness has no limit. I’m so grateful to have you in my life.
Love,
Jenny

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DEAREST SISTER

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, syster, log, forest, tree, trunk

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, syster, feet, holding hands, forest, tree, trunk, log

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, syster, greenery,

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, syster, grass, laying

sisters, conceptual, portrait, porträtt, Göteborg, Sweden, syster, forest, greenery

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Curious about futuristic fashion photography from Göteborg? Check out this “alienesc” editorial, taking you to The space that is and isn’t…

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The making of the fashion editorial ‘END OF LINE’ in Unfolded Magazine

Posted on January 13, 2014February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

The making of the fashion editorial ‘END OF LINE’ in Unfolded Magazine

I’m excited to present to you the editorial ‘End of line’ (larger images), created for the fashion collection made by designer Emelie Arvidsson and published in the London magazine Unfolded Magazine. After the successful collaboration with the fashion story for Emelie’s previous collection ‘The space that is and isn’t’ the aim was to create a new story, strong on its own but with an alluding connection between the two collections.

BtS, Behind the Scenes, fashion, editorial, conceptual, Modellink, futuristic, mode, Göteborg, Emelie Arvidsson

CONCEPTUAL BRIEF AND PLANNING

Two months before the planned shoot I met up with Emelie over a cup of coffee to talk through the background of the collection, discuss the brief and to settle on a creative goal. Emelie showed me the artistic development for her concept and we talked through inspirations and important things to highlight.

The focus of the collection is lines that are a fundamental part of visual perception and Emelie’s aim was to investigate the dynamics of straight lines through experimental construction of dress. It is obvious how lines are a crucial part of the construction and the striving and direction is truly important. I picked up on Emelie’s explanation that line compositions can provide strong dynamics given it’s put in relation to body and movement and I wanted to incorporate that into the story.

moodboard, BtS, Behind the Scenes, fashion, editorial, conceptual, futuristic, mode, Göteborg, Emelie Arvidsson

Emelie’s moodboard

The brief had similar grounds as for the previous ‘The space that is and isn’t’ project and a futuristic setting with clear visual space/void, concrete/asphalt and strong shape was once again incorporated into the moodboard. Playing with the name of the collection, ‘End of line’, investigation of the dynamics of straight lines continues through the editorial, transferring the collection and the story into the futuristic setting that alludes to what inspired the collection. Bringing the characters and clothes into a somewhat post-apocalyptic setting, the search for the end of line continues.

The editorial was published in Unfolded Magazine – Issue 16, 2013 where my spread is on pages 10-19.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF PREP AND SHOOT

After thorough location scouting and scetching and approving image ideas, the fantastic team met up early one summer morning for prep and make-up before taking off to the old abandoned airfield of ‘Torslanda gamla flygfält’, just outside Gothenburg (Göteborg):

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BtS, make up, Behind the Scenes, fashion, editorial, conceptual, Modellink, futuristic, mode, Göteborg, Emelie Arvidsson

BtS, hair, make up, Behind the Scenes, fashion, editorial, conceptual, Modellink, futuristic, mode, Göteborg, Emelie Arvidsson

For the story, a harsh sun leaving no mercy for the long walk ahead, was what I wished for so I was really pleased with the weather that day. Especially considering that you can never be sure what our west coast city will bring. Although, it was windy as usual, but of course we were prepared with cover ups to resist the cold. While the girls were preparing the final things before the first part of the shoot….

BtS, Behind the Scenes, Torslanda flygfält, fashion, editorial, conceptual, Modellink, futuristic, mode, Göteborg, Emelie Arvidsson

…Johan got some time to enjoy the sun 😉

The story begins with the two characters leaving a city, now completely abandoned and empty, on their journey searching for the end of line. For the first image we wanted a bit of a birds eye view, later on making the city visible in the far distance. I must say I’m no fan of heights or ladders, but by getting absorbed by shooting I completely forgot about my fears and instead I was having a lovely time up there.

Johan did a great job with directing the light with the reflector and Linnea and Emelie were constantly on their toes, trying to fight the effect of the wind on hair and make-up.

The result of the day, and thereafter the many many hours of image processing behind the computer to enhance and convey the story we had planned for, has gotten such a wonderful response and I’m so grateful of the team, together making it all happen. I surely hope you will like our fashion story!

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Behind the Scenes – ‘THE STORM STARTER’

Posted on December 10, 2013January 9, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Behind the Scenes – ‘THE STORM STARTER’

A late summers day I gathered a fantastic team to make an image for my conceptual portrait series ‘Parallels’. I had been inspired by Rania’s (previous studio portrait) dreadlocks and her dark features for some time…

“…I wanted to create a portrait alluding to greek mythology characters and their features, like Medusa and her hair and the sirens and their manipulative powers. Being from the windy southwestern parts of Sweden the image was created on the concept of the ocean and storm, and the power to control it.“

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Martina got the task of keeping Rania’s natural beauty but at the same time turn her into a vicious sea creature. I had the task of making Ranias dreads stand up like they were floating and moving by her powers. To do this I needed to twist steel wires round every one of her approx. 40 dreadlocks and then sew sewing threads to the tips that we later connected to a wire ring crafted by Andreas.

onceptual, portrait, make up, Medusa, siren, dreads, dreadlocks, tentacles, Göteborg, Rania Rönntoft, mythology

onceptual, hair, portrait, make up, Medusa, siren, dreads, dreadlocks, tentacles, Göteborg, Rania Rönntoft, mythology

We attached the wire ring to a long stick that Andreas used to lift up the dreadlocks above Rania’s head. Thank you so much Andreas, for patiently performing the odd task of standing out in the cold wind holding a stick attached to hair.

onceptual, portrait, hair, Medusa, siren, dreads, dreadlocks, tentacles, Göteborg, Rania Rönntoft, mythology

conceptual, portrait, Medusa, siren, dreads, dreadlocks, tentacles, storm, ocean, beach, Göteborg, Rania Rönntoft, mythology

A huge thank you to you Rania for your radiantly positive attitude, even when getting wet and cold. And to Martina for your creative vision and also shooting BtS footage. We sure had a fun time, fighting against the sunset!

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If you enjoy the Behind the Scenes videos, you should take a look at this freeeeeezing one…

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IF YOU LIKED HER PORTRAIT, GIVE RANIA SOME LOVE ON FACEBOOK!

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Picture Of The Day at One Eyeland

Posted on October 20, 2013February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Picture Of The Day at One Eyeland

I was happily surprised, and proud, to have my piece “The fall” chosen as Picture Of The Day (October 19th) over at the fantastic One Eyeland! Not everyday that you see yourself next to a portrait of John Malkovich…

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A great way to learn more and see selections of images, and if you’re interested in me getting fried for answers, is to check out the features and interviews in the Features & Publications category!

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Conceptual composite at a waterfall – ‘THE FALL’

Posted on November 21, 2012January 9, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Conceptual composite at a waterfall – ‘THE FALL’

“The fall”
Part of my series “Parallels”.

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In October 2013 this image was chosen as Picture Of The Day at the fantastic One Eyeland.

Not everyday that you see yourself next to a portrait of John Malkovich…

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Making man fly – how to create levitation in Photoshop

Posted on September 25, 2012February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Making man fly – how to create levitation in Photoshop

This video is a Before & After as well as an accelerated showcase of my post-processing of a several files to a finished conceptual image. Here I’m making man fly by creating levitation with a few Photoshop tricks.

The sky is the limit…