This past weekend saw the Gothenburg Street Photo Festival, the first of its kind in the Nordic Countries.

I was there to see and listen to the talks and to meet old and new friends who all share the same interest.

There was also a photo competition. I had sent in the maximum allowed number of photos, three collections and twelve single photos (6 colours and 6 b&w).

Out of those, two of my collections made it to the final. The total number of collections was 79 and ten were chosen. 20 each of colour and b&w single photos and 10 under 29 single photos were also chosen for the final. All the photos that made it to the final were printed and mounted on temporary walls in an exhibition space.

Close to the end of the festival the prize winners were announced. I was a bit nervous because my friends thought I had a good chance. First came the collection category. The third and second prizes were given, checks to use in the Scandinavian photo store at about €350 and €750. When the first prize was announced it turned out that my collection "We Are All Animals" had won! My prize was a Fujifilm X100V camera!

The man who judged the collections was Roger Turesson, a press photographer with about 40 years of experience at two of the largest newspapers in Sweden. He read out a really nice motivation he had written. Here's a translation:

"With a really good sense of spontaneous moments and humour, the photographer has captured the parallel street life between humans and animals. There is a clear theme but without repetition. A well-crafted collection that maintains a high level throughout."

All in all a beautiful event and very well organized! I sure hope to go back next year!

Niklas Lindskog

Congrats Niklas!