My images from one of last year’s (2015) huge photo projects has just been published. Kockum Fritid – an all-encompassing sports facility not far from where my studio is and near our condo – just launched their new website. I shot roughly 90% of the photos and had an inspiring time while documenting the various […]
I have no pictures for this post. Why? Because I didn’t take any. And more importantly, this about a review just published on TripAdvisor about our unlucky visit to one of Scandinavia’s more reputable restaurants; Copenhagen’s Höst. Höst needs to hear our complaint and to take action so that other guests don’t fall into the […]
I met this fella near Turtle Cove northwest of Hanalei Beach on Kauai, Hawaii – a day or two before 2015 came to an end. After an acid induced epiphany about the meaninglessness of working, he’d left all his earthly possessions in the Bay Area (S.F.) and bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii – carrying […]
While rigging a black backdrop in the studio today – for a shoot tomorrow – I stumbled onto the latest release from Prince, “HITnRUN Phase 2“, published last year. Maybe his funkiest album since, “Sign o’ the Times”. Really diggin’ it. At his best, Prince is as gifted a lyricist as he is a virtuous […]
I’ve had a web presence since 1999 – using first the jlrmedia.com domain and a few years later, www.raboff.com as my digital homestead and showroom for my work. I hand-coded my first site and produced several versions using Flash and Shockwave (authoring tools produced back then by, Macromedia). In 2006, ten years ago, I started […]
Slowly going through and choosing which photos to save from over a thousand high resolution images shot during three weeks of traveling. Tedious but satisfying work. It’s a selection process that takes place over a series of days – sometimes weeks. Basically, I have three criteria to define if a photo survives or is forever […]
This is one of my last shots from Venice Beach. I took it just a few days ago, after a 3 hour surf session just to the left of these rocks in what is called, Backwater. Now that I’m back in Scandinavia, it’s ever so gloomy. I seem to consistently negate how important color is […]
Kastrup – Los Angeles – Hawaii – Los Angeles – San Francisco – Los Angeles – Las Vegas – Los Angeles. Arrived earlier today at LAX after a short but somewhat bumpy ride on a Southwest Boeing 737 from the neighboring state of Nevada where I partook in meetings at the massive CES (Consumer Electronics […]
While Charlotte and Elle were out and about doing whatever they were doing, I retrieved my surfboard from the hotel’s storage room, screwed on the blue fin, waxed the board, slipped on my wetsuit and headed down to the ocean. It’s hard to explain in a way that does the feeling justice, but after three […]
As per usual during visits to beautiful places, we’ve now fallen madly in love with Kauaʻi. It feels downright sad that we have to leave today. Particularly Hanalei Bay where we spent many hours surfing in the friendly waves. Fortunately for me, we’ll be traveling to one of my all-time favorites; the crusty and salty […]
From today’s excursion to Waimea Canyon here on Kauai, Hawaii. Shot this mystic view on the way down from from one of the wettest places on earth, Mount Waiʻaleʻale – a mountain with an elevation of 1,569 m and an average of 11,500 mm rain per year. Noticed that NASA has an observatory and what […]
Recently, I was quoted in a local Swedish magazine as saying that I’m “damn bad at being bored” – a quote that in itself defines me as a somewhat erratic, unruly and maybe even a bit of a whimsical dude. All true. I am all those things. And then some. Basically, I’ve improvised just about […]
Shot this with my iPhone during yesterday’s excellent trail trek along the bluffs that outline the dramatic southwest coast of Kauai. Used the Pano mode and some post production trickery to get the most out of that small, but oh so sensitive sensor. It’s soon Christmas Eve here in the North Pacific. Surreal. No Santa, […]
First visit to the Garden Island, Kauaʻi. Fifth visit to the Hawaiian islands – when you include a week long stay back in the mid 1990s when I traveled around the world for 3 months with a remarkably small backpack and a lightweight mountain bike. Boy, was that a trip to remember. Flew -> Stockholm -> […]
While Elle and I walked from Santa Monica Beach to Venice Beach early-ish this morning, I reflected on how little has changed in Venice. At least along the Boardwalk. Of course, they didn’t sell medical marijuana licenses back in my day – but in the grand scheme of things, for better or worse, very little […]
The video is from a recent afternoon visit to the studio of our favorite charity, Hang on Hangers, founded by the always thoughtful generous and kind friend, Annika Jonasson in Bangkok, Thailand. Shot on an iPhone and edited in Final Cut Pro X.
Venice Pier, early yesterday evening. I was out shooting surfers, which were few, and as the sun set in the Pacific, I found myself once again mesmerized, nay, hypnotized by the wide palette of hues and how smooth the in-between gradients joined them together. The clarity is amazing and though I haven’t yet looked at […]
Slightly nippy but still absolutely gorgeous SoCal sunshine welcomed us back to Los Angeles this mid December afternoon. Weather-wise, it feels just about the same as when I was here in February. That’s California for ya. The sun really lifts my soul. Staying in Santa Monica for a few nights before flying westward to the […]
For more than a year now, I’ve been contracted to shoot PR and marketing photos of Scandinavia’s most spectacular hotel, Clarion Hotel & Congress Malmö Live. I’ve shot food, drinks, rooms, suites, bars and a whole bunch of other particulars – both throughout the final months before the grand opening and for the first six […]
In Paris for a weekend of travel photography. Enjoying both surprisingly good (warm, sunny) weather and seeing my sister (and her family) who’s here from Alaska as a delegate during the climate conference. Haven’t been in the French capital for about 5 years and it’s probably twice as long ago since I was here wintertime. […]
About a half a year ago, our daughter Elle saw a documentary on YouTube (where else, right?) that disclosed some extremely discomforting facts about the food industry in general and more specifically about how horrifically bad farm animals are treated throughout their miserable lives. Right there and then, Elle decided to remove meat – all […]
As a nation, Sweden is decidedly at the forefront on many important environmental and human rights issues. But when it comes to food, however, this country is sadly pretty much slave to a few dominating corporations that dictate the relatively slim range (and contents) available in grocery stores. Exceptions exist – and we’re lucky to […]
Though I’m not a hardcore Star Wars nerd, I’d lie if I didn’t admit to having a childish level of excitment about J.J. Abrams take on George Lucas space opera, arriving in (US) theaters in about two weeks. The faux Sci-Fi tech is certainly intriguing, but more importantly – at least to me – are […]
The other day I was interviewed for a Swedish lifestyle magazine about my work and life as a photographer. And though my dedication to Västra Hamnen was the general theme of the piece, I’ve read the journalist’s first draft and it also gives an nuanced and factually accurate account of who I am and what’s […]
Last Friday, I spent a couple of late afternoon hours high above the sea shooting cocktails and scrumptious meals in the sky bar and Kitchen & Table dining room at Clarion Hotel & Congress Malmö Live.This is one of their signature cocktails, “John Doe”. Don’t recall all the particulars, but bourbon and chocolate was definitely […]
This shot is from Sunday’s mega-multi-class-workout-photo-session. Twenty or so models of all ages and sizes participated. Everything went super smooth and I have a whole slew of inspiring photos of folks in various stages of exercise. Instead of traditional strobes/flashes, I opted for a fairly new solution: several high-powered LED bicolor panels on stands. I […]
Earlier this evening, by sheer happenstance, I stumbled onto an episode of Groucho Marx’s classic series, “You Bet Your Life” from 1959 with my mother in it. She appears at 6:59 together with an elderly gentlemen. I’ve always had a vague memory of hearing that she’d been in one of his game shows. But until […]
I know this is a bit early, but can there possibly be two more appropriate photography concentric books to give away this holiday season to friends, family, employees, customers, clients, patients or partners? I’m just sayin’… Each of these exclusive books include unique photos and insights into what makes Västra Hamnen such an inspiring place […]
So I’ve been freelancing for about 16 years now. Our small family business has the highest possible credit rating and no bank loans or debts. Heck, we don’t even have checking account. And like all good corporate citizens, we pay our business (local and government) tax each month on time – with barely any bitching. […]
What, no jet lag? Nope. Can’t remember when I felt so relieved from not having to deal with at least a week filled with sleep disorder. Considering how ridiculously noisy the hotel we stayed at was, I actually feel more rested now that we’re home again than I did during the entire week in Bangkok. […]
I shot this a couple of years ago somewhere around the north east corner of Santa Monica – a mainly residential area within the city limits where well-kept streets are lined with small to medium sized mansions. One of the residents in one of the larger homes there works in the film industry and has […]
Surprisingly, I’ve barely listened to any of my podcast subscriptions while in Asia. Instead, for whatever reason, I’ve reacquainted myself with oldies but goodies – like the Swiss harp virtuoso, Andreas Vollenweider. I’m actually streaming his album “White Winds” via Apple Music as I type this. And though I’ve not listened to Andreas string plucking […]
Writing these very words while sitting on a huge white corner sofa in an apartment hotel on Soi 2 in the Thai capital, Bangkok – the city of Angels. It’s five in the morning and impossible to know for sure if the noise coming from Sukhumvit Road below me is generated from late night or […]
Late Saturday afternoon, I was invited to a conference at Malmö Live to sign the Turning Torso book I produced for HSB Malmö (the premier association for cooperative housing in Sweden) which is aptly titled, Turning Torso. At least a hundred people now own a signed copy of the blue coffee table book which commemorates the […]
Already Friday. It’s been an eclectic week, to say the least. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been working on. Monday: interior photography at Clarion Hotel & Congress Malmö Live. Tuesday: Activity photography (gym and pool) at sports center Kockum Fritid. Wednesday: Filming a field test at BJ Trucks along a highway near Helsingborg for […]