Kehrer Verlagin julkaisema valokuvakirja Erik Östensson tutustuttaa surrealistisista valokuvistaan tunnetun palkitun ruotsalaisen valokuvataiteilijan tuotantoon. Samaan aikaan yksinkertaiset, runolliset ja epätodelliset valokuvat kietovat yhteen ihmisiä, esineitä ja maisemia kekseliäillä tavoilla. Minimalistisesti toteutettu, tekstitön valokuvakirja antaa kuvien puhua puolestaan, ja Östensson rohkaiseekin katsojaa lähestymään kuvia lapsenomaisen ihmettelyn kautta.

“To catch the viewers’ attention despite the fact that my photos are depicting everyday objects, I have photographed them in new contexts and from new angels. Hopefully past notions are replaced and the meaning of familiar objects get an opportunity to expand. In this way a new contact can be created between the objects and the viewer.

The photographs are made with an analog large-format camera. I use negatives that are 4x5 inches in size (10x13 cm). This type of camera makes the photographic process time consuming. First, I measure the light with the handheld light meter. I then crawl in behind the black cloth to compose and focus with a magnifier against the glass plate showing the upside-down image. Often, I only make one or two exposures. I see the result when the negatives have been developed, which often happens months after they have been exposed. This old technique has helped me to stop and look carefully.”