Sweden, Gotland

An interview with Herman Cater.

Claire: Herman you have had an exciting and busy year as your biography at the end of this interview shows. Amidst all this you took a trip to Gotland, can you tell us a little about this area and what attracted you to this location for photography?

Herman: I had heard that the light in this region is special and this made me decide to visit.

Gotland (which is an island) is in the Baltic Sea. The capital is Visby and you can reach it by boat in 3.5 hours from Stockholm. The island is flat on the east side and is perfect for biking,  on the west coast you will find steep cliffs and this helps to make it very interesting for photographers.

I travelled to Kappelshamn, about 40 km North of Visby and stayed in a cottage there. The name of Kappelshamn is said to come from an old chapel (Swedish kapell)  and “hamn” is Swedish for habour.

The Gotland bedrock is limestone. It was formed during the selurian period 400 million years ago. The earth plate, of which Gotland is a part, was then close to the Equator and corals were built up in the warm sea. The plate has then, during millions of years, drifted north and formed The Baltic sea with Gotland as the former coral reef.

Further north there is an island called Fårö where Ingmar Bergman settled in the sixties. When he saw the place and the light there he fell in love with it and he said it was like magic, because of his life on the island he put Fårö on the map throughout the world.

Claire: Can you talk more about the light and what makes it special?

Herman: The light on the island is a very interesting experience and gives many possibilities for a photographer. The air is very clear on the island, as there is no industry on it. In some places there is limestone on the coast and the clear sky, the sea and white rocks reflect the light.

The sun rises at half past four and sets at ten in July. Sometimes the northern lights can be seen there. The light was the best in the evening.

Claire : What were the highlights of the trip?

Herman: The trip by boat was comfortable and fast. The people were very kind and helpful; on a farm where we wanted eggs and vegetables there was no one to take our money, only the price list and an honesty box.

The island is flat in parts so there are many people travelling by bike. You can camp free for one night. There are some tourists but the places are not crowded.

The light is very special and the coast is different every few kilometres. The temperature was about 20 degrees when I was there in July. It is possible to swim in the sea at this time of the year, but the water was colder than normal  this year.

I saw many foxes and rabbits and in July there are many strawberries. They have smoked fish that are excellent to eat.

Claire : If our readers were planning to travel here what advice would you give about locations to visit?

Herman: The capital, Visby, would be ideal for young people in summer and also for photographers who like architecture but going along the coast is very interesting and I would recommend the island, Faro, as well.

I saw only the north part of Fårö and they say the south is even more interesting and beautiful.

About travelling in Sweden, they give 30% reduction on the cost of travelling for retired people and also for strangers. I got a ticket for one day (bus train, underground) for five euros but you can pay only with their money.

Claire : What time of the year did you travel and would you recommend this season to our readers?

Herman: I was on Gotland from the 8th to 15th of July and the weather turned from rainy and cool to sunny and I was told that it is the best time to go. After the longest day in June the weather becomes more stable and warmer and the days are still long but people usually have their summer holidays at this time so it can be busy.

If someone wants to travel to Gotland, the boat should be booked far in advance, especially in Summer.

Claire: Do you recommend any places to stay here?

Herman: I met Mr. Alf Westoo who has rooms to let about 20 km North of Visby. His home page has an option to translate the text into English.

Claire: You have had an incredible year, winning many awards and staging exhibitions. Can you share with us some of your successes and give us links to your work where possible?

Herman: This year was very successful. I got many awards on world photo salons, but will mention only a few:

The best author;  FIAP salon in Italy.

Nomination award for two photos;  International Master Cup in USA -

Amongst winners in the Black & White Magazine Porfolio Contest. Herman B&W article and biography (PDF)

Herman’s photographs have been exhibited in Europe and the United States, including about ten shows per year throughout Slovenia. His work is held in both private and public collections, such as The Arhitekturni Museum in Ljubljana, the Slovene capital.

He has published several books: The Touch of the Light (2006), landscapes from his travels; Maribor with Jure Kravanja (2006), a book of the town in Siberia (2007); and Portrait of a Photographer (2008) an extended photo essay on photographer Stojan Kerbler.

CONTACT INFORMATION

website:  Herman Cater

email:    herman.cater@t-1.si

Claire: We thank Herman for sharing this journey with us and wish him continued success and we look forward to welcoming him to Scotland next year for what we hope will prove to be another successful PTR tour. His previous PTR article about Siberia can be seen here and our shared trips to Slovenia here and here.

Claire Carter