My last picture as a journalist: Stefan Hagdahl

"Stefan Hagdahl, the story behind a picture"

"We've met in many strange places, always with smoke or accidents around us. Stefan has worked for the rescue service for as long as I've worked in media in Linköping. Despite the tough circumstances, there has always been room for a warm smile and, quite often, the question of whether I wanted a cup of coffee."

"We took this picture in May 2020, just after Stefan Hagdahl had retired from the rescue service after 34 years and was instead going to live out his dream in the forge. A little backlight and the wonderful setting are inspiring, but not entirely easy to print nicely in terms of the image."

"Print, well, well — these days it's called editing.."

"The picture also became the last one I took as a journalist at Östgöta Correspondenten."

"Here you'll find more about Stefan's dream:"

"hagdahlssmide.se"