Changing of the Guard, a photo from Uppland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

We had walked up to the Old City area in Stockholm to tour the Nobel Museum. But when a troupe of guards appeared marching in unison, I dropped everything to capture a glimpse of the ceremony. Here a young male officer, a guardsman, is facing a young female guard, a guardswoman, overseeing the process. Most likely, the sight would have been deemed quite unusual a few decades ago — before females were admitted into the military. I would have loved to understand Swedish and to know the directives (or admonishments) being delivered.

The website of the Swedish Armed Forces reports: "the Royal Guards Ceremony at the Royal Palace of Stockholm lasts about 40 minutes, starts at 12:15 pm in the palace outer courtyard on weekdays (and at 1:15 pm on Sundays)... It is held every day from April 23 to August 31."

Fis2, papagolf21, mcmtanyel, holmertz, snunney, alvaraalto, Royaldevon, worldcitizen, PaulVDV, ChrisJ, delpeoples, COSTANTINO, pierrefonds, fotka has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (220495) 2017-06-08 10:29

Ciao Bulent, lovely composition with beautiful couple, wonderful colors, fine details, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (91488) 2017-06-08 11:22

Hello Bulent,
I also posted a portrait of one of the Swedish royal guards sometime ago, I don't know if you've seen it. Excellent photo of the encounter between these too. Their bright blue uniforms go really well together with the yellow background. Wonderful work.
Lars

Fis2 (169635) 2017-06-08 13:27

Witaj Bulent!
Interesting scene changing of the guard.
Good POV and colors.
Excellent light and sharpness.
I like it.
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

papagolf21 (152605) 2017-06-08 14:19

Bonsoir, cher Bulent,
Belle réussite photographique. J'aime l'échange entre les deux gardes, l'un d'eux semble sourire pour le changement de garde.
Les uniformes sont beaux.
Très intéressante note d'accompagnement.
Amitiés.
Philippe

lousat (138551) 2017-06-08 15:18

Hi Bulent,a classic moment from the northern capital,so famous in London but not only there. The face expression of the very young guard is a bit funny,perfect capture in the usual top sharpness and bright colors. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

PiotrF (54246) 2017-06-08 16:30

Hello Bulent,
Interesting information about this ceremony.
I like the composition of this image and great colors.
Nice shot
Regards
Piotr

mcmtanyel (67555) 2017-06-08 20:50

Selamlar Bülent Bey,
I like the color of their uniforms, it is a very pleasant blue. I don't know if it is because of difference of rank or difference of gender, but their "hats" are quite different. Frankly, the female's helmet looks two sizes too big for her. I see they are not using ceremonial weapons, she has a modern gun. Thanks for this lovely photo.
Regards,
MT

holmertz (101930) 2017-06-09 1:13

Hello Bülent,
The young woman looks rather amused, possibly because she had to dress up in this fantasy uniform. But the blue and yellow against the grimace it an eye-catching ceremony. I haven't seen this for many years. Maybe I should go there one day, although the palace is at least 20 minutes on foot from where I live.
Kind regards,
Gert

snunney (130967) 2017-06-09 2:57

Hello Bulent,
The young guards-woman looks as if she is sucking on a lemon! An interesting composition clearly with a story behind it, quite what we will never know. Well framed and perfectly realised.

alvaraalto (42804) 2017-06-09 7:32

Hello Bulent
I think there are many ways to fascinating pictures of the changing of the guard in Stockholm. I also have a collection of this scene. Always interesting to see the interpretation of other. I like your vision very well. The man we see on his back seems to say something to the other and we can see his reaction on his face. We cab fantasize our own interpretation.
Lovely picture, Groet Rob
p.s. I with you in advance a happy Birthday for tomorrow.

Royaldevon (85606) 2017-06-09 12:41

Hello Bulent,

It is the uniforms that make this shot so unusual.
Had they not ben in uniform, we would have just seen them as a couple having a friendly chat. People in uniform are rarely seen conversing!
It's a crisp shot, the colours of the uniforms really brightening the scene.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

worldcitizen (15930) 2017-06-09 14:07

Hello Bulent,
Very nice and sharp capture of this encounter between these guards. The young woman has a slight smile on her face, which is also nice. The royal blue uniforms are attractive, and so is the bit of yellow behind the guards. You snapped at the right moment. :-)

PaulVDV (62770) 2017-06-09 14:10

Hello Bülent,
The bright blue of the Swedish flag is found back in the uniforms of these guards.
Wouldn't it be great if the yellow of the same flag were used to cheer up that guardhouse?
Fortunately, the guard who's looking towards the camera doesn't give headbutts ...
Best regards, Paul

emka (157280) 2017-06-09 23:41

Hello Bulent , Nice picture from your archive. The changing of the guard is always an attraction for tourists. Nice view of these guardspersons in blue.

Kind regrad s Malgo

ChrisJ (171146) 2017-06-10 8:22

Merhaba Bulent

They had this too in Copenhagen, Denmark although my shot was nothing to write home about. Good timing and sharpness and good framing to get both of them in blue against the yellow cream trim of the sentry box. Tfs!

delpeoples (60342) 2017-06-18 4:10

Dear Bulent

You do some wonderful travelling to far flung places. I did not know that Sweden has a changing of the guard like those in England. I like how you've composed this and it looks like a mirror image. Excellent sharpness, colour and composition. And of course you note is informative as usual.

Happy Sunday, hugs to you and C-J
Lisa

COSTANTINO (115451) 2017-06-23 8:29

Hello dear friend and have
nice time and a happy week end
nice timing indeed
you are a very lucky photographer
with a photo with excellent claruty
nice pov
regards
Costantino

pierrefonds (113512) 2017-07-09 17:27

Hi Bulent,

You have captured well the changing of the guard. The point of view is showing the details of their uniforms. It is clear and precise. Have a nice day.

Pierre

mkamionka (73256) 2017-09-17 11:11

Hi Bulent,
yes, changing of the guards is always so interesting to see. I must say, in Poland we have usually quite simple costumes for soldiers but it is so much fun to see the colorful uniforms in various countries with Greek probably the most popular also because of the choreography.
Here -the lovely blue color, an funny hats as well.
Very well seen and captured!
M

fotka (8899) 2017-11-07 5:20

Hi Bulent,
The changing of the guards is always great tourist attraction. Recently I posted photo with similar title from changing guards in Mongolia. In Scandinavia a lot of these guards are female.
Great daily life photo almost like a portrait in national uniform. Well done with great quality.
Kind regards,
Zbigniew