Q Mats, you’ve been taking photos on the streets for many years. What has changed during this time? I mean, how has the life of a street photographer in relation to the people you photograph evolved?

A Basically not much. People still live in what I call the theater of the street. They live their lives, hang out with their friends and interact in the environment they move in. My job is to see and capture all these little details that most people just pass by. Nothing has changed there. However, it may happen that vigilance and curiosity have increased, especially when we are talking about young people. It happens more often today that I have to inform about what the law regarding photography in a public environment looks like. And not least about how important it is that we document our times for the future. Without arranging pictures. But usually I take the picture quickly and move on without anyone reacting.

Q What leads you to take a photo?

A I train my mind to discover small deviant details, or different connections in an environment. It can be different things that are in several layers. Repetition of colors, lines or any detail that “lifts” a little extra. I also look extra for human characters that can contribute to a complete scene. I try to avoid people who only walk towards me on the street, unless there is something else that causes the incident to grow. Some detail that perhaps shouldn’t be there, i.e. something that “disrupts” the environment.