I often take a walk around Riddarfjärden, part of Lake Mälaren in the center of Stockholm. It’s become a quiet ritual — a way to clear my thoughts and reconnect with the city. One of my favorite places along the route is Stockholm City Hall. Every time I reach the courtyard under its arches, with the water to my right and the tall brick tower rising in front of me, I feel something shift inside. There’s stillness here, but also life — history echoing in the stone and light.

This is where the Nobel banquet is held each year, where royalty, scientists, and artists gather to celebrate human achievement. But on ordinary days, it’s just a quiet place with stone columns, soft shadows, and wind from the lake. That contrast is what makes it special — the grandeur and the silence, side by side.

The light here is always changing. Some days it’s golden, spilling through the arches. Other times, the sky is grey, and the lake reflects a moody Stockholm. I often stop and just stand under the arches, watching the water. The architecture, the history, the views — they create a space that inspires thought.

In this image — a man walking alone beneath the colonnade — I see myself. Not lonely, but present. A figure among shadows and light. A small part of something larger: the city, its stories, its stillness. Walking here is more than routine. It’s a reminder of beauty, of silence, and of the steady passage of time along the shores of Riddarfjärden.

There is comfort in knowing that some places don’t ask anything of you; they simply welcome you back. The city hall, with its Timells grace, stands quietly beside the water, holding space for memory, reflection, and unspoken poetry of everyday life.

And you, the viewer, what do you see in this quiet figure? A stranger, a reflection, or perhaps a part of your own journey? Maybe, in this still frame, you are invited to pause, too, only for a moment, and walk there in your mind, beneath the arches, beside the water.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

1. Strong composition and the use of space.
2. Emotionally resonant storytelling.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?

Maybe I would use another aperture.

Tony Ullgren shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Tony Ullgren, Stockholm, Sweden

Equipment and settings

Leica Q, 28mm 1.7
f/1.7, ISO 100, 1/640 sec.