Leif Sandburg: Ending

Leif Sandburg: Ending by Aline SmithsonMarch 26, 2017

©Leif Sandburg

When Leif Sandberg was in his late ’60s he received the difficult news that he had cancer. After extensive surgery and lots of time to consider his mortality, he got to work making photographic art for the first time in his life. Six years later, Leif is releasing a book about the experience titled Ending that metaphorically and emotionally explores the concept of death . Published by Boecker Books in Stockholm, with poetry by Bob Hansson, Ending is a physiological reflection of considering death and the finality of being human. The book is available on his site and through booksellers in Europe.

Leif Sandberg, born 1943, started serious photography late in life. He grew up in Norrkoping, a small town in Sweden and moved later to Stockholm for work. His career has been in sales and marketing of electronic components to industry in the Nordic countries. Since the teens, an interest in art and photography matured at middle age into university studies of art and philosophy. The turning point came after major cancer surgery 2007, realizing its time to do what he always wanted to do. Photography.

Panic attach towards the end of the career was the starting point of the first project Ending. After a years work he attended a portfolio review with the Swedish photographer Andres Petersen and was encouraged to continue the project and participate in workshops. It has included Anders himself, JH Engström, Antoine d’Agata, Roger Ballen and others. The Ending project grew into how it is to get old and getting closer to death, as well as the joy and happiness of a long relationship. Ending was published as a book 2017.

Leif Sandberg is in the final stage of his next project, Beyond the Mirror, which is a personal fantasy about the other side of life/death, when the borderline is crossed. Even in this project he is using himself as the main photography object.

Ending Book Cover

©Leif Sandburg

©Leif Sandburg

©Leif Sandburg

©Leif Sandburg

Ending

The Ending project is my first major photo project, with its roots in panic anxiety and the fear of growing old. After surgery for possible pancreas cancer 2007, followed by a year’s convalescence, I was faced with the inevitable question of what to do with the rest of my life. A second chance. An interest in art and photography has followed me since my teens, although that was not my choice in life. Until now.

Death becomes palpable when it approaches, and the pictures contain questions of fear and uncertainty, but simultaneously the joy of aging together with a life partner. The pictures have grown over a five-year period. Often a photo session with an original idea inspired new pictures created in the moment and the plan had to give way for intuition and guts feeling. Possibly a way to get close to who you and expolring your inner self. – Leif Sandberg 2017-03-01