Gunnar Smoliansky - photographer From: Trivia Photo: Gunnar Smoliansky Slussen, Stockholm in 1952 Photo: Gunnar Smoliansky In 2005, photographer Gunnar Smoliansky was awarded the prestigious Lennart af Petersens Prize. In his photographs of Stockholm Gunnar Smoliansky seeks the city’s soul not in dramatic events and grandiose views but, rather, in the detailing of an ordinary building or in a street gutter. His work frequently entails a gentle reflection on the profound intimacy of everyday life. On 27 May 2005 Gunnar Smoliansky became the first recipient of the Lennart af Petersens Prize – a biannual award created by the Municipality of Stockholm to honour a photographer who has made a significant contribution in depicting the narrative of Stockholm. The prize is named for a legendary Stockholm photographer, Lennart af Petersens (1913-2004). The motivation reads: Over the course of fifty years he has found his photographic subjects in Stockholm, particularly on the island of Södermalm. He seeks the city’s soul not in dramatic events and grandiose views but, rather, in the detailing of an ordinary building or in a street gutter. His work frequently entails a gentle reflection on the profound intimacy of everyday life. Many of his photographs lie untouched for years on his studio shelves before being presented to the public on rare occasions. He is greatly admired for his skill in making black and white prints and his command of the full range of grey nuances. In recent years his exhibitions of photographs of Slussen and Waldermarsudde have been very warmly received