From Finja to Asbury Park, NJ.

Today, April 8, is International Romani Day. Jörgen Johansson has documented the lives of the Roma in Sweden since in 2013. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

Photojournalist Jörgen Johansson´s portfolio of work gives a voice to the silenced and a stage to the disenfranchised. When he removes the camera strap from around his neck, it is quickly replaced by a guitar. This connection to music affords him the insider status to capture musicians from a very unique perspective.

You have quite a lot of different bodies of work. Could you please tell us about the reportage on Carlos?

Hamburg is part of my childhood as I spent the first year of my life there. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof has always been a place that has made me stand still for a moment. I’ve always returned here throughout the years as though I was looking for something. Then I met Carlos about a two years ago. He was born to a prostitute mother. He grew up in Connecticut, USA but has returned to Hamburg. It’s a story about a man who lives on the edge, a man with a serious heart condition, a man who calls himself a ‘survivor’. It is very important to do reportages like this, i.e. reflect people like Carlos’ personal everyday stories. In fact, for me it is just as important as documenting the situation of the Roma or the plight of the refugees from Syria.

Where do you get your driving force from? How did you get started in photography?

It is difficult to remember, it was so long ago. I started off as a music reporter. Then I bought myself camera, and someone on the editorial desk asked me whether I didn’t want to become a photographer. So I guess it went from there.

About your music career, you played with Bruce Springsteen. Can you describe what it was like?

In 2012, I played with Bruce on stage in his hometown, Asbury Park, New Jersey, and it was amazing, a memory for life. I’ve known Bruce for a few years and I’ve visited his hometown before. Then in 2012, I was invited to play at Ashbury Park music festival. I ended up playing five nights in a row.

Vini Lopez: “Steel Mill was blues, rock, jazz, country & western. It just had that edge. We took everything as far as we could, and then we had Federici’s B3 organ. Bruce was from the Castiles, Danny played with Chinnock, I played with Sonny Kenn and Little Vinnie had been all over the place with the Motifs. Around here we became like a supergroup, I guess.” Prior to joining Sonny & the Starfires, The Downtown Tangiers Band, and The Moment of Truth, Vini Lopez was playing drums with dj Buzzy Lubinsky. In February of 1969 Lopez and keyboardist Danny Federici invited Bruce Springsteen and bass player Vinnie Roslin to start a band. Child, later known as Steel Mill, worked its way to national recognition, and was offered a record deal that Springsteen decided to turn down. Lopez, nicknamed “Maddog”, became the original E Street Band drummer, and stayed with Springsteen until February of 1974. Later, he kept rocking the Jersey Shore – mid 1970′s to present – with bands like The Lord Gunner Group, Maddog & the Shakes, Steel Mill Retro, and License To Chill. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

Pete Yorn Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

Steven Van Zandt: ”In those days it wasn’t hip to be in a band. In fact, it wasn’t socially acceptable. My parents would probably have preferred me being a thief, ’cause that was more respectable. Rock ’n’ roll was just weird, and long hair was even weirder. I was the only one in my town, and Bruce was the only one in his town.” Star of television series ”The Sopranos” and ”Lillyhammer”, radio host, record label owner, solo recording artist, E Street Band member … Steven Van Zandt, often known as Miami Steve or Little Steven, honed his craft at the Upstage in Asbury Park, playing in various bands from The Jaywalkers to Steel Mill. Prior to becoming a founding member, songwriter, and record producer for Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, he also spent time touring with The Dovells. Van Zandt joined The E Street Band in 1975, and officially left in 1984 to pursue a solo career during which he recorded five albums and wrote/produced the song ”Sun City” for Artists United Against Apartheid. In 1999 he reunited with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

Lance Larson: “The only people from around here who became truly famous are Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Yeah, and the guys who played with Bruce, of course. But these scenes have witnessed so many good bands. From Billy Chinnock’s Downtown Tangiers Band to The Cahoots.” In the late 1960′s Lance Larson worked as a bartender at The Student Prince in Asbury Park. He was also a singer/songwriter, and after a coupe of memorable years with cover band Cold Blast & Steel he came close to success with his own material, fronting The Lord Gunner Group. John Bongiovi & The Wild Ones, featuring a young Jon Bon Jovi, used to open for Lord Gunner. Larson is still performing and recording. He also co-manages The Wonder Bar. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

I’m really intrigued about your Feet Project. Please tell us more about it?

It started out as a fun, accidental thing and has now grown into a proper project. I’m really excited about it and it’s just been decided that the series will be shown at Hovdala Slott in May 2017. The plan now is to travel around Skåne and show the land in a different way. The idea is to convey the beauty of it and that we, humankind, need to take care of it.

Could you explain a little about your reportage on Fabian? How did that come about?

It was purely by chance. I was covering an open water swimming event at a little lake outside of Hästveda, Skåne. I remember it being really windy that day and I was photographing the general event. As the competition was about to start, we noticed a very determined young man, Fabian, struggling to get into the water with the help of his family. (Fabian, 14 years old, was born with spina bifida and is therefore wheelchair bound.) I was drawn to the story of not just Fabian, but his entire family, being there helping him. I asked his mother if I might tell his story and they agreed.

The Story of Fabian. During the swimming competition in Sjötorp you have to get out of the Göta Canal between the locks. All the contestants run while Fabian gets out of the water and into his wheelchair with help from his grandfather and the rest of the family. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

The iconic stock exchange building at the Place de la Bourse (a symbolic centre point of Brussels) brings out strong emotions about the terrorist attacks that happened just over two weeks ago. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

I was asked to make a film that would be shown in connection with a fundraising concert for the benefit of the homeless in Hässleholm. The film has been shown more than 11,000 times, and Jonas (pictured) now has his own accommodation. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

Carlo Behrens has a heart condition. He hasn’t touched drugs or alcohol since December 28, 2015. At the hospital in Eppendorf, Hamburg, doctors do everything they can to help him – they’ve said that a drop of alcohol could be the end. Photo: Jörgen Johansson / Kontinent

How do you find your reportage ideas?

A lot of people get in touch with me asking if I’d be interested in their story. They might have seen my previous documentary work and they appreciate my approach, curiosity and the way I depict a personal story. In the case of Fabian, I approached his mother asking if I could document their story.

After years of working as a photojournalist internationally and working as picture editor at Skånska Dagbladet, I no longer feel the need to travel widely to do stories. I have so much here in Hässleholm and I’m interested in local personal stories.

Is there a connection between your stories, a common thread running through them all?

Yes, I believe so. I’m drawn to personal everyday stories. In the case of Fabian, I was interested in documenting the life, journey, struggles and joys of the whole family.
I started out as a reporter but my dream has always been to do documentary photography as it allows me to do these vital personal everyday stories.

What are you working on right now?

Tomorrow I’m going to Brussels for a photo job. Right now I’m driving to do a story on the first local female football team in Röke.