Biography

Jan, a musician and guitarist, was inspired by documentary footage of Led Zeppelin to pursue photography. He studied photography at Gamleby Yrkeshögskola from 1980 to 1982 and moved to Stockholm at the age of 17. As a freelance photographer, he worked for various music publications, capturing images of renowned artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, and Roxette. Driven by his passion, he established a commercial photo studio in Stockholm in 1984, specializing in album covers, advertising campaigns, and magazine photography.

Jan worked as a publicity and stills photographer for producer Valdemar Bergendahl at SF (Swedish Film Industry) for several years. He photographed films like 1939, Black Jack, Blankt vapen, Agnes Cecilia, Svart Lucia, Sökarna, Kådisbellan, Vendetta, and Hamilton, as well as films based on the books of Astrid Lindgren. Jan also developed an interest in underwater photography and became a certified Rescue Diver. He co-owned the company Diving Safaris before transitioning to the moving pictures industry in 1994. At Dramatiska Institutet (DI), he learned from the legendary cinematographer Jan Lindeström (Raven's End (Kvarteret Korpen)) and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinematography. During his first five years as a cinematographer, he collaborated with the Academy Award-winning cinematographer Sven Nykvist, Ingmar Bergman’s favorite cameraman. They worked on films like The World of Skanska directed by Liv Ullmann and the commercial Goldfish starring Scottish actor Sir Billy Connolly.

Jan collaborated with production companies Frame Store and Förberg Film, working on films for esteemed clients such as SKF, Vattenfall, Skanska, Assi Domän, and SSAB. In 1997, Jan directed second unit cinematography and operated the camera in the critically acclaimed film Rackelhane. This was followed by other notable second unit projects, including Hamilton, Taurus, Olivia Twist, Borkmann’s Point, Moreno and the Silence, and more. Jan also directed numerous music videos, including the worldwide hit ”Big Big World,” which was shot in New York in 1998.

Feature films, television series, and documentaries shot by Jan include Eva och Adam II, Eva och Adam - Fyra födelsedagar och ett fiasko (2001), Kontaktannonsen, Lilla Jönssonligan på kollo (2003), Den långa resan, and Närkontakt. In 2004, Jan collaborated with Aestheticom to produce Song 4 Lovers featuring Rev Run from Run DMC. During this period, Jan also co-owned 36o, a production company for film and moving images.

Jan’s work has garnered recognition through awards and nominations, including the Guldklappan Best Cinematography award for Heavy Plate by the sea/SSAB in 1999, the Silver Camera Award Chicago Film Festival for Heavy Plate by the sea in 1999, an IFPI Gold Award for the single ”Emilia - Big Big World,” an IFPI Platinum Award for the single ”Emilia - Big Big World,” and an IFPI Platinum Award for the album Emilia - Big Big World (1998). Additionally, Jan received the Bergshamra film festival Best Cinematography award for Samuel Becket - Eh Joe and the Guldklappan award for Elements in Motion in 2003.

Jan, after deciding to leave the film industry, pursued his interest in Information Technology. He graduated from Stockholm University/the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) with a Master's thesis in ICT Systems Security and a Master of Science degree in Computer and Systems Sciences. Today, he manages projects in Business Development and Enterprise Architecture.

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