Georg Oddner

Georg Oddner (1923–2007) stands among the most influential Swedish photographers of the 20th century. Originally a jazz musician, he turned to photography in the 1940s after meeting art director John Melin in Malmö. 

What began in advertising—spanning industry, architecture, fashion, and work for Scandinavian Airlines System—soon evolved into a more personal photographic pursuit.

In the mid-1950s, Oddner travelled widely, from California to the Soviet Union and the Far East, capturing images shaped by curiosity and a keen observational eye. In 1958, he co-founded the influential collective Tio Fotografer and its agency Tiofoto, alongside leading contemporaries, helping redefine Swedish photography.

Working mainly with Hasselblad and Leica cameras, Oddner drew inspiration from masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Richard Avedon, developing a style that balanced precision with humanity.

This series of "Old Men with Berets" shows how universally the beret was worn in Sweden, only a few decades ago.