For four decades, Swedish photographer, explorer, artist and filmmaker Mattias Klum has captured the fragile beauty of the world with a rare blend of artistry and urgency. His striking images—featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Der Spiegel and numerous exhibitions worldwide—span rainforests, coral reefs, ice caps, endangered animals and sacred cultural sites.
Famed for daring expeditions in the Brazilian Amazon, hanging off a hot-air balloon over the Borneo Rainforest, embedded with Malaysian blowpipe hunter tribes as well as close encounters with African big cats, venomous snakes and endangered sharks, Mattias’ work highlights the delicate interdependence between ecosystems and communities.
But while his passport is heavy with stamps from India, Iceland, Peru to Antarctica, home in still Sweden, where he splits his time between Stockholm, and his hometown of Uppsala: “It’s where I can breathe, reset and find light in the shadows – literally and metaphorically”.
Known for his conservation advocacy as much as for his visual storytelling and art, Klum lives what he documents: a life in rhythm with the planet. His favourite spots, whether quiet Nordic seafood bistro, sunny Costa Blanca beach town, or secluded Tanzanian nature reserve, reflect a sensibility shaped by exploration, curiosity, and reverence for the Earth. “Where I eat, where I stay, where I wander—it’s all part of the same story.”
Favourite local restaurant?
A small local Italian restaurant called Brezza in Uppsala has become one of my favorites. Other nice local alternatives in my hometown: a traditional fish and seafood establishment called Hambergs and cross over restaurants Dryck & Mat and Jay Fu‘s.
Best neighbourhood bars?
Black Bird close to the Uppsala train station is a lovely, vibrant jazz bar run by a legendary jazz advocate, Katalin. Brezza and Basta are both restaurants but do also serve great drinks and cocktails. If I’m ever missing a traditional British pint, I usually head to Churchill Arms or Puben Uppsala.
Best spot in Sweden for art lovers?
Quite a many to choose from but the National Museum in Stockholm, Prins Eugene’s Waldemarsudde, Artipelag, Fotografiska, Millesgården and Moderna Museet are some of my favorites.
A local interesting ritual?
That might be the traditional pagan bonfire at the end of April in Old Uppsala, overlooking the viking burial mounds. Or bringing some Swedish “fika” to a beautiful location near Lake Mälaren.
Favourite hotel, anywhere in the world?
The Siam in Bangkok was a recent find, and I’m always at The Connaught in London.
Most inspiring city you’ve visited recently?
Siem Reap, Cambodia. I love the the dilapidated and overgrown ancient temples. It was my first time visiting this winter – so interesting and beautiful learning about the Khmer civilisations.
An evocative recent travel memory?
I went to a small but lovely Salvador Dali exhibition at the Atkinson Museum in Porto recently.
Travel splurge you’ll never regret?
A fabulous dinner, quite many years ago, at Maison Lameloise in Burgundy. Pricey but great!
The last time an assignment gave you a resounding sense of peace?
To be honest, every project where I get to spend time by the sea or in a remote forest gives me so much peace, perspective and joy.
A time at work when you were in real danger?
When I was 22, I caught cerebral malaria on assignment in Nigeria in 1990, I was super sick and nearly died. I’ve photographed so many venomous snakes over the years and been bitten or sprayed a few times, but never injected with venom. The closest I came was a scary blunt strike on the head by a West African Forest Cobra. My team had to look at my scalp for bite marks, thankfully there were none, otherwise I’d be gone.
Most memorable assignment of your career so far?
Perhaps producing a film on the remote tropical island underwater ecosystem off the coast of Mozambique for a film called Vamizi, Cradle of Coral (watch it here). Or the National Geographic article on Borneo’s Moment of Truth, about the ancient rainforests of Borneo and the environmental impacts of logging.
