Photographic exhibition shines the spotlight on Estonian Swedes

"What I'm looking to give the Estonian Swedes is a face that reflects the reality of and feeling in their community today," says photographer Patrick Rastenberger, whose exhibition opened at the National Library in Tallinn in late September. "The pictures really bring out the contrasts and the sadness you see along the coast where you find the local Swedish population."

The exhibition is based around portraits of Estonian Swedes who live in the country or who spend their summers in the coastal areas considered their own.

The exhibition is being supported by the Swedish Cultural Fund in Finland, the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia, the Embassy of Sweden in Tallinn and AS Kunda Nordic Tsement. Also contributing man hours and material to the exhibition have been the Museum of the Coastal Swedes in Haapsalu, Noarootsi Municipal Government and the Cultural Council of Estonian Swedes.