As a press photographer, Roger Lärk has seen most things through the camera's viewfinder, from small everyday events to larger occurrences that have had a significant impact on many. A common thread running through much of Roger Lärk's photographic career is Saab, which he covered from 1973 until well beyond the bitter bankruptcy.

The exhibition "Roger & Saab" at the 50th-anniversary Saab Car Museum features nearly 100 of Lärk's photos, where the focus is on people rather than cars.

"This is the unvarnished reality," says the creator himself.

Roger Lärk may be a die-hard Trollhättan resident since the early 1970s, but the fact is that he was born and raised in Lilla Edet. It was also there that his interest in photography was sparked at the age of ten.

"It was my little hobby, to photograph and develop pictures. When I finished secondary school in 1968, I started an apprenticeship to become a portrait photographer at Cadbro Photo in Lilla Edet," he says.

"Eventually, opportunities arose to shoot for newspapers, I started freelancing in 1969, and in 1971-72 I did my military service as a photographer in the navy. In 1973, I was hired by Trollhättans Tidning, which later changed its name to TTELA. I was there for almost 40 years. I left in 2013 and immediately transitioned to freelance work."

Depicted ups and downs
Working as a photographer for a local newspaper involves assignments of a highly varied nature. Literally, anything can happen, and over the decades Roger has depicted all conceivable and inconceivable events, people, and phenomena.

"What I find most interesting in journalism are news and sports. The profession is challenging and interesting, like when you go out on something that turns out to be something completely different from what it first seemed," says Roger.

A constantly recurring element in the news category during the 40 years at TTELA was Saab. Roger covered countless events related to the company and followed both its ups and downs through the viewfinder. Many times things moved fast, hope could quickly turn to despair. And vice versa.

"There are two sides to it. Many things that happened over the years were very positive to convey and affected the people who worked there. It was about new owners and successes for the company, for example. It was a lot of fun when things went well. And they did, not least in the 80s. You could say that Saab was a success story," says Roger.

"But a lot of sad things also happened. Decline, layoffs, and worst of all, bankruptcy. I felt that too, it must be said. I naturally tried to do an objective job, but I was still affected by it. It was tough to follow the end of Saab's era."

GM made an unexpected entrance
The memories from covering Saab are many, such as the one from December 15, 1989. There had been long speculation about a new owner, and the main track was that it was Fiat. Now the question mark would be straightened out.

"Everyone was just waiting to see what would happen, Saab was in trouble. It was a Friday afternoon, we went up to Stallbacka, and it turned out that it was General Motors that would come in as a co-owner. It was incredibly fun to come back and be able to present this because it was not at all what people expected," says Roger.

An assignment of a completely different nature took the then 22-year-old photographer to the rally track Frigård outside Trollhättan in May 1973. Ten American dealers had crossed the Atlantic for a very special experience.

"They were going to ride in Saab's racing cars, and behind the wheel were none other than Stig Blomqvist, Per Eklund, and not least Roger Johansson, a big rally star from Trollhättan."

Never afraid with Eklund
The photographer himself also got the opportunity to soak up the feeling of thundering along the limestone road at high speed, seated in the passenger seat.

"I have never liked driving fast, and this was fast, I can promise you. At the same time, I have never felt so safe with the driver, in this case, Per Eklund, and was never afraid. It is a strong memory because then I got a feeling for Saab's racing activities, which were big at the time."

In September 1986, the "Technology in Focus" fair took place in Trollhättan, and in advance, the American professor Robert I. Coles' program point did not seem particularly remarkable.

"It was a fairly ordinary job with people standing at a podium. But then the professor criticized the successes of the Swedish car industry and that it had become fat from good profits. This hit hard because Saab and Volvo people were in the audience, so the assignment became something completely different from what one might have thought," says Roger.

Anniversary museum makes a big effort
The exhibition "Roger & Saab" is a major initiative from the Saab Car Museum, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. The fact is that it is the first of its kind in the museum's history.

"The jobs were done from a journalistic motive and assignment. It caught the museum's interest. Because here you see a completely different type of pictures compared to those that went through a communications department. It is the unvarnished reality, you could say."

Roger is still very much active as a photographer and has been running a photo blog at rogerlark.se since 2008, where he publishes material from his extensive archive. There are indeed some Saab pictures to be seen in this context, but "Roger & Saab" takes the subject to a new dimension and is also Lärk's first solo exhibition. Initially, the idea came from the museum's curator Peter Bäckström and Henrik Olsson, a historian at Innovatum Science Center.

"They were not at all looking to include every launch of a new model, but more individual events and people I have met over the years. Then I felt compelled to do this work. It is a kind of summary of my coverage of a company that meant so much to many, not just in Trollhättan."

– We have never had an exhibition of this caliber before, where it is about Saab from the media's perspective. And it is not the car that is the focus, but the people. The pictures evoke strong emotions in me, especially those from 2009 to 2011 when things were tough, says Peter Bäckström.

Many engaged in the exhibition
At first Roger chose 500 photos, which after extensive discussions became 92. The captions are based on what was in the newspaper at the time, with an extra touch.

"Peter has supplemented them. He has a lot of background information from the inside since he worked at Saab, and that knowledge really enhances the value of the pictures.", says Roger.

The work on the exhibition has engaged many in the staff both at the Saab Car Museum and Innovatum Science Center. For example, the auditorium has been converted into an art gallery to create the right feeling for visitors.

"I feel very humble when I see the great and genuine work that has been put in in every way, with texts, layout, and disposition."

Wants to get a Saab again
Roger himself has owned cars produced in the classic Stallbacka factory, although it has been a few years now. His favourite is a 96 V4, which he says was "absolutely superb." However, his detailed knowledge of different Saabs is somewhat limited.

"When I was the photo editor and had to find a specific model in the archive for quick publication on the web, I always had to ask for help to get it right," he admits and laughs.

However, it is not unthinkable that Roger Lärk will make a comeback among Saab owners.

"I have thought a lot and believe it will happen. I am keen on a 9-3. There is actually a certain feeling to having a Saab."

Text: Jonas Myrholm

 

FACTS
Name: Roger Lärk
Born: 1951.
Family: Wife Barbro, adult children Malin and Peter.
Profession: Started working as a portrait photographer in 1968. Began his career as a freelance press photographer in 1969. Photographer in the navy during military service 1971-1972. Employed at TTELA (formerly Trollhättans Tidning) 1973–2013, then resumed freelancing. Photo editor at the newspaper 1987–2002, then picture editor until 2008. Started the photo blog at rogerlark.se the same year. Has contributed material to Innovatum's image archive for many years.
Favorite Saab: "Had a Saab 96 V4 that was absolutely superb."
Favorite camera: Nikon Z6II.
Interests: Boating and fishing, has a great interest in sports. Plays chess.

 

All images copyright Roger Lärk and Saab Car Museum. Use without permission is prohibited.