Hästgården

Hästgården

This Field Note documents an editorial portrait assignment for Dagens Nyheter, connected to reporting on the Hästgården case — a well-documented scandal involving abuse at a riding school in Sweden.

The portrait features Lucy, a whistleblower whose testimony played a central role in bringing the events to public attention. At her request, she remained anonymous. The assignment was produced within the wider context of sustained investigative reporting, including the podcast Hästgården by Sveriges Radio, which received the Swedish Journalism Prize in 2018, and the television series Nattridarna, based on the podcast.

The portrait was photographed with an emphasis on environment rather than identification. A rural setting connected to horse riding and countryside life was deliberately chosen to support the narrative of the reporting, allowing context to be present without revealing personal detail. The intention was to present Lucy as a real person within a recognisable landscape, without compromising her anonymity.

The approach prioritised distance and restraint. Rather than reconstruct events or introduce visual drama, the portrait focuses on presence and resolve, allowing the subject to be represented with dignity while supporting the seriousness of the journalism it accompanied.

Following publication, Lucy contacted Natalie to say thank you, noting that the portrait allowed her to be seen as a person rather than an abstract figure within the story. This response underscored the importance of careful representation when working with vulnerable sources in editorial contexts.