Vasa: The Ship That Sank and Survived

My photos today may not be mastershots, but what’s on display is truly a masterpiece—though, unfortunately, one where form took precedence over function. The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, just minutes after setting sail. Meant to be the pride of the Swedish navy, it was plagued by design flaws, making it unstable and top-heavy with too many cannons and not enough ballast. A gust of wind caused it to tip over and sink in Stockholm’s harbor, where it remained for over 300 years. In 1961, the Vasa was salvaged almost completely intact and is now displayed at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. It’s one of the best-preserved 17th-century ships in the world. Photographing it was a real challenge! The museum was packed, and with such a massive ship in a relatively small space, capturing it was tricky. The dim lighting and lack of natural light didn’t help either, but despite the challenges, the ship itself was truly impressive -  Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden