Born in the Swedish village of Viskafors "Whispering River". Magnus Laupa has spent his life drawn to stories that live beneath the surface. After studying photography in Northern Norway at Alta Folkehøgskole and spending a year as a sled dog musher in Karasjok, he returned to Sweden to complete his military service as a photographer for Värnpliktsnytt.
Since then, Magnus has worked as a professional photojournalist, contributing to Swedish and international publications including Helsingin Sanomat (Finland). His work has been recognized by Sweden’s Picture of the Year (POY), the International Color Awards, and the Black & White Spider Awards. In 2014, the Swedish National Portrait Gallery acquired his portrait of actress Tuva Novotny.
Artist Statement
As a photojournalist, I move through people’s lives with both privilege and purpose. When someone opens their door, when they let me into their world, I carry that trust with great care.
Telling their stories with honesty and dignity is not just my job, it’s a commitment. Each photograph I release into the world carries a piece of what I was given in those intimate moments. Over the years, I’ve come to see that beneath the surface, we are more alike than we are different. Love, respect, sorrow, compassion: they speak the same language, no matter where you are. My camera is just a tool, but my purpose is always human.
