Autumn graduation portraits in Vartiovuori, Turku

About the project

An autumn graduation portrait session in Vartiovuori, Turku. I photographed a Finnish upper secondary school graduate among yellow leaves, mature trees and warm light. The collection combines colour and black-and-white portraits. The trees, benches and stone steps of Vartiovuori offered different settings within the same park. Some portraits were taken among the trees and others beside the railings; one also includes the tower of Turku Cathedral in the background. Soft side light and strong backlight gave the surroundings different moods. I wanted the traditional white student cap and formal clothing to belong to the occasion while keeping the person at the heart of the images. Alongside closer portraits, I made wider compositions that leave room for the autumn park. This photo gallery brings together a selection of portraits from the graduation session in Turku.

Finished work

Photo gallery

31 photos

Autumn graduation portraits in Vartiovuori, Turku

Black-and-white full-length portrait of a graduate with hands clasped on a leaf-covered park path.

A graduate stands with hands clasped among yellow autumn leaves in Vartiovuori.

Black-and-white close portrait of a graduate in a dark coat and white student cap, looking to the side.

Close portrait of a graduate in warm side light against an autumn park background.

Black-and-white graduation portrait with light hair contrasting against a dark coat.

A graduate looks to the side as sunlight catches their hair in autumnal Vartiovuori.

A graduate stands behind a metal railing against blue sky and autumn trees.

Black-and-white graduation portrait behind a railing, hands in pockets and gaze turned aside.

A graduate stands with hands in pockets behind a railing amid warm autumn colours.

Low-angle black-and-white graduation portrait with a railing crossing the foreground.

Low-angle graduation portrait against tree branches and a pale sky in Vartiovuori.

Black-and-white half-length portrait of a graduate looking aside, with tree branches behind.

A graduate looks aside among tree branches, with sunlight catching their hair.

A graduate leans on a railing with the tower of Turku Cathedral in the background.

Black-and-white full-length portrait of a graduate on stone steps between railings in Vartiovuori.

A graduate stands on stone steps with one hand on the railing in bright backlight.

Sunlight peeks beside a graduate, creating lens flare in a portrait taken on steps.

A graduate sits sideways on a park bench among trees in golden backlight.

Wide black-and-white portrait of a graduate on a park bench, with sunlight filtering through trees.

A graduate sits on a bench in Vartiovuori park as sunlight shines between the trees.

Full-length portrait of a graduate seated on a park bench with one arm along the backrest.

Black-and-white close portrait of a graduate seated on a bench in soft backlight.

A graduate rests against a bench backrest in warm backlight in autumnal Turku.

A graduate looks at the camera while seated on a bench, with yellow leaves framing the background.

Black-and-white portrait of a graduate seated on a bench and looking directly at the camera.

Close portrait of a graduate on a bench, with a dark suit and white cap against autumn colours.

Black-and-white graduation portrait beside a tree trunk, with the graduate looking to the side.

A graduate stands beside a tree trunk, warm side light highlighting their face and hair.

Black-and-white full-length portrait of a graduate leaning against a tree on a leaf-covered lawn.

A graduate leans against a tree with hands in pockets in the golden autumn light of Vartiovuori.

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