Award-Winning Photographs Celebrate Community Spirit, Authenticity and the Distinctive Nature of Life in Kainuu
Two main prizes and four honorary mentions were awarded in the photography competition. Nearly one hundred photographs were submitted from across the Kainuu region.
The winners of the open photography competition organized by the Kainuu in all its diversity project and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences have been selected. The aim of the competition was to highlight the everyday and leisure moments that make life in Kainuu meaningful.
The competition featured two categories: Work and Everyday Life in Kainuu and Leisure and Celebrations in Kainuu. In each category, one winning photograph was selected and two honorary mentions were awarded. The winning images were chosen from nearly one hundred submissions.
The jury placed particular emphasis on authenticity and the photographs’ ability to convey atmosphere. They were especially drawn to images that portrayed life in Kainuu in a natural and unfiltered way.
– There were delightfully many photographs capturing genuine moments. The jury was particularly impressed by images in which people were not posing for the camera but were focused on what they were doing or simply being together. The awarded photographs conveyed the small yet meaningful moments of life, says Paula Piirainen, Chair of the Photography Competition Jury and Project Manager at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.
Community Spirit of Midsummer in the City Wins the Leisure and Celebration Category
The winner of the Leisure and Celebrations in Kainuu category was Juhannus Kajaanissa (Midsummer in Kajaani) by Ann Bernevega. The panoramic photograph shows a Midsummer bonfire burning in the middle of the Kajaani River, while people have gathered along the riverbanks to celebrate the midsummer festivities together. According to the jury, the image stood out due to its unexpected urban perspective on a traditional Midsummer celebration.
– The photograph combines a strong sense of community with a view of a vibrant city. Its beautiful colours, the built environment alongside urban nature, and the high-rise buildings in the background speak of growth and vitality. The image conveys the message that people live here and enjoy being together, Piirainen explains.
The honorary mention-winning photograph Tässä on hyvä olla (This Is a Good Place to Be, photo 1) by Anne Kyllönen impressed the jury with its timelessness and authenticity. The image captures children at play, highlighting imagination and carefree joy without posing or digital devices.
– The photograph has a warm and hopeful atmosphere. It is timeless in a charming way and could just as easily have been taken decades ago as today, says Piirainen.
Ina Karjalainen’s photograph Aina valmiina, pienestä pitäen (Always Ready, From an Early Age, photo 2) received an honorary mention particularly for its technical quality and storytelling.
– Everything in the image is perfectly balanced, from the exposure and colours to the composition. The oversized collar on the adorable puppy tells a story about future plans and growing up, Piirainen explains.
Traditions Reflected in the Winning Photograph of the Work and Everyday Life Category
The Work and Everyday Life category was won by Anne Tolonen’s photograph Potunlaittoa (Planting Potatoes). The image portrays a traditional way of working and knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. The jury praised the photograph’s beautiful colour contrasts, successful composition and strong symbolism.
– The photograph conveys how young people learn important skills and an understanding of where food comes from through their grandparents. The people in the image are not posing but are focused on what they are doing, which makes the photograph especially authentic, says Piirainen.
Honorary mentions in the category were awarded to Riikka Heikkinen’s photograph 20 tankkia takana (Twenty Tanks Behind, photo 3) and Aatu Ilmari Paavola’s photograph (photo 4) of an ATV at a service station.
The jury was impressed by Twenty Tanks Behind for its successful composition, effective colour contrasts and positive, humorous atmosphere. According to Piirainen, the image communicates the joy of work, a positive attitude and energy in a way that leaves viewers smiling.
The photograph of the ATV received an honorary mention for the young photographer’s distinctive perspective.
– The jury was captivated by the world of a 15-year-old as it is portrayed in the image. Its appeal does not stem from technical perfection but from a genuine moment and a young person’s way of capturing everyday life, says Piirainen.
The main prize in both competition categories is €500, while honorary mention recipients receive €100 each.
Kainuu in all its diversity project supports the vitality of Kainuu by developing the retention and attraction factors of working and business life from a Women’s perspective. The project is coordinated by Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.
Further Information:
Project Specialist Marjo Remes, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, marjo.remes@kamk.fi, tel. +358 40 484 3817
Chair of the Photography Competition Jury, Project Manager Paula Piirainen, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, paula.piirainen@kamk.fi, tel. +358 40 139 5967
Photographs Receiving Honorary Mentions:
