Floral Portrait Photo Shoot | BUDE VESNA (It will be Spring)
Floral Portraits
by Yuliya Panchenko
When we think of the word art our minds picture beauty and color and excitement; and while art can be exquisite in its portrayal of happiness, it can also shine light to its counterpart. I recently worked on a project that was very personal to me and those involved in the session, as we wanted to create something beautiful rising from the current topic of war. As some of you may know I am both part Ukrainian and Russian, making it difficult to observe what is happening currently in both countries and its people. But though I am miles away, my heart hurts for the mothers, and the men, and the children that are currently suffering and hope for the time of war to pass and happier times to come. Which brings us to the photo session at hand inspired by a drawing drawn by a young girl while hiding in the bomb shelter. The name of the project was inspired by a song that was written during the war titled “Bude Vesna” which translates to “it will be Spring.”
Commercial Floral Portrait Photography
For the photos, the focus revolves around a young girl that brings hope of everything flourishing again after a time of darkness. Florist and also subject/model for the shoot created a headpiece of a floral arch to represent the spirit while the flowers and birds on the arch represent Spring. Her daughter and other model for the shoot wears her hair in a brain per Ukrainian traditions, along with the traditional colors of yellow and blue. She was born in the city of Kharkov which is tragically one of the cities that has been bombed and destroyed during this war. Posing alongside her mother, the photos represent the girls and mothers who have lost their husbands or have seen them sent off to war. It represents the families and young children who are currently in hiding trying to protect one another. The inspiration for both the session and headpiece were based of a drawing drawn by a young girl while hiding in the bomb shelter.
Commercial Floral Portrait Photography
As a photographer, capturing a feeling and story with a single photograph is always my desired goal. For that reason, I focused on warmer tones for the items that were meant to capture the essence of Spring; like the flowers, birds, and headpiece. For the subjects, however, the tone is a bit cooler and darker to show sorrow. The mother is posed around her daughter for protection, but through the body language her eyes are closed and it is in turn the daughter who looks at us (the camera) in a strong and confident manner as in telling the viewers not to worry for spring will come. Photography and creating art can be fun and exciting and passionate but there are also times when art is meant to move us and ask us to face what is happening at this moment in the world around us. It is then that we are unified by a single feeling of humanity and the love we have for our friends and family and even strangers. For we are all human.
Photographer: Yuliya Panchenko
Studio: Yuliya Panchenko Photography
Florist: Iryna Schulzhenko
BodyArt/hair stylist: Nadejda Olina
Retoucher: Gerardo Rosario