Breathtaking Portraits Shed A Different Light On People With Down Syndrome
3/21 is World Down Syndrome Day.
To celebrate, Finnish photographer Veikko Kähkönen teamed up with FAIDD (The Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) to produce extraordinary pictures of people with Down syndrome.
The aim of the campaign was to inspire, raise awareness, and shed a different light on Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome are seldom represented in the media as powerful, strong, and confident. This was something these images wanted to change.
The models were asked to tell the photographer how they would like to be portrayed in a picture, and the results turned out to be full of emotion and strength. An inspiring video was made of the whole project, watch it with English subtitles below.
A Finnish website Oonupee was also set up to reveal the full set of pictures, and to encourage people to donate for an employment program for disabled youth.
More info: worlddownsyndromeday.org
Down syndrome is not an obstacle to lead a full and happy life
People with Down syndrome can in fact contribute greatly to the societies around them
Yet, they are seldom represented in the media as strong and confident people
These pictures wanted to change all that!
The photographer asked five amazing models to tell the team how they would like to be seen in a picture. The results were amazing!
Tutu-Liisa (39) for instance wanted to be seen as a swan, because she wanted people to feel her free and warm spirit
Her passion is dancing
And she also acts frequently
Valtteri (28) enjoyed the photo shoot as well. “These pictures turned out to be really lovely and cute”
Olli-Pekka (33) has always been drawn to rock bands, and he currently plays in one himself
“Everything rock’n’roll is cool. I’m athletic, sexy and good looking”
The pictures will be shown in shopping malls across Finland during this week
The hope is that passersby will get inspired by these shots. “I’m sure they’ll all want my autograph”
Maija (20) is starting her modeling career. She has gotten international attention from the BBC
She dreams of becoming a singer or a dancer
Maija felt it was important to take her dog Bella to strike a pose with her
This is Olli’s fiancée, Inka (29)
Inka is a woman full of ambition and confidence, and she works as a radio host. In these pictures, she wanted to pay a tribute to her idol, Shakira
“It’s no longer Inka on the pictures. It’s Shakira”
We feel you Inka!
Watch the heartwarming video of the campaign below:
26Kviews
Share on Facebookthe woman with the dog is just stunning. compared to other models, down syndrome or otherwise, she is just stunning.
She (Maija) is doing modeling in Finland, seen some wonderful pictures of her. Maija has some roots in Nigeria.
Load More Replies...The pictures are not condescending. Those adults chose to to dress that way, and stand in those poses. If you had any understanding of DS you’d take in to consideration that their mental age is generally below their physical age. They're happy, enjoying themselves, who is anyone to post negative comments.
Again, look at where I replied. It should the be clear that I commented on the reply calling them cute, not the pictures. I like the pictures.
Load More Replies...INKA is beautiful and so are the others too.....they have their own unique and wonderful personalities...God bless u all swetties...
All of these pictures are beautiful! You can really see their true spirit and who they really are. It's amazing.
In the UK there is a programme on the BBC, aimed at older children, called 'The Dumping Ground'. One of the actors is a Downs boy, he also hosted a documentary about how disabled people are treated in some parts of the world. powerful stuff. Don't let anyone tell you yo "cannot" do something, no matter what!!!
These people are wonderful no matter what label you put on them. To them, their Down Syndrome is not viewed as a liability, but as something that has just always been there. To everyone who feels like something uncontrolable defines them; you are all beautiful, no matter what!
the woman with the dog is just stunning. compared to other models, down syndrome or otherwise, she is just stunning.
She (Maija) is doing modeling in Finland, seen some wonderful pictures of her. Maija has some roots in Nigeria.
Load More Replies...The pictures are not condescending. Those adults chose to to dress that way, and stand in those poses. If you had any understanding of DS you’d take in to consideration that their mental age is generally below their physical age. They're happy, enjoying themselves, who is anyone to post negative comments.
Again, look at where I replied. It should the be clear that I commented on the reply calling them cute, not the pictures. I like the pictures.
Load More Replies...INKA is beautiful and so are the others too.....they have their own unique and wonderful personalities...God bless u all swetties...
All of these pictures are beautiful! You can really see their true spirit and who they really are. It's amazing.
In the UK there is a programme on the BBC, aimed at older children, called 'The Dumping Ground'. One of the actors is a Downs boy, he also hosted a documentary about how disabled people are treated in some parts of the world. powerful stuff. Don't let anyone tell you yo "cannot" do something, no matter what!!!
These people are wonderful no matter what label you put on them. To them, their Down Syndrome is not viewed as a liability, but as something that has just always been there. To everyone who feels like something uncontrolable defines them; you are all beautiful, no matter what!
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