Recent - 1 / 25
Recent — 1 / 25
Aatu Alatalo - Photographer

Aatu Alatalo

Photographer Oulu & Hasselblad Masters Finalist

I am a 21-year-old photographer from the Tyrnävä Lakeus region, currently based in Oulu, Finland, studying media at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. I began photography in 2014, and over the past decade, my camera has become an inseparable part of my everyday life.

My visual approach draws on organic tones, natural light, and a timeless, film-inspired aesthetic translated into digital imagery. I focus on documentary street photography, portraits, artistic photography, and event coverage (such as the Qstock Festival). Alongside my creative work, I actively mentor and guide others in photography fundamentals.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Hasselblad Masters 2026: Finalist in Project//21 category.
  • SAKUstars 2023: Honorable mention in "Photographic Art in a Day".
Hasselblad Masters 2026 Finalist
Hasselblad Masters 2026Project//21 Finalist

Exhibitions & Projects

  • Exhibitions: Exhibited at Piippolan Könkkölä and Kestilä Library 2023–2024.

Contact & Inquiries

info@aatualatalo.com

Oulu & Northern Ostrobothnia — Available for assignments, workshops, and collaborations across Finland by arrangement.

Recent
Recent
A bouquet of red and orange tulips in a clear glass vase displayed in a window in Helsinki. White candles, a dark wine bottle, and a small potted plant sit alongside the flowers against a dark interior background.
Kaksi kahluuhousuihin pukeutunutta kalastajaa pitelee ja tutkii saalista merenrannalla Alta-vuonolla tyynen veden ja kaukana siintävien vuorten edustalla.
Two children in a park near a body of water under a large leafy tree. In the foreground, a barefoot toddler with curly hair walks on a paved path, with their sandals left on the grass nearby. Further back, an older child stands on the grassy bank looking towards the water.
A tranquil twilight landscape looking out over Lake Pielinen from Koli, with silhouetted forested islands on dark blue water under an evening sky with the moon.
Two young people walking and playing with their dogs on the lawn of an apartment building in bright spring sunlight in Ylivieska, Finland.
A black and white view of a performer in a feathery outfit and sunglasses holding long tassels up. The background has a starry, glittery effect.
A view from the audience looking up at a performer in white on stage. A large screen behind them displays the word OWN in red letters, and an audience member's hand is raised in the foreground.
A side profile of a male singer on stage holding a microphone with both hands. He is wearing a black tank top and dark jeans.
A black and white view from behind a female singer with long blonde hair on stage. She is facing bright stage lights with a microphone stand to her left.
A male singer with dark curly hair and sunglasses performing on stage. He is dressed in a black button-up shirt and black trousers.
A blonde woman playing a violin on stage. She is wearing a light gold-colored dress and thigh-high boots.
A female singer on stage wearing a blue outfit with feathers and blue boots. Two backup dancers in black are visible behind her in the background.
A male singer playing an electric guitar and singing on stage. He is wearing a red vest and black trousers, with a drummer and another guitarist visible in the background behind him. A blurred head of an audience member is in the foreground.
A male singer performing on stage with a microphone. He is wearing a black tank top and is illuminated by red and white stage lights at Qstock 2026.
A blonde female singer smiling and speaking into a microphone on stage. She is wearing a light-colored dress and large earrings under warm stage lights.
A male singer playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone. He is wearing a red sleeveless vest with green and red stage lights behind him.
A male singer performing on stage, singing into a microphone with his right arm raised. He is wearing a grey jacket over a red vest under bright stage lights.
Traffic lights showing red and a white "S" tram signal on a street in Helsinki. Multi-story apartment buildings line the street behind them on a hazy day with overhead tram wires crossing the sky.
A view from inside a tram looking out through the windows onto a street in Helsinki. The front window frames tram tracks leading towards a tunnel between city buildings, while the tram driver is seen in silhouette on the left.
A small child walks near a pedestrian crosswalk in front of a white commercial building with large red signs. Sunlight illuminates the building's corner, while the street behind it is in deep shadow.
Two young people standing in a crowd with motion blurred reflections surrounding them. One boy looks towards the left while another young man stands behind him.
The City Hall building in Kotka.
A red car parked in Porvoo.
The Halonen building facade in Kotka.
A street lamp in Kotka.
Hasselblad Masters 2026
Mustapohjainen Hasselblad Masters 2026 Finalist -tunnus kultaisella linssiheijastuksella ja typografialla.
A moody, dark night photograph. In a frosty field, a strange humanoid figure resembling a scarecrow stands with arms outstretched. Behind it, a dark forest silhouette is faintly backlit by a subtle green glow in the night sky.
A dark landscape photograph of a large, rectangular farm building silhouetted against a vast, starry night sky. The scene is deeply shadowed, with only a few faint lights visible in the distant background.
A cinematic night photograph of a small, dark wooden house. A single window glows with intense warm light, casting a stark beam across the frosty ground outside. On the porch, a small, brightly lit Christmas tree adds a festive touch against the dark, starry sky.
Work I
Two young people walking and playing with their dogs on the lawn of an apartment building in bright spring sunlight in Ylivieska, Finland.
A small child walks near a pedestrian crosswalk in front of a white commercial building with large red signs. Sunlight illuminates the building's corner, while the street behind it is in deep shadow.
A red car parked in Porvoo.
The Halonen building facade in Kotka.
The City Hall building in Kotka.
A street lamp in Kotka.
Kaksi kahluuhousuihin pukeutunutta kalastajaa pitelee ja tutkii saalista merenrannalla Alta-vuonolla tyynen veden ja kaukana siintävien vuorten edustalla.
Work II
Kaksivärinen vihreävalkoinen klassikkoauto pysäköitynä asfaltoidulle sisäpihalle rakennusten edustalla kirkkaassa auringonvalossa. Vasemmalla etualalla tumma laatoitettu pilarirakenne.
A street view from inside a moving tram looking through the front window into heavy rain and twilight in Helsinki. The front window frames tram tracks leading towards a tunnel under an overhead bridge, with raindrops visible on the glass.
A twilight street photograph captured through a tram's side window in Helsinki. Multi-story apartment buildings line the street behind them on a wet evening.
Events
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white gig photo of a band performing live on stage. The musicians are captured in action with stage lighting illuminating them.
A black and white view of a performer in a feathery outfit and sunglasses holding long tassels up. The background has a starry, glittery effect.
A blonde woman playing a violin on stage. She is wearing a light gold-colored dress and thigh-high boots.
A view from the audience looking up at a performer in white on stage. A large screen behind them displays the word OWN in red letters, and an audience member's hand is raised in the foreground.
A male singer with dark curly hair and sunglasses performing on stage. He is dressed in a black button-up shirt and black trousers.
A male singer performing on stage with a microphone. He is wearing a black tank top and is illuminated by red and white stage lights at Qstock 2026.
A female singer on stage wearing a blue outfit with feathers and blue boots. Two backup dancers in black are visible behind her in the background.
A side profile of a male singer on stage holding a microphone with both hands. He is wearing a black tank top and dark jeans.
A blonde female singer smiling and speaking into a microphone on stage. She is wearing a light-colored dress and large earrings under warm stage lights.
A black and white view from behind a female singer with long blonde hair on stage. She is facing bright stage lights with a microphone stand to her left.
A male singer playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone. He is wearing a red sleeveless vest with green and red stage lights behind him.
A male singer playing an electric guitar and singing on stage. He is wearing a red vest and black trousers, with a drummer and another guitarist visible in the background behind him. A blurred head of an audience member is in the foreground.
A male singer performing on stage, singing into a microphone with his right arm raised. He is wearing a grey jacket over a red vest under bright stage lights.
Color & Form
A bouquet of red and orange tulips in a clear glass vase displayed in a window in Helsinki. White candles, a dark wine bottle, and a small potted plant sit alongside the flowers against a dark interior background.
An urban street scene in Oulu featuring a brown concrete building facade, Oulun Pantti pawn shop, a yellow awning for Old Le Moon restaurant, and orange traffic cones on the asphalt.
A brown and orange hen foraging in green grass and white wildflowers with its head down.
An empty asphalt yard surrounded by industrial buildings. A green corrugated overhang casts deep, diagonal shadows across the ground in bright daylight. Oulu, 2026.
An underpass entrance at Oulu railway station. A blue sign points to tracks 1–3. Concrete walls and frosted glass panels in the shadow.
A man in a dark suit sits alone at an outdoor table outside Michael Guinness pub in Oulu, reading a newspaper. A beer glass and an ashtray are on the table. A thick tree trunk fills the foreground.
A large butterbur leaf shot close up against a dark background. The veins and surface texture stand out clearly.
A long exposure photograph at dusk showing a bright red streak of light trailing across a dark road against a moody dark blue evening sky in Tyrnävä, Finland.
A person viewed from behind walking across a pedestrian crosswalk on a sunny city street. They are wearing very baggy light blue jeans with a distinct brown patch on the back of the right leg, a black jacket, and a black Vans backpack. Sharp shadows are cast onto the textured asphalt.
A classic red Mercedes-Benz sedan parked diagonally in a sunlit, slightly wet parking lot. In the background, a pale yellow wooden building with a 'TAKSI' sign above its door stands under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.
A sunlit street scene featuring a classic Finnish fast-food kiosk named 'KINO GRILLI' with its distinctive red and yellow sign. A person wearing a red jacket walks on the sidewalk past the kiosk's glass windows, which display advertisements for various burgers. A traditional light green wooden building stands in the background.
A golden hour street photograph taken from behind two women walking arm-in-arm down a cobblestone sidewalk in Oulu, Finland, in 2026. Warm evening sunlight illuminates the women—one wearing a white dress and a red flower crown, being gently escorted by her companion in a pink skirt—while a dark pillar in the foreground casts a dramatic silhouette onto a vibrant pink 'Olo' sign.
A crowd walking down a wet street in the rain. A dark pink umbrella covered in raindrops stands out in the foreground, with a person in a yellow raincoat and another in a red polka-dot coat visible further back.
A winter street scene viewed through a frosty bus window. Condensation or frost on the glass spells a word in reverse. Outside, under a clear blue sky, frost-covered trees line the street next to a traffic light. In the background stands an apartment building topped with a red neon sign reading 'LEIJONA' next to a lion logo.
An expansive, slightly desaturated, high-angle photograph of a sandy beach. A single, solitary figure in dark clothing walks along the shoreline where foamy waves gently meet the sand, creating a sense of quiet isolation.
A grey apartment building in Bilbao with a grid of windows. Red, green and orange laundry hangs from one open window on an otherwise bare concrete facade.
A close-up photograph of vintage red and orange plastic tableware for sale at a flea market. Stacks of plates and bowls, along with glasses and spoons, are arranged on a dark, glossy table. Small handwritten price tags in Finnish are taped to the items.
A peaceful park scene at dusk framed by dark tree leaves. Rose bushes dot the green lawn in the foreground. In the midground, two people sit on a bench beside a bicycle along a curving paved path, illuminated by soft golden evening light.
Prisma supermarket at night. The glass facade glows green from inside, and the light reflects off the wet street in front of the building.
A classic Finnish rural landscape featuring a vast, golden field of tall grass. In the center stands a solitary weathered wooden barn. A dark green forest line spans the horizon beneath a dramatic sky filled with bright white and grey clouds.
An abstract, extreme close-up photograph of autumn leaves. The foreground is heavily blurred into soft washes of deep red and brown colors, with a few textured red leaves partially visible in the background, conveying a warm, autumnal mood.
Portraits
A red-bearded man in a green beanie and olive jacket standing on a paved square in front of a weathered brick building with teal pillars and graffiti in Kaijonharju, Oulu. Other people pass in the background.
Close-up portrait of a person wearing a traditional Finnish graduation cap (Ylioppilaslakki) and a black outfit, standing outdoors. In the background, the Oulu dam is visible in soft focus, situated near the subject
A black and white portrait of a young person outdoors. A light leak or lens flare partially covers their face. They look to the side, standing between an open field and a bare bush.
A black and white portrait photograph of a seated man wearing a bowler hat, looking to his left with a thoughtful expression.
Black and white studio portrait of a young man with glasses wearing a dark knitted sweater. He looks to his right, lit by strong side lighting against a black background.
Leila Palmu, the widow of Finnish artist Juhani Palmu, sitting on a wooden stool inside the Torikatu gallery in Oulu, 2025. Warm evening sunlight crosses the wooden floor and illuminates her pink sweater. Framed paintings hang on the dark green walls behind her.
A full-body black and white portrait of a recent graduate in a traditional Finnish graduation cap and a dark suit. They stand on a muddy dirt path in an open landscape with bare trees and overhead power lines under a cloudy sky.
Monochrome
The snow-covered stone steps of the Helsinki Cathedral enveloped in dense winter fog. At the top of the wide staircase, two silhouetted figures in dark winter overcoats stand looking towards the cathedral's white neoclassical columns and domes rising into the mist, with a glowing street lantern in the foreground.
Mustavalkoinen teos, jossa etualalla seisoo kolmionmuotoinen varoitusmerkki tekstillä 'Päällystevaurioita'. Betonisessa alikulkutunnelissa erottuu ryhmä nuoria tummina siluetteina varjossa, ja taustalla kohoaa maaseututaajaman huoltoasema mäntyjen reunustamana Piippolassa.
A black and white photograph of two white cats looking out through an open window of a traditional wooden house, framed by tree leaves in the foreground in Punkaharju, Finland.
A black and white landscape showing the rugged rocky bedrock of Koli summit, with a solitary pine tree and three silhouetted figures resting at the top under a dramatic sky.
A black and white street view of a small child sitting in a stroller on a wet cobblestone street in Helsinki. A metal railing runs horizontally across the foreground, while a shop named Sabrina is visible in the background.
Two young people standing in a crowd with motion blurred reflections surrounding them. One boy looks towards the left while another young man stands behind him.
Two children in a park near a body of water under a large leafy tree. In the foreground, a barefoot toddler with curly hair walks on a paved path, with their sandals left on the grass nearby. Further back, an older child stands on the grassy bank looking towards the water.
A black and white self-portrait captured through a slatted mirror. The reflection shows a person holding a camera, their image split by the vertical divisions. Artistic prints with trees are visible in the reflection. Paper elements and text are in the foreground.
A black and white architectural photograph showing a man standing on a modern library staircase in Oulu, Finland, framed by geometric lines and contrasting light.
A black and white street photograph of a person's legs and feet walking on a paved sidewalk, taken from a low angle. The person is wearing a dark coat and dark trousers.
A black and white street photograph of a blonde woman in a dark, high-collared coat looking at her smartphone in Helsinki. She stands against a heavily textured stone wall, with her bright blonde hair perfectly framing the sharp contrast between the light patterned upper wall and the dark solid lower wall.
A black and white photograph of a young woman sitting in a cafe with retro decor. She wears a dark winter coat and holds a white mug on a tray, looking directly at the camera. The background features vintage patterned wallpaper, wooden paneling, and white chairs.
A high-contrast black and white street photograph of a person in a dark winter coat walking down a street in Helsinki. In the foreground, a large puddle on the asphalt perfectly reflects the person and the textured facade of the residential building behind them, framed by melting snow piles.
A couple kissing on a wet city street at night. One holds a bouquet of flowers. Neon signs including one for 'Bio REX' glow in the background and reflect off the rain-slicked pavement.
A black and white photograph of the Helsinki Cathedral partially obscured by thick fog on a winter day. The grand white columns contrast with the dark winter clothing of several people walking on the wide, snow-covered stone stairs in the foreground, including a couple sharing an umbrella.
A black and white photograph of a live musical performance. In the foreground, a bearded man plays a flugelhorn with intense focus. Behind him, slightly out of focus, a woman dances expressively in shiny clothing against a dark background.
A black and white street photograph taken at dusk. A person in a long dark coat stands with their back to the camera, looking across a wet, streetlight-illuminated road towards a large, multi-story building with a classic facade.
A high-contrast black and white winter landscape at night. In the foreground, small snow-capped buoys protrude from a frozen, flat surface. In the background, the base of a white lighthouse with a wooden staircase stands on a snow-covered shore against a pitch-black sky.
A serene black and white winter landscape featuring a snow-covered wooden park bench in the foreground. Behind it stand two large trees with branches heavily laden with thick snow, set against a background of modern buildings and evergreens.
A high-angle black and white photograph of numerous mallard ducks swimming in a dark, narrow channel of open water, tightly bordered by stark white snow and ice banks.
Close-up of a pair of Levi's denim jeans resting on patterned fabric. The back pockets and the small Levi's tag are clearly visible against the coarse denim texture.
A black and white photograph showing a close-up of several bicycles parked haphazardly together in a deep snowbank. The bikes, including their seats, handlebars, and baskets, are heavily covered in thick, fresh snow. One bicycle in the foreground is partially tipped over.
Available Light
A black and white photograph of an indoor ceiling lamp casting soft light onto textured wallpaper and a zigzag border pattern in a living room in Oulu, Finland.
A lit floor lamp with a beige shade and wooden stand against a light blue-grey wall. The edge of a purple sofa with a green pillow is visible in the foreground.
A living room corner with a dark burgundy sofa and a patterned throw pillow. Sunlight streams in and casts diagonal shadows across the wall.
Architecture
A red wooden barn and a cylindrical silo in a snowy winter landscape in Suomussalmi. A snow-covered ramp leads up to a weathered green door.
A small, bright red wooden shed with a snow-covered roof and light wooden double doors. Flat, snow-covered ground around it and a clear pale blue winter sky behind.
A photograph of the historic Marjaniemi lighthouse in Hailuoto, Finland. The tall, white brick lighthouse with its red lantern room stands against an overcast, grey sky. A sleek, modern white wind turbine tower is visible to the left, and the edge of a dark wooden building frames the bottom.
A cafeteria with round white tables and matching white chairs on a terrazzo floor. Pendant lamps with a turquoise stripe hang above the tables. Floor-to-ceiling windows look onto an outdoor courtyard with white pillars.
A bright, airy interior photograph of a university hallway, characterized by pale mint green and white tones. On the left, a glass door with a white frame is labeled 'PK247 MIKROLUOKKA COMPUTER CLASS ROOM' in blue and red text. To the right, another white-framed door stands slightly open, revealing a stairwell. The floor is covered in light, glossy tiles.
Landscape
A tranquil twilight landscape looking out over Lake Pielinen from Koli, with silhouetted forested islands on dark blue water under an evening sky with the moon.
A dense coniferous forest with lush green fern undergrowth under soft light in Punkaharju, Finland.
A scenic countryside landscape of a gravel road stretching through flat fields in Tyrnävä, Finland, with several jackdaws flying low over the ground under a soft, overcast sky.
A wide summer countryside landscape in Muhos, Finland under a dark stormy sky. Lush green fields and large trees frame a small wooden building on the right, while the playful silhouette of a cat's ears appears in the foreground.
A detailed landscape photograph of Hossa National Park in Finland. The scene features a steep, rocky hillside covered with lush green undergrowth and moss-covered boulders. In the center, a prominent leaning dead pine tree stands amidst dense, dark green coniferous forest.
A wide landscape photograph showing the entrance to an open sand and gravel quarry in Murto, Tyrnävä. A closed light green metal security gate with safety warning signs blocks a dirt road in the foreground. Behind the gate, massive smooth piles of extracted gravel rise against an overcast sky.
A scenic winter photograph of a traditional red wooden barn in Muhos, Finland. The barn is partially obscured by large, snow-laden pine trees on the left. The ground is covered in a thick, bright layer of snow with some scattered footprint tracks, capturing a beautiful sunny late-winter day.
A cold winter photograph of a snowy road passing underneath a concrete overpass in Ylivieska, Finland. The surrounding trees and ground are covered in thick frost, and a yellow wooden house is visible in the background above the bridge.
Still Life
A still life photograph of fresh fruits on a wooden dining table. In the foreground, a white ceramic plate holds a yellow banana, limes, a kiwi, and a lemon. In the background, a white bowl is filled with vibrant oranges. The plates sit on bright blue circular woven placemats, captured in soft natural indoor light.
A top-down photograph of a wooden cutting board on a floral tablecloth. On the board is a halved dragon fruit (pitaya) with vibrant pink skin and white flesh speckled with black seeds. A hand is holding a spoon, scooping out a piece of the fruit, while a kitchen knife rests nearby.
A moody still life photograph of an opened red bell pepper revealing its seeds, resting on a white cutting board over a green textured placemat. Next to it is a square-cut apple core with its stem. A silver laptop is partially visible in the background.
Animals
A wide landscape photograph of six horses walking in a loose line across a lush, bright green field. The horses vary in color, including brown, tan, and one prominent white horse in the middle. Behind them stretches a dense, dark green forest under a soft, slightly hazy sky.
A high-contrast black and white street photograph of a Dalmatian dog sitting obediently on a sidewalk next to its owner. The dog looks up attentively at the person, who is holding a leash. A pedestrian crosswalk is visible on the street in the background.
A black and white photograph of a person walking a small, scruffy terrier dog on a leash. The dog has stopped to investigate some large chunks of melting snow on the wet asphalt street. In the background, a white picket fence and a snowy yard are visible in Oulu's Karjasilta neighborhood.
An artistic black and white photograph taken from outside a window of a cat café in Kamppi, Helsinki. Inside, a white cat rests comfortably, looking out. The window glass reflects a person walking on the street and the surrounding architecture, creating an intriguing double-exposure effect.
Three sheep resting on a grassy shoreline in Lofoten, Norway. Calm dark water and rugged mountains under an overcast sky behind them.
A close-up photograph of a black dog lying on a striped rug. The dog is looking up intensely towards the camera with a pleading expression. In the foreground, slightly out of focus, rests a red spiky rubber toy ball.
Two horses grazing in a green pasture at golden hour. A wooden fence and yellow wildflowers in the foreground, a dark pine forest against a soft sunset sky behind.
A tight, high-contrast black and white close-up photograph of two dogs. The main focus is on the dog on the right, looking up thoughtfully with expressive eyes. Another dog is partially visible on the bottom left, creating an intimate, moody portrait.
A black and white photograph of two striped tabby cats resting closely together behind the dark backrest of a couch. They are both looking intently in the same direction to the right side of the frame, with the dark foreground framing their focused expressions.
V365
A stunning winter landscape photograph of the same wooden outbuilding, completely transformed by heavy snowfall. The building's roof, the ground, and the branches of all the surrounding birch and pine trees are covered in thick, pristine white snow, contrasting beautifully against a clear, pale blue winter sky.
A landscape photograph of a rustic, grey wooden outbuilding with black double doors, captured during early spring or late winter. The ground is a mix of muddy, brown grass and large patches of melting snow. Bare birch trees stand to the left, and a dark green pine forest lines the background under an overcast sky.
A landscape photograph of the same rustic wooden outbuilding, now in early spring or autumn. The snow has completely melted, revealing a field of dry, yellow-brown grass. A large black trampoline stands prominently in the foreground on the left. The surrounding trees are still bare, set against a bright, partly cloudy sky.
A nighttime landscape photograph of a rustic wooden outbuilding with black double doors. The building and the field in front of it are brightly illuminated by a harsh artificial light, starkly contrasting against the pitch-black night sky and the dark silhouettes of the forest behind. A large, bare tree on the left has slightly blurred branches, suggesting it is swaying in the wind.
An autumnal landscape photograph of the same wooden outbuilding. Warm, low-angled evening sunlight bathes the scene, casting long, dark shadows across the green grass. The large tree on the left is full of leaves that are beginning to turn reddish-brown. The background forest is dark green under a clear blue sky with a single small cloud.
A summer landscape photograph of the wooden outbuilding. The scene is fully lush, with bright green grass in the foreground and the large tree on the left covered in dense, vibrant green leaves. The sky is a soft, overcast greyish-white, providing even lighting across the serene rural setting.