Axion Estin - Pontian Genocide Commemoration

At our church’s Pontian Greek Genocide commemoration, the community gathered to remember a tragic chapter of history while honouring the endurance of Pontian culture. Many people came dressed in traditional Pontian outfits, and these portraits were some of my favourites from the day. The clothing carries generations of history, and seeing it worn today is a powerful reminder that culture survives through memory, family, and tradition.

Outside the church I noticed a patch of incredible light bouncing off a wall behind me. It created this perfect soft light that looked almost like studio lighting, but it was completely natural. Once I saw it, I started bringing people over one by one to stand in that light. For a few minutes it turned into the perfect little portrait setup, and it was the ideal way to capture these beautiful traditional outfits.