Photographer Yevhen Samuchenko’s appreciate letter to his Ukrainian homeland
In a drone photograph by Yevhen Samuchenko, Lake Lemuria, the so-termed “Dead Sea of Ukraine,” normally takes on a surreal, otherworldly top quality. Its waters turned pink by algae, its shoreline streaked with white salt deposits, the system of drinking water may possibly effortlessly be perplexed for an summary painting ended up it not for the existence of two little figures and their close by auto.
“I required to exhibit the scale of the landscape, because when you see the quite compact people today, you have an understanding of how major the area is,” explained Samuchenko, by means of a translator, on a video clip contact from his home in the Ukrainian city of Odesa. “But I also want the viewer to see themselves as becoming like these people today — to invite them into the image.”
When Samuchenko frequented, nevertheless, the lake was a tranquil location — just one reachable only through “quite bad streets” and with really minor vacationer infrastructure, he discussed. The figures standing encounter-to-experience in the image are two of Samuchenko’s fellow photographers, though he states the moment shared by his two good friends was spontaneous, not posed.
Samuchenko’s pics of Lake Lemuria have been acknowledged by a number of significant pictures awards. Credit rating: Yevhen Samuchenko
‘My frontline’
Samuchenko not long ago donated his drone to the Ukrainian armed forces, and he claims it is at present unachievable for him to function as a photographer. But in a conflict that may hinge on the assist of sympathetic allies, he hopes his work can still add to the war exertion by interesting to hearts and minds. “It truly is my frontline,” he stated.
Like his illustrations or photos of Lake Lemuria, the painterly pics expose concealed symmetries, patterns and designs. Canyons, riverbeds, forests and farmland burst with shade and take on a surreal new elegance when considered from higher than.
Samuchenko’s new e-book displays Ukraine’s wide and assorted landscapes. Credit score: Yevhen Samuchenko
Samuchenko’s ebook was previously in production when the war commenced. Some of the places depicted have due to the fact been broken, according to writer Lucia Bondar, who wrote the accompanying text.
“Even character has suffered since of this awful war,” she claimed, including: “It really is extremely essential to exhibit the planet now the other aspect of Ukraine. Each individual working day, the entire earth sees these extraordinary photographs on their screens, in actual time. They see this soreness and these tears… In our guide they can see the other aspect of Ukraine — of our men and women, of our lives and of pure natural beauty.”
