I have been passionate about photography since childhood. My first steps were taken during my school years, when I learned to shoot with my father's Kyiv-4M camera. Since then, photography has become not just a hobby, but an important part of my life.
I have a particular love for black-and-white photography, film, and vintage photographic equipment. My collection includes more than thirty cameras, and each of them has its own character and story. Among my favorites are a 1937 Balda Baldina with a Compur Rapid shutter and a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens, a 1953 Soviet Smena, a 1958 Zenit-S with a Helios-44 lens, a 1948 Zorki-1, and a Pentax ME Super. The oldest camera in my collection is a Kodak manufactured in 1915.
I service all of my cameras myself. I often repair, modify, and upgrade Soviet equipment to suit my own needs while preserving its original character and spirit.
Despite my love for analog photography, I do not reject modern technology. Digital cameras and my smartphone are also part of my toolkit, especially when I need to take a large number of shots and later select the best results. However, slow and deliberate film photography remains closest to my heart: working with film, the magic of the darkroom, the tangible nature of a photographic print, and the unique texture of silver grain.
I am originally from Ukraine and was born in the Soviet Union. I currently live in Moldova. My relocation was forced, as my hometown of Mariupol is under occupation. When leaving the war zone, I was able to save only one old digital camera, a Nikon D3200. Almost my entire current collection has been assembled in Moldova.
Life goes on, and I try not to lose heart. Photography has remained with me throughout the years and continues to inspire me to see the world through a lens, discover beauty in everyday life, and preserve moments for the future.
