Photography captures what the eye can see. Captures what is happening. The way it is here and now. With detail and clarity available here and now.
Georgy Ivanchenko photographs the consequences of the arrival in Kharkov. Night Kharkiv courtyard, which is viewed from above. A rescuer who moves through this courtyard, lighting his way with a flashlight. I know of other photos of Ivanchenko, where the same characters operate: Kharkiv courtyards, which are bombarded by Russian missiles, and city DNSnickers, who are the first to arrive at the sites where these missiles hit.
I ask about this photo in George and he can't remember when he took it. To remember checks metadata. Since December, the shelling of Kharkov has turned into a routine, a deadly routine. The Russians have already sent as many ballistic missiles into the city from the air as they have not sent since the beginning of a full-scale invasion. And the rockets continue to fly. The Economist warns that the city is planned to be turned into a “gray zone”, and mentions Aleppo.
“In every arrival, I try to find a goal, to find a target,” Ivanchenko says
But this photo doesn't explain anything. Like other photos. Outlines of houses, torn windows, broken glass of courtyards, silhouettes of people, dim light sources — all these consequences shed no light on the causes after which all this happens and from which it all flows. However, through this photo there is geometry. The simplest figures — a point, a straight line, a ray — are folded into a dark rectangle of the house and a circle of light from the DNSnik lantern: a small one, in which a human figure is inscribed, and a large one, which falls on the house next to it. Spatial forms, their mutual arrangement and sizes are outlined in the photo. However, this random systematics does not change anything.
“I don't understand,” Ivanchenko says, simply recording the consequences of another Russian shelling.
Captures what is happening. The way it is. Almost the same as X-rays. They also do not change anything, do not treat anyone. Only establish and make visible. Sometimes this visibility saves.
Olena Huseinova — Ukrainian writer, radio host, radio producer. Since 2016, he has been working on Radio Culture (Social). She is currently the editor-in-chief of the Editorial Radio Theater and Literary Programs. From February 26, 2022, Elena worked as a live host of the 24-hour information radio marathon on Ukrainian Radio (Social). Author of two poetry books “Open Rider” (2012), “Superheroes” (2016). He writes essays and small prose.
Heorhii Ivanchenko — Ukrainian photographer, who since February 2022 works as a freelance reporter in the field of documentary and journalistic photography. From the first months of the invasion, he began filming for the Associated Press and the European Pressphoto Agency. Starting from Borodyanshchyna, where Georgy was born, continuing his journey through the front line: Mykolaiv, Kharkiv region, Kherson region, now his attention was concentrated on Donetsk region. The turning point in his photography was that he lived in Bakhmut for almost a month. Throughout December and January, he documented the lives of the townspeople, carrying a backpack and sleeping bag, sharing life with locals in basements, volunteers, medics, military, and firemen. In April, while working on material about Chasiv Yar in Donbas, his car was shot and destroyed by a Russian shell. Now the author continues his reflection on the numerous situations that have happened on his way and is working on the creation of his first project “Way of War” (working title).
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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