Ukrainian photographer wins silver at New York Photography Awards for Ukrainian ethnos project

Uzhhorod photographer Mykhailo Dorohovych has won silver at the New York Photography Awards for the Cultural ethnos of Transcarpathia photo project. 

UP.Zhyttia reported this.

The publication says that the pictures show the world and the identity of Ukraine's westernmost region. They were filmed in the Transcarpathian Museum of Architecture and Life.

Buildings brought from different parts of the region form a model of an ancient Transcarpathian village and reproduce the daily life of its inhabitants.

A series of photos of people in clothes, traditional for different parts of multinational Transcarpathia, took second place in the nomination People Photography/Culture.

"Inhabitants of Transcarpathia, which are different ethnic groups: Ukrainians (Lemkys, Draks, Hutsuls, and Dolans), Hungarians, Romanians, Slovaks, Germans (Swabians), Jews, were able to inherit extraordinary riches. They have been preserved in folk life, clothes, and fabrics, pottery dishes. These are patterns and ornaments, shapes and designs, and a wealth of colors. 

'Transcarpathia Peoples Unique Cultural Heritage' will tell about the incredible wealth of the poorest region, which now abuts four European borders, about the beauty and spiritual wealth of the people of Transcarpathia, the work of craftsmen, the way of life, the pride and color that has faded somewhat, but is still alive," the project's description emphasizes.

Shortly before the victory at the New York Photography Awards 2022, the  Cultural Ethnos of Transcarpathia photo project was also celebrated at another prestigious international photo contest. It is called Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022 and was held in Japan. Here, Dorohovych's photographs were also awarded a silver award.

UP.Kultura asked Mykhailo Dorohovych about his photo project, which introduces the world to the diversity of authentic Transcarpathia.

The photographer was asked to remember when this project first came to mind and how long it took from conception to implementation.

"This project has been swirling in my thoughts for a long time. But I was inspired to create it by the world-famous Greek photographer George Tatakis with his Kariatis project about the Greek ethnic group, which took first place in many international competitions.

Immediately after finishing my project, Famous And Interesting Personalities of Transcarpathia, last September, I started preparing for a new project. Even though this was an artistic and not a scientific project, I needed knowledge about the ethnos of Transcarpathia (its culture, traditions, clothing, and interiors), which I did not have at the proper level, so I turned to professionals.

Such is Vasyl Kotsan, the director of the Uzhgorod Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, who helped me in all matters related to this topic.

Filming in the museum lasted for two months, from the beginning of October to the end of November 2022, until the cold season came," said the photographer.

So, in the end, the artist placed his heroes in the Uzhhorod Museum of Folk Architecture and Life. This was quite a difficult location from the point of view of lighting. It wasn't easy to get exactly the light needed for the design.

"I visited the museum many times and looked closely at these interiors and understood that there would be difficulties with the light. Because for our eyes, this lighting is perceived romantically, but it is entirely different for the film or the matrix.

I had to leave this subdued light, which is typical of the times I was portraying when candles were burning in the rooms, and at the same time, illuminate the models so that we could see these beautiful authentic outfits.

I still wanted to expose what was behind the windows in some pictures, a small piece of nature. And it was even more difficult. And all this should be done so that there is no need to edit individual parts in Photoshop, but to have precious and optical images," Dorohovych emphasized.

A museum owns the clothes of the characters posing in the photos. 

"All the clothes in these photos are the museum's property from their priceless collection. I chose the people myself.  I tried to find such types directly related to an ethnic group. Some people had lived not so long ago in such conditions, which was very touching.

The photo project won an award at the New York Photography Awards and earlier at the Tokyo International Foto Awards. The artist explains why he decided to apply:

"From the beginning, when I started working on this series, I already knew that at the end of November, the applications for the New York Photography Awards and the Tokyo International Foto Awards, in which I wanted to participate, were closed.

I remember applying for the New York Photography Awards on the penultimate day because otherwise, I could have participated with this series only a year later.

I never thought this project would be so successful at international competitions because I knew that the most famous photo artists in the world participated in them.

But Cultural Ethnos of Transcarpathia was also highly appreciated in Tokyo and New York, so I was pleased," said Dorohovych.

The jury liked the project about Hutsuls, who are distant to New Yorkers (and even more so to Japanese people).

"It seems that the theme of African, Asian, Indonesian, and other authentic cultures has been dramatically popularized and intensely explored in the last 50 years.

And no one has seen the real ethnos of Transcarpathia, except on old postcards in narrow circles. Therefore, this topic is currently fascinating and colorful.

And the Japanese generally value traditions and culture very much. And besides, they have good taste," said the artist.

This year was difficult for people in creative professions. 

"Last year was difficult for many. I think this year will not be easy either.

I don't plan anything yet, either. I live for today and immerse myself in art. As long as there is inspiration, I work. In wartime, you begin to feel better about what you are doing and why and what the values of this or that project are.

I have interesting thoughts on various topics that I would like to film, but it is worth talking about them when a certain amount of work has already been done," Dorohovych summarized.