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I was born in 1965 into a Crimea-Bulgarian family in Ukraine. I graduated Zhitomir’s music college. I also studied at the University of Art in Harkov, and at the National Academy of Music in Kiev. Art was not just a part of my life - it was my life until I moved to the United States. I thought I would just change the country in which I lived in - but, instead, it changed my life.
My favorite format is 6x6 medium format. I mostly work with Hasselblad and Rolleiflex TLRs. I always wanted to try a 4x5 format, and recently I purchased a Chamonix 45N-II camera and hope to start posting some work. I also work only in black &white. For me, color is too disturbing, and makes it too hard to concentrate on a subject ( at least in my mind). This is probably the reason why we dream in black & white.
Several years ago, I decided to give a try to a digital format starting from a Nikon and ending up with a Canon 5DMII. Now, as I’m going through the images that I had made in those digital years, I see images with NO life in them. Why have we taken this route? Its reminds me a coffee vending machine - it may be very fast, but without any taste. After trying this type of coffee several times, we want to go home and make it by ourselves with the taste we enjoy. I believe that we have to try the worst to appreciate the best.
I love shooting landscapes and waterscapes, and am periodically trying to copy Michael Kenna's work in his night cityscapes.I love being alone with my Creator in the woods, or feeling a fresh breath of the river, or flying over magnificent mountains (which only happens in my mind and in my dreams, of course). But this time gives me an opportunity to pray and be alone with my God and my Creator. Yes, this is my inspiration. This is what inspires me most. His creation. And I bow not to the creation but to the Creator.
All these magnificent images that we constantly wonder at, images that are captured by our favorite artists, are just a reflection of what He has created. These are His work.
I would like to quote one of my favorite contemporary artist from Australia, Ken Duncan:
“Often the biggest thing blocking the light is the shadow of our own intentions. We can get so locked into what to achieve or why we have gone to a particular area that we miss the very thing we are there for. I believe there is a force at work much bigger that us. The key is to tap into the Creator’s power rather than your own technical understanding, which by comparison is very limited. This is a hard pill for many to swallow (especially “techno-heads”) because people love to be in control. Personally, I would rather be out of control. I’‘m just an average photographer with a great God. I have definitely not perfected this area of relinquishing control, but I’m working on it. It’s exciting! How small we are and how big He is!” (www.kendunkan.com)
Vlad Duchev
3rd Heaven Studio
2713 Geartner Road
Baltimore 21209
United States
vladimir@duchev.com
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