Ukrainian photographer Yevhen Gerasymenko has been capturing the brutal realities of the war in Ukraine with an antique camera, despite the challenges it presents.

Capturing War with Limited Equipment

Gerasymenko, a 33-year-old photographer from Kiev, has been lugging around a backpack containing a 70-year-old camera and film holders, which weigh 15 kilos (33 pounds), to the front lines of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He has visited the town of Bakhmut multiple times, where he witnessed heavy shelling and was forced to take cover. Despite the risks, Gerasymenko was determined to document the horrors of war. However, his camera’s slow shutter speed and single-frame slides made it difficult to capture action shots.

A Tribute to the Heroism of Soldiers and Volunteers

Although Gerasymenko’s camera is not well-suited to action shots, he has still managed to capture powerful images of war. One of his most notable photographs shows a soldier standing next to a cannon firing a huge ball of orange fire away from the camera. Gerasymenko is proud of the image and has it displayed on the wall of his home. However, the soldier in the photograph, Misha, was killed in combat just a few months later.

Gerasymenko sees his photographs as a tribute to the heroism of soldiers and volunteers, as well as a way to preserve memories. He believes that war photographs serve an important purpose in documenting history and the experiences of those involved in conflicts.

The Significance of a Photograph

For Gerasymenko, a photograph is more than just an image. It represents a moment in time and the emotions and experiences of those captured within it. In the context of war, photographs become even more significant, serving as a way to honor those who have fought and died. Gerasymenko’s photographs capture the devastation and horror of war, but also the bravery and resilience of those caught in the conflict.

An Ongoing Conflict

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Since then, thousands of people have been killed, and the conflict shows no signs of ending. Gerasymenko’s photographs provide a glimpse into the ongoing suffering of those affected by the war and serve as a reminder of the human cost of conflict.

In conclusion, Yevhen Gerasymenko’s photographs provide a unique perspective on the war in Ukraine. Despite the limitations of his antique camera, he has managed to capture powerful images that serve as a tribute to the heroism of soldiers and volunteers, as well as a way to preserve memories. His photographs are a reminder of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the devastating toll it has taken on the country and its people.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Oleksandr Gerasymenko?

  Oleksandr Gerasymenko is a Ukrainian photographer who has covered the war in Ukraine and captured images of soldiers and volunteers. He has lugged his camera and film holders to the battlefront, sometimes facing heavy shelling to take his photographs.

• Where is Bakhmut?

  Bakhmut is a town in eastern Ukraine that has been at the epicentre of fighting since last summer. It is located in the Donetsk Oblast region, near the border with Russia.

• What type of camera does Gerasymenko use?

  Gerasymenko uses an old camera that is more suited to still portraits than action shots. It has a slow shutter speed and single-frame slides, and can only take one picture in a few minutes.

• What is the photograph that Gerasymenko is proud of?

  The photograph that Gerasymenko is proud of shows a soldier standing next to a cannon firing a huge ball of orange fire away from the camera. He had to take about 15 shots to capture it, and it was very difficult because he only had about three-hundredths of a second to react and press the button in time. The soldier in the picture, Misha, was killed in combat in March.