An Exclusive Interview with Sergiy Kadulin

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1967, Sergiy Kadulin grew up in the family with his sister and mother, as his father died when they were two years old. He graduated from the military aviation academy (avionics engineer), and later on, from MBA school (IBR school, based in Ukraine). While majority of his professional career was with information technology, where he worked for such companies as American Power Conversion, hp, Microsoft, and Apple as director of Apple VAD in Ukraine, but photography is his greatest passion and hobby. On June 2013, he left his present job and career in IT to focus full time on developing his own professional photography business. Sergiy’s first experience was with his grandfather’s camera (made in 1936), and while he was studying in school he started mode in-depth learning of photography, including dark room processing, shooting on color films, etc. His first own camera (shared with his sister) was Smena-8M, which was very popular in Soviet Union as basic and very affordable camera for children. In upper class his mother gave him a gift – Zenit-12SD, which was his first real film DSLR and he enjoyed it for many years. Later on, while being on business trip in Canada, he bought Minolta with set of lenses, which was far more advanced one. Large part of his film photo collection was made with it. Sergiy was quite skeptical towards digital photography at the beginning, and switched completely to digital workflow by late 90’s until early 2000. About 7 years ago he graduated from the professional photography course in the Kyiv School of Photography, and later on, continued to study (distance learning course of professional photography) in New York Institute of Photography. He also attended number of training courses in different other schools and on top of it, learn new interesting areas online. He did his first photo exhibition in April, 2011, which was named “Sikkim. Beginning” and was devoted to his trekking in Himalaya, Sikkim, India, in 2010. Sergiy’s favorite type of photography is travel and landscape; however he likes reportage as well. He does devote significant portion of his time to internal growth and development, which to his strong opinion, is the most important part of any creative human. He is trying to use photography as means to share his deep love to the world, to other people and nature, and pass warmth of his heart to them.

In this “Exclusive Interview” section, today we have the opportunity to talk with Sergiy Kadulin, as his photograph was winner of Photo of the Month – 36th Month, 3rd Place. Let’s discover more about Sergiy Kadulin, and his forays into photography in the following interview with him.

Light & Composition: Greetings from Light & Composition, Sergiy. How does it feel being selected as the winner of Photo of the Month, 36th Month, 3rd Place?

Sergiy Kadulin: This is already my third work selected as photo of the month by L&C audience, and as usual, it comes non-expected. Of course, I am very pleased and feel deep appreciation to those people who gave their votes for my photography, but also, I am grateful to the universe for giving my a chance being in the right place in the right time and made it happen.

Also, not mentioned by other photographers, but I must point out that Day selection and Photo of the Month selection by L&C do add value to the photograph, as many people who are potential clients see it as an additional assurance in the quality of the work and its recognition of international and broad audience.

L&C: Your photographs, “Kazan Kremlin at Night”, was selected as Photo of the Month, is a beautiful Night photograph with artistic perspective, correct lighting, and very well presented. Overall, a great composition! Tell us more about your experience of taking this photograph.

Sergiy: I was on business trip to Kazan, and we arrived very late to the hotel, tired after a long flight. My initial desire was to go to hotel room and fall asleep. However, at the last moment I decided (or listened to the whisper of my soul) to go upstairs to the roof bar and have a look at city at night. I went to the open air bar on the roof, and suddenly saw this amazing picture of Kazan Kremlin mosque with the moon. What’s more, it was thin slice of fog in the bottom part of the picture, and the whole composition was so delightful and delicate, like fairy tale came in full reality next to me.

I forgot about everything, and run with all possible speed to my room, unpacked camera, tripod and accessories, and run back to the roof. Definitely, people having calm dinner in the restaurant were surprised with the action. The result you can see on the photo, however the fog disappeared by the time I was ready to push shutter release.

The good lesson for me photography is the following: despite of how tired you are, never refuse to go extra mile and take a chance to discover this magic moment hiding from you on the roof. The next day, before our departure, sunset was in the clouds, and the moon was not visible at all. It was one chance to make it. Nobody from our group took it.

L&C: Besides this winning photograph, many people liked and voted for other photographs of yours in the Photo of the Month contest. You must be proud. How do you see your journey to the world of photography so far?

Sergiy: There were many photographs of mine voted for by other people within L&C project, but I can’t say it makes me proud, may be just very little part of it. Instead, it adds to my gratitude to those people and feeling of joy to share the best moments that life and God gift us with. I feel huge energy coming from my love to photography, which started from the childhood. Interesting to mention that since June, 2013 I left my present job and career in IT to focus full time on developing my own professional photography business. I am sure that with such dedication I will develop much faster and achieve more in the field of photography. The journey is just beginning.

L&C: As we know, you are originally from Ukraine, which has its own rich diverse cultural and artistic heritage. Do you think depicting life in Ukraine portrays a different essence? How much does that influence your work?

Sergiy: In my childhood, thanks to my mother and grandparents, I was studying history of arts and paintings, we have nice home library. Also, being in K12, I attended art and painting school in Kyiv, where received basics of art, national Ukrainian culture, not only visual, but also interconnected with music, dancing, theater performance. Also, we traveled a lot around Ukraine, visiting new places, historical monuments, nature and wilderness parks. I think it was very important part of my initial grow-up, as such education expands horizons, increases sensitivity and opens new broadband of everything one can receive, or feel in the life. If you are not trained to think at certain frequencies (brain vibrations), then you are not capable to generate energy needed for universe to create circumstances for the perfect shot. It all comes from inside you, and opens up in the outside world.

Later on, thanks to my career with many multinational companies I had chance to travel to many countries and continents, which also opened me exciting world of new cultures, traditions and national heritage across the globe. It added a lot to my vision. After such visits, I started to see things differently. I want to stress importance of travel for people in general, and for photographers especially.

L&C: Do you like a particular genre of photography and if so, why?

Sergiy: In general speaking, I like mastery in photography of any kind. Sometimes, when I see great artwork photography (it can be of any genre), the world around stands still and time becomes non-existing. I can not simply move eyes out of the masterpiece. It may be great portrait, or nature, or landscape, or reportage, or…Its unique combination of perfect a-ha moment, colors, light and shades and all other technical things which resonate with my own perception and vision, and I love such moments a lot.

As for my personal preferences, in terms where I focus most of the time, they are fine art, landscape, nature and travel photography.

L&C: One of the keys to any style of photography is visualization. Please tell us how you started this process and what you did afterwards.

Sergiy: One important step I mentioned earlier – it started with my education in arts and painting, where visualization is key to make a work. You simply cannot make good drawing or painting, unless you create it in great deal of detail in your head and your heart. After that you just re-create it on the paper, in stone or with music instrument.

Second important step if systematic internal work with your mind. Through thinking, listening to silence, meditation, etc. For me, I use visualization a lot during such exercises.

Next, what happens at the location. In my childhood, when I was shooting films, and didn’t have formal education on photography, I was just walking around the scene or subject, often making rounds several times, changing angles, distance, light and shadows appearance – everything which contributes to the final image. It is similar to the famous children game “warn-cold”. I still use this when I do photography.

With digital workflow you have temptation to make click faster, but I prefer to spend more time thinking and building the picture than actual time pushing the button.

L&C: Sergiy, have you ever exhibited your work? If so, then tell us about your first exhibiting experience.

Sergiy: I had my first sole exhibition called “SIKKIM. BEGINNING” held in April, 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was devoted to my photo works during trekking in Himalaya, Sikkim in October 2010. Overall, it was great experience, and good exposure. I realized my limits at that time as for quality of photographs required for large-format printing, and how to make best presentations, how to build marketing and communication about this event, how to follow-up sales leads, and made my first large format sales as an outcome. I had one very experienced art exhibition advisor helping me to build exposition.

Good lesson I took is the following: if you want to exhibit and make impact, go large format. It is definitely more expensive, but nothing can compare with the impression made by large format, good quality print. This is even stronger impact in the digital age of 11/13 tablets screens.

L&C: Are you involved with any photography organizations? How does this help you in your photography?

Sergiy: I am member of several professional online forums, and plan to join Ukrainian national society of photographers soon. I am also looking to join some western professional photography organizations. I was member of PSA in 2011-2012, thinking about prolongation of this membership.

Membership does help a lot: it helps to get faster educated in the field of photography. It helps to see what is happening in other markets. It helps to understand trends, which is important if you think about your long-term strategy. It helps to build connections, and reputation, and so on. So, many benefits.

L&C: What advice would you give our readers who want to take part in the journey around the world with photography?

Sergiy:Listen to your heart and put your alarm early in the morning.

L&C: Thank you, Sergiy, for sharing your feelings and experiences with us.