Oleg’s photo, “Sculpting Sun,” (middle image) was shortlisted in our 2024 Spring Photography Contest. He talks below about all three images that he captured in April this year.

Apple of the Eye

This photograph was taken in Ukraine, Kyiv oblast (a territory of Ukraine). I went to the garden to breathe in the morning and nature and took the camera along. I saw a small drop of water hanging on the grass. When I looked closer, I saw sunrise in a completely different environment. That’s when I realized that every drop has a sunrise, full of thoughts and inspiration (just like in the concept, Paramatman).

Sculpting Sun

I also took this photo in Ukraine, Kyiv oblast. I was walking through the garden and there, a single ray of sun was beaming onto the branch as a flower bloomed. I thought the ray was sculpting all that we see, all that we love, creating objects right in front of us, things we usually take for granted. That is how skies and earth communicate with us, via the sun, rays, rain drops, and all that grows.

The Hug

How often do you see the sun’s hug? Recently through the lens of my camera, I’ve noticed this effect when the sunset, at just the right moment, acts as a backlight. Here the sun’s rays struck and seemed to encase a tulip. I see how sun cares about its plants, hugging them with its rays. I am trying to translate that beauty through my photographs. (Also taken in Ukraine, Kyiv oblast)