Anton Shevchenko Photography
Travel and fine art images
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you?
You can read my short bio on the About page. If there's anything else you want to know, just e-mail me.
Why photograph?
Photography is a way to express my artistic side and attempt to give an inanimate object a living voice. I believe that a piece of art is truly something when it passes on feelings to its observer. I therefore strive to evoke such emotions with my photographs. Attempt and strives are the two key words here! I know it sounds bizarre, but I get huge surges of adrenaline when I catch a beautiful sunset scene or successfully capture a person’s character in a portrait. Even more so than the times I score a goal in soccer, break a previous personal best in the 10k, or am on the threshold of losing control cornering in my car. I thrive for that tingling sensation you get when the moon and the stars so perfectly reflect in a completely still body of water, that you are afraid even to sigh as not to disturb this beautiful tranquility--much less to release the shutter and capture it. I am left absolutely breathless when someone looks at me with eyes so trenchant, that I am grateful for my existence and the chance to eternalize this expression. My occasional failures to capture certain scenes only make me think and work that much harder to improve my skills.
How did you get started?
I was visiting my family in NYC on Mother's Day 2001 and we went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. There, out of the blue, I decided to buy black and white film for my regular point-and-shoot camera. I took two rolls of film, focusing on the composition and trying to give "feeling" and "meaning" to each shot. Obviously, I wasn't successful on any of them (except for maybe one) but I enjoyed the experience immensely. It was intriguing to think about each picture and to ask myself why I was taking it. In any case, some shots came out well enough and inspired me to get somewhat better equipment, but, more importantly, just to get out there and take pictures.
What equipment do you use?
Most of the pictures on this site are shot using the 35mm format, but I have switched to the digital format in April of 2003, so from then on, all images have been purely digital. My film camera is the simple Canon EOS Rebel 2000 and my digital camera is the Canon EOS 20D. My general purpose lens used to be the Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM. My everyday lenses now are the 17-40mm 4.0 and 70-200mm 4.0. In addition, I use the the Canon EF 100mm 2.0 USM, and the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lenses. I use both negative and slide film: Fuji Superia, Reala, Astia, Velvia, Provia and Kodak Supra, T400CN. To transfer the film to the digital format, I use the Polaroid SprintScan 4000 and Minolta Dimage film scanners.
Can I order prints?
Sure! Just contact me directly and tell me which one you're interested in and we'll take it from there. My prints are produced using archival paper and pigmented inks, offering a longevity of over one hundred years.
Can I order greeting cards?
At this time, I'm not equipped to sell greeting cards on an individual basis. If you are a wholesaler and would like to carry my greeting cards and buy in bulk, please get in touch. Otherwise, I hope to offer an online store in the future.
Your last name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?
Shevchenko is a relatively common Ukrainian last name. Chances are, you've probably heard of the famous Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko, who lived in the 1800s. You may have also heard of the famous Ukrainian soccer player, Andriy Shevchenko, currently playing football in Italy for A.C. Milan. Perhaps, if you bought some prints or greeting cards, you would make me a famous Shevchenko as well? ;)