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Photographer Spends 10 Years Photographing Same Bench, Captures More Than He Expects
One Ukrainian photographer has spent a decade of his life on a single project, and it’s so intimate, it’ll make you feel things. Through his kitchen window, Yevhen Kotenko has shot the same park bench for 10 years and while its paint changed, some things remained the same.
“I didn’t give myself any time limits or goals, I just went to the kitchen and looked out the window,” Kotenko told RFE/RL. “Usually there was something to see.” Although Kotenko claimed he has fond memories of the neighborhood he grew up in, “there were a lot of bad things, too, that are better not to think about.”
“The worst thing was seeing people I went to school with drinking on this bench, then crawling home like reptiles. I was scared that if I went outside, I’d become one of them.” Kotenko said the subjects he captured were oblivious of his camera. His project had been on display at a Kyiv art pub until January 26 and received mixed reactions. “Some people laughed, others complained that I just focused on the alcoholics.”
And even though the photographer moved to another place in 2017, he will still be able to carry on with his work. “I only moved 1 kilometer down the road.” His parents still live in the apartment with the view.
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What do you think ?
John L 7 years ago
Actually the bench itself is just as interesting, because it undergoes changes, which give a strong indicator as to which photo is the oldest, all the way to the latest shots. After initially going through the pictures, I noticed this, and studied them closely. The pictures are wildly out of order chronologically. The oldest one is unique and easy to separate from the others. Is there anyone here who can tell us which is the oldest, and should be at the top of the list? And can anyone see the four step sequence in the pictures?
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Jonathan Levich 7 years ago
They like their booze in Ukraine. That last pic tho lol. Looks like a runner who was just like "yeah, eff this whole exercise thing, nap time"
Alia G. 7 years ago
This is a very cool series, but I’m always a little irked by photographs of strangers who don’t know they’re being photographed. Every once in a while when i’m downtown someone will be going around taking random photos of people for a project. Some people don’t mind, but there are people (like me) that hate having their photo taken and so we cover our faces. A man yelled at me once for holding my hands in front of my face, and because i don’t like confrontation i just gave up and let him photograph me. It’s really uncomfortable to be in that situation, and have yourself recorded and put on display for all to see. I should say though, that if you have the people’s permission, this is just fine and a wonderful project. (Sorry for long comment)
Aahzmandus Pervect 7 years ago
Same bench, that is sometimes different. :) I didn't know they drink in the Ukraine. :P
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
Like fish. What's the address of the cave you've been living in?
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John L 7 years ago
Actually the bench itself is just as interesting, because it undergoes changes, which give a strong indicator as to which photo is the oldest, all the way to the latest shots. After initially going through the pictures, I noticed this, and studied them closely. The pictures are wildly out of order chronologically. The oldest one is unique and easy to separate from the others. Is there anyone here who can tell us which is the oldest, and should be at the top of the list? And can anyone see the four step sequence in the pictures?
Load More Replies... Jonathan Levich 7 years ago
They like their booze in Ukraine. That last pic tho lol. Looks like a runner who was just like "yeah, eff this whole exercise thing, nap time"
Alia G. 7 years ago
This is a very cool series, but I’m always a little irked by photographs of strangers who don’t know they’re being photographed. Every once in a while when i’m downtown someone will be going around taking random photos of people for a project. Some people don’t mind, but there are people (like me) that hate having their photo taken and so we cover our faces. A man yelled at me once for holding my hands in front of my face, and because i don’t like confrontation i just gave up and let him photograph me. It’s really uncomfortable to be in that situation, and have yourself recorded and put on display for all to see. I should say though, that if you have the people’s permission, this is just fine and a wonderful project. (Sorry for long comment)
Aahzmandus Pervect 7 years ago
Same bench, that is sometimes different. :) I didn't know they drink in the Ukraine. :P
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
Like fish. What's the address of the cave you've been living in?
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