Bohdan Huliai became a new member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. His work goes beyond traditional reportage photography — Bohdan explores deep themes of memory, existence and personal stories, which he skillfully conveys mostly in film photographs. Some of Guliai's projects require a long time for deeper understanding, and sometimes even a re-reading of the Bible to find a new perspective on classic plots.
“Photographer in the broadest sense”
To the question “who do you position yourself at this moment?” Bohdan Gulyai replies that he defines himself as a photographer without narrow frames. “When it comes to photography, I'm a photographer in the broadest sense,” he describes his approach to the profession. Bohdan's experience covers a wide variety of genres and tasks: from reporting work for the media to the art of photographing nude nature.
Bohdan is not limited to one direction, convincing that a true photographer should be universal. He believes that the technical features of the tool dictate the rules of shooting, but the choice of object is a matter of personal interest: “If a person is a photographer, then he does not care what to work with. Because the tool defines certain rules, and then only your curiosity about the object of shooting”.
The beginning of the capture and the first camera
Bohdan Gulyai says that his first acquaintance with photography began as a child, and this story turned into a personal legend, which he often tells to people who are interested in analog photography.
“The inspiration came from an older cousin who had a Smena 8 camera.For me it was something fantastic — how a person can take a picture and get a finished image,” Bohdan recalls. This hobby gave rise to the desire to have their own camera, but at that time the family was not able to buy it immediately.
It was only when Bogdanov was 12 that his parents were able to give him a camera with a scalar focusing system. “There it was necessary to focus on the pictures: one person on the chest, two people in the frame or a group of three,” Bohdan shares his memories. He actively photographed, showed the film in a dark room and was fascinated by the magic of the process: “Those moments when images gradually appeared in the bath, I remembered for a lifetime.”
Like many children, after a while Bohdan cooled down to his hobby. But as an adult, he returned to photography. He started with a simple “soapbox”, photographing everyday things: “Beloved girl holds sun by the sea”, “Friends and I are on vacation”, but felt that it was still not what really inspires him. “I was not satisfied with what I saw. I bought the best camera and tried to photograph in color, and everything began to change,” he shares his experience.
A curious case helped the photographer to find his inspiration. Once Bohdan returned home and found his old camera, but it turned out that the baths, in which he had previously shown the photos, his parents began to use as drinking bowls for rabbits. “I had to buy new bathtubs and prepare everything for the film show,” Bohdan laughs, “and that's when I realized that I was back where I was really interested, and that's what inspires me.”
Photography as an occupation, but not the meaning of life
Bohdan Gulyai does not consider photography a matter of life. For him, it is rather an instrument of self-knowledge, which helps in personal development and the search for freedom. “The business of life is self-development, understanding oneself and one's place,” he explains. Photography is a pleasant activity that supports these processes.
Like many Ukrainian photographers of yesteryear, Bohdan combined photography with his main work. At the time, he worked in local media.
The work of a journalist became for him a way to combine text and photography. “The editorial staff saved: I wrote articles and took photos at the same time, receiving one salary for two jobs,” he recalls. This approach allowed to enjoy the creative process and at the same time to get a hand in the photography business. Taking digital pictures for the editorial office, Bogdan worked with film in parallel for his own pleasure. “I additionally read books, was interested in military and street photography, etc. At that time it was quite an expensive hobby - film was not cheap,” recalls the photographer.
“Scratchy Days”. An intimate look at personal states
For more than 15 years of photography, Bohdan managed to realize many of his creative ideas. Among them is the project “Scratchy Days”, which shows a deep, personal look at the experiences of the photographer. Bogdan says that for him, this work is a collection of frames that reflect his internal emotional states at different moments. “From naked women to dead mice, everything I've felt and seen is reflected in this work,” he says. This series shows how photography can be a means of self-understanding. Bohdan considers it one of the most integral and consistent works of his works.
Echoes of war in photos
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Bohdan Gulyai faced deep internal questions about the role of his photography in the war. He says that he was ready for the invasion: “All valuable things — cameras, negatives, prints — I packed and transported to Lviv.” However, the photographer did not immediately return to filming: “I didn't see the point of shooting the war myself. There are many professional photojournalists who do it better.” At that time, instead of photography, Bohdan decided to devote himself to volunteer activities. For some time he worked in a restaurant that cooked for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: “I helped pack, transport, unload — I just did what was needed.”
And at the end of March 2022, the photographer felt that he wanted to shoot again: “After a few months, my hands were literally itchy. It became clear to me that I needed to return to filming, although I didn't immediately know exactly what I was going to shoot.”
Bohdan did not try to compete with reportage photographers, he did not want to capture the war with a classical approach. His gaze was more personal — he captured what reflected his own perception of events: “Photography became for me not so much a tool of documentation as a way of self-expression and reflection.”
“Memories of War”
This is how the project “Memory of War” was born. According to Bohdan, the photo series is not a classic report, but rather an attempt to convey the personal experience of people who survived the war without taking part in hostilities, but felt its consequences on themselves.
“There are many journalists who have devoted their lives to photojournalism. I decided to shoot what I can convey better — the experiences of the people who remained after the front moved on,” says the photographer.
Work on the project took place in Kyiv and Chernihiv region — regions affected by the Russian invasion. This project reflects the feeling and perception of war as a moment that leaves its mark on everyone. Especially personal for Bogdan this series was due to the fact that in these regions his mother survived the occupation, and friends were under siege. “Many people work with the phenomenon of memory, but, as far as I am concerned, there are few such consistent and profound projects. Of course, others should evaluate this, but it seems to me that my project belongs to them,” he says.
About the meaning and profitability of creativity
Bohdan emphasizes that his approach to photography differs from popular conceptual currents. “The more conceptual photography comes out, the less I want to do it,” says the photographer. Instead, he is interested in capturing everyday moments: “I want to capture life as it is and show how it looks at a certain point in time, from a specific point of view.”
The photographer acknowledges that this approach is not commercially profitable: “These works are not for sale. Of course, beautiful photos can be sold, but they are not.” However, for him, the inner content and the creation process are more important than commercial success: “I do it simply because I like it.”
Long-term projects and rethinking the Bible
Now Bohdan Gulyay is focused on large-scale long-term series, where filming has been going on for years. “I joke that if the series lasts less than four years, then it will be superficial,” laughs the photographer. He shared that he is currently continuing to work on the project, which he started back in 2020. This project requires him to carefully study religious subjects: “To realize the idea, I have to reread the whole Bible. The last time I read the New Testament was many years ago.
Bohdan's new project is related to the reinterpretation of biblical themes through the prism of female images. The photographer says that so far this project has no name and is in development: “If the project is not completed, then it is difficult to talk about it. The main idea is to move away from the patriarchal tradition and make the woman the central figure.”
Tips for beginners in photography
For those who want to try themselves in photography, Bohdan advises first of all to develop curiosity and openness to the world. “The world is huge and incredibly interesting. No screenwriter will think of what can happen to you on the way to the branch of “Nova Poshta”. The photographer recommends always having a camera with you and not hesitating to photograph even, at first glance, insignificant moments: “Take a picture of what seems uninteresting - and then it turns out that you have caught something important.” He also warns with a smile to newcomers who decide to engage in analog photography: “Be careful with the film! It drags and depresses the budget, and it will no longer be possible to break away from it.”
Bohdan Huliailives and works in Kyiv, has been engaged in artistic photography since 2010. Member of the Ukrainian Photographic Alternative and the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. The photographer's favorite tool is the film camera, and most of the works are printed using classic analog techniques such as silver-gelatin printing, lime-printing, and hand-coloring. The main themes of Guliai's work are memory, corporeality, sexuality and the impact of the war on Ukrainian society. It studies how physical and symbolic elements affect the perception of history and emotions. Especially important for the artist is the production of artbooks with his own hands, where each copy becomes a unique art object. Bohdan's works were exhibited in Ukraine and abroad — in the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden and other countries.
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Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vera Labych
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Foutei
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