What you see is what you get

Hi Sergei, it is a pleasure to have you with us. To begin, could you introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a little about where you live, your interests, any sports or music you enjoy, and any creative pursuits you have outside photography.
Hi, my name is Sergei. I was born in Ukraine, grew up in Belarus, and since 2019 have called Berlin my home — so if you’re ever in Berlin, I’m always up for a photo walk! During the day I work as a solution architect at a big tech company, and after hours I’m a photographer. Music is my other great passion — I’m a big fan of trance. I also love walking. All three hobbies are my therapy: each perfectly complements the others, and together they help me create, relax, and stay sane.

Your photographs reveal a genuine love of travel and exploration. Where does your passion for discovering new places come from, and what is it about wandering through cities, walking along the coast, or experiencing different cultures and histories that continues to inspire you?
I don’t list travelling as a hobby, because for me it’s more than that — it’s a way to see the world, gain new experiences, and collect memories. Photography lets me capture the way I see the world and share it with others. My love of walking pairs perfectly with travelling. I used to plan every trip meticulously, pinning dots on the map for every must-see spot. But when I let go of that habit, I started enjoying my trips far more. Those rigid plans limited me to places everyone had already visited and posted. Now I might skip a famous landmark entirely, but instead wander through the areas where real life happens, stumble on hidden gems or unassuming beauty, and simply enjoy the journey — trying to capture those feelings as I go.

You have travelled to a variety of destinations over the years. Could you share some of your favourite countries, regions or cities, and are there any places you would particularly like to revisit?
Since moving to Germany, I’ve been travelling quite a lot, and every place I’ve visited has left an impression — in most cases a very positive one. The list of places worth visiting just keeps growing. I love Rome and Athens for their history, Prague and Paris for their architecture, Budapest and Barcelona for their vibe, Porto and Copenhagen for their cosiness, and London and Amsterdam for their pulse — to name just a few. Although I tend to favour city escapes — with all their energy, beauty, food, and drive — there is one place I always come back to: Madeira. I’ve visited five years in a row, and it’s still on my list whenever I start planning the next holiday. It’s an extraordinary mix of nature, culture, food, and weather — everything is just perfect. Every part of the island feels different from the last, and each corner is worth visiting, more than once.

Looking ahead, which destinations are currently at the top of your travel bucket list, and what draws you to them?
I’ve already booked a short weekend trip to Budapest in August. I’ve been there many times, but never as a street photographer — and I have a feeling the city sets a big scene for it. In September I’ll be flying over the ocean to New York: apparently the ultimate must-visit destination for any street photographer. November is dedicated to London, where I plan to combine shooting with the A State of Trance 25th anniversary celebration — what I expect to be a perfect mix of my two passions (weather permitting!). October and December aren’t nailed down yet, but I’m working on it.

When did your interest in photography first begin, and how has it become an important part of documenting both your everyday life and your travels?
Ever since I started travelling, I tried to capture my trips. I always wanted to snapshot exactly what I was seeing — but somehow, and perhaps unsurprisingly, my photos didn’t reflect the way I actually saw the places and things. Still, I kept shooting, and gradually I worked out how to translate what I saw into an image that felt true to the moment; step by step, the pictures got better. Photography lets me record the world, preserve it, and remember it the way I felt it. Later on, when memories start to fade, I can go back through my pictures and they revive those moments and feelings — and that’s one of the main reasons I love photography.

Are there any photographers whose work has had a lasting influence on you or continues to inspire your own photographic journey?

Before I bought a camera, I didn’t follow any photographers. But as my interest in photography grew, I discovered a few whose work really moves me. Even though I’m not a big fan of black-and-white photography, the work of Fan Ho and Phil Penman inspires me enormously. Another huge influence is Mike (@mkaptured.uk). His approach to working with layers, reflections, and colour is simply on another level. When I look at the work of these photographers, I try to understand how they use depth, light, and composition, and how they catch those decisive moments, movements, and sense of scale. There are many photographers doing incredible things, but these three inspire me the most.

Your travel photography often has a distinctive street photography feel. How has your experience as a street photographer shaped the way you approach photographing new places and the people you encounter?
I’m still at the beginning of my photography journey, so I’m constantly experimenting with the camera, techniques, and scenes. When I shot only with a phone, I focused exclusively on architecture and landscapes. I was drawn to street photography, but hesitated to photograph people — I even tried to frame shots without any. Later, though, I wanted to capture not just a place or a landmark, but a feeling. That shift led me towards street photography, and I started including people in the frame. Recently I’ve also experimented with portraits and found I enjoy that too. In the end, I simply love the process: noticing things others might walk past, finding new perspectives and interesting reflections, and capturing small, fleeting moments.

Was there a particular trip or moment that convinced you to invest in a dedicated camera to document your travels?
This is quite an interesting story. Until November last year, I had only ever shot with a smartphone. What’s more, I always used Samsung and was convinced that people liked my photos simply because I knew how to get the best out of that particular phone — change the gear, I thought, and everything would fall apart. Then during a trip to Tenerife, my phone was stolen, and I had to buy a temporary replacement: a cheap Xiaomi Redmi. It turned out the photos I took on it were just as good. That was the turning point. Back in Berlin, I started researching my options and figuring out what would best fit my needs.

With so many camera systems available, what led you to choose Olympus / OM System? Could you also tell us about the camera and lenses you currently use, and how they have met your expectations?
My main requirements were simple. Since this was my first camera, I wanted to find out whether I’d enjoy the process at all — and whether I could actually take good photos with a dedicated camera, or whether my skills were limited to smartphone photography. Given that uncertainty, I didn’t want to spend too much on the first piece of gear. At the same time, I wanted something compact enough to travel with, capable of using interchangeable lenses, and — most importantly — able to deliver great image quality. After a lot of research, comparisons, and some AI-assisted deliberation, it became clear that the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV ticked every box and then some, so I went with it. After a couple of months exploring the camera, I also discovered that the 25mm focal length (equivalent to 50mm on full frame) suited me perfectly, so I added the Olympus M.Zuiko 2 mm f/1.8. That’s my setup for now — and honestly, it’s more than enough. I love the image quality, the lens shows the world exactly as I see it, and I’m very happy with the decision.

Travelling photographers often need equipment that is both lightweight and capable. From your experience, what do you consider to be the main strengths and limitations of the Micro Four Thirds system for travel photography and for the type of work you enjoy most?
The biggest advantage is definitely the size: it’s compact, lightweight, and simply ideal for travel. It also has in-body image stabilisation, so even handheld shots at relatively slow shutter speeds come out sharp. The one potential downside is some sensor limitations for night photography.

Do you have a favourite lens? What makes it stand out, and why does it suit your style of photography so well?
The Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 is just perfect for me. The biggest thing I love about it is “what you see is what you get” — it renders the world exactly as the eye perceives it. I also appreciate not having a zoom: whenever a scene doesn’t look the way I want it to, I have to physically move closer or step back, which keeps me engaged and thinking compositionally. It also makes beautiful portraits — images are smooth, and when needed the background melts into that soft, creamy bokeh.

When travelling, do you prefer to organise and edit your photographs on a computer once you return home, or do you enjoy editing on the go using your smartphone?
Since I’m still early in my photography journey and want to build my skills gradually, I decided to start with tools I could get my head around first. For now, Lightroom Mobile is all I use — I’ve taken out an annual subscription, and it covers everything I need. One of the things I love most is that I don’t have to carry a laptop on every trip, and I can even post photos right after shooting. It covers my needs more than 100%.

Finally, could you take us through your post-processing workflow? Which tools, filters or presets do you typically use before sharing your images?
My post-processing workflow is very straightforward. I pick the photos I like, import them into Lightroom, and then try to add back the feeling I had when I pressed the shutter. Some people argue that editing distorts reality — I see it the other way around: editing is how I reflect the reality I felt and saw in the moment. I don’t use presets or filters; every edit starts from scratch, as I try to work out how to express that feeling in the image. It’s not always possible — there are photos I still haven’t posted simply because they’re not quite there yet, even if they look decent on the surface. My favourite tool is masking. It lets me emphasise certain parts of the frame, draw the eye to specific details, and quietly pull attention away from what matters less. All in all, the editing process is a kind of meditation — sometimes I spend a lot of time on a single image, but every minute is worth it.