Hi folks! I’m Vlad Biletskyi. First of all I would like to thank you for your interest to Foto-Osnova project. Spare me just a few minutes, and I’ll tell you briefly about the project, its goals and direction of development. We’ll get to know each other in such a way.
If you’d prefer to dive straight into learning about FotoOsnova, skipping creator introduction, you can navigate to the project description)
You can get acquainted with my work in Photo Gallery.
For any questions or to get in touch, please visit the «Q&A» page.
About myself
As I mentioned in my greeting, my name is Vlad. You can address me informally with «you.» I often use the formal «you,» but I’m happy to switch to informal if the person doesn’t mind and if it’s appropriate given our ages.
I believe the first thing you’d want to know about me is related to my photographic achievements. I think my works will speak for me better than I could.
How did I get into photography?
My passion for photography grew from a combination of love for my homeland (Donetsk and Donbass region overall, Ukraine) and a natural interest in the art of photography. It had been developing for a long time but truly blossomed in 2013. Before that, I was just taking random «pictures».
My passion for photography coincided with many moments in my life: cycling trips, early mornings (though not that early because I’m a night owl)) ), disapproving looks from security guards, and conversations with them as well.
One particularly vivid memory is from a summer night when I just couldn’t sleep. By around 3 a.m., it became clear that it’s impossible to get asleep, so I set off to photograph the night park. The park belonged to a candy factory and was guarded. I calmly set up my tripod and began shooting, sensing that I was being watched, probably through security cameras. A few minutes later, a guard showed up and asked if I was a corporate spy. I responded that it was unlikely for a spy to be setting up a tripod in a park)) He then asked how long the photo session would take, but I didn’t have an answer.
I was clearly irritating him by interrupting his peaceful slumber and confusing him with my presence. The guard had probably never dealt with a nighttime cameraman, especially with a tripod before. He was strongly opposed to photographing the building (a request I ultimately ignored, as it wasn’t legal). He followed me around the park for about an hour, keeping an eye on my every move. Eventually, he left.
The resulting photos were technically imperfect, but they make me smile because of the memories they bring back, and they’re liked by many.
About the project
FotoOsnova is…
A photography resource for those who are tired of the ordinary, mediocre, and want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of real photographic art. In no way I am a master and can’t boast of a refined sense of aesthetics, but I invite you to strive for it together.
It’s a blog-like educational resource with elements of discovery and entertainment. On its pages, you will find lessons to help you reach your goals. This is one of the important focuses of my work. You’ll also find inspiring photography collections by other photographers and other content.
There are countless photography websites out there.
I want FotoOsnova to become a cozy haven for those who appreciate beautiful photography.
The idea for the site arose from my need to organize information for myself and my desire to share the gems I discovered, «bringing theory to life» through practical experimentation.
Who is this project for?
The audience that will benefit from and be interested in the project is quite broad. In summary, it can be described as:
- Beginners who have just picked up a camera (or haven’t yet but are considering photography). Don’t worry—you’re on the right path! Just start shooting, and something will come of it, and that «something» can be refined, leading to increasingly impressive results. The most important page for you, which I recommend starting with, is Tutorials. More on that later in the site structure section.
- Enthusiasts and hobbyists. You probably already have favourite subjects, developed shooting techniques, a good sense of what works and what needs improvement, and a solid grasp of photographic equipment. I believe we’ll easily find common ground!
In terms of genres, I’m particularly drawn to landscape, urban, and night photography, as well as combinations of these. These topics will be explored in depth.
There’s also a large category of people who likely won’t enjoy this site—those who elevate selfies to the level of art, post their breakfasts on Instagram, and believe that a cool camera will automatically produce masterpieces with every shutter click. That said, I’m not dismissive of this audience. If you belong to one of these categories or similar, feel free to browse the site. You might be inspired to explore different kinds of photography.
FotoOsnova structure
The homepage contains all the new content that appears on the site. The higher the material is placed, the newer it is—following the principle of a classic blog.
The most important page of the project, the core around which everything else is built, is Lessons, found in the top menu. Articles are manually added here, meaning that materials from other sections form a kind of a textbook.
This page is for those who want to learn, not just to spend time in a pleasant and useful way. It’s a collection of lessons that, when taken one after another, allow you to delve into photography without critical gaps in knowledge and to achieve consistently good results—creating photos that will bring joy to you and others. Most importantly, you’ll gain the confidence to continue learning on your own, without feeling like a beginner who wants to ask «What does that term mean?» at every turn.
The Technical Basics section is dedicated to all things that is called «photo gear». Visit here if you want to get to know the equipment better.
The Photo shooting section contains tips on composition and the shooting process itself.
The Gallery showcases my work. Not all of the pieces I’d like to share are there yet. The section will be updated over time.
The Blog gathers personal notes, thoughts and content meant to inspire you to take the next step: whether it’s dusting off an old camera, trying to create similar works, or simply smiling, reflecting, and finding food for thought. There’s something for everyone!
Project goals
To create a structured set of materials that will enable you to take great photos. So that a beginner can progress from zero to a confident amateur, knowing what they want and how to achieve it.
FotoOsnova is intended to be a cozy place for communication. I want you to feel the author’s attention and understand that you’re not left alone with your challenges. To feel encouraged by even small successes. This can be incredibly motivating. You’ll almost always find feedback and support here. For now, this is only done through comments, but there may be other options in the future.
I hope that this project will ignite a spark in people, awakening their creative instincts.
Another goal is to continue learning myself. When preparing materials, you often recall little details, discover something new, and grow over time. I hope my learning journey will last a lifetime.
Main project principles:
- a cozy atmosphere is key;
- time should not be wasted;
- information should be structured;
- respectful and educational interactions between readers and myself;
- no insults or abuse are tolerated;
- only respectful relationships are acceptable.
This is a personal project, and I’m putting my energy and a piece of my soul into it. I hope you like it and our acquaintance and interaction will make this space a little cosier 🙂
