Category Archives: lectures

Exploring the World of Bats: A Lecture at Gldani Bridge

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Last Friday, Bogdana Vashchenko and Viktor Lyagushkin delivered a lecture about the bats of Georgia near the Gldani Bridge (Tbilisi, Georgia), which is home to a maternity colony of the Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). The last one is the smallest European bat. It is as small that an adult animal could hide in a matchbox.  

During the event, we observed the bats as they hunted and listened to their ultrasonic hunting signals. The event was organized by Auditoria Book Store organized the event.

White Sea Bestiary Lecture in Tbilisi

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Celebrating a birthday can take on an extraordinary twist, especially when one chooses to share their passions and experiences with others. On February 1, 2025, Bogdana Vashchenko and Viktor Lyagushkin captivated a group of foreign photographers with an engaging lecture about their enchanting White Sea Bestiary Project. This presentation was not just a showcase; it was a heartfelt journey through their most cherished and unforgettable moments spent amidst the breathtaking beauty of the White Sea. Their talk left the audience inspired and eager to explore the wonders of nature through the lens of art.

Happy birthday, Bogdana!

photo by Vladimir Pesnya

Bat Lectures For Students

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That’s me, Bohdana Vashchenko, lecturing about bats for the 4th-grade students of Ilia State University (Tbilisi) ecotourism faculty on Wednesday, 20 December, 2023. We had a great conversation about the extraordinary abilities of bats and their important role in Georgia’s ecosystems. We also busted some common myths about these fascinating creatures. We also discussed how bats contribute to agroecosystems and how to start bat ecotourism in Georgia. 

Thank you, Natalia Bakhtadze Engländer and Ilia University, for this possibility! Thank you, Alexander Bukhnikashvili and Sofo, for coming and sharing your experience, brilliant humor, and knowledge of bats. 

Bats Of Georgia: The Lecture At Akaki Tsereteli State University

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I lectured at Akaki Tsereteli State University (Kutaisi, Georgia) on Monday, 25 November 2023. The talk was attended by students from the geography, biology, and ecology faculties in the 1st to 4th courses. National Geographic photographer @viktor_lyagushkin and I spoke at length about our project, funded by the National Geographic Society, which was dedicated to the bats of Georgia. We discussed bats’ unique abilities and the role of bats in Georgia’s ecosystems and debunked some of the myths surrounding them. We also talked about the importance of storytelling and community engagement.

I had the great pleasure of having such an interested and open-minded audience. I appreciate their enthusiasm and engagement. I want to express my gratitude to Irakli Julakidze for making this lecture possible and for his kind assistance during the event.


Viktor Lyagushkin On The Air By Nature Photo Team

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On April 20, 2021, Ambassador Nikon and National Geographic photographer Viktor Lyagushkin took part in a live broadcast of the Nature Photo Team.

Two hours passed quickly. Best of all, the last broadcast describes the comment by the photographer Kirill Uyutnov:

“Viktor lit the air today!  He answered all questions regarding the development of a photographer as a photographer directly and firmly, and told what is worth doing and what is not. This is very valuable for those who have been shooting for a long time. So we look forward to seeing Viktor on NPT again! ”

You can listen to the broadcast recording at the link here.

Online Master Class For Nikon Ukraine

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On July 24, Nikon Ambassador Viktor Lyagushkin gave a lecture live on Nikon Ukraine Facebook. At a meeting with fans of the brand, he spoke about his current project in Optimistic Cave – the longest cave of the continent, which is located in the Ternopil region.

Victor revealed the secrets of organizing large projects, the peculiarities of shooting underground, answered questions about the new Nikon mirrorless cameras of Z series and optics for them.

How To Take Pictures In Caves

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On May 5, 2020, Viktor Lyagushkin gave an open lecture on Zoom. He told his listeners how to take pictures in caves. The master shared with us the secrets of photo shooting in complete darkness: how many and what kind of light sources are needed, how to choose the location of shooting, how to devide fore- and backgrounds, what kind of light sources are needed in which situations, and so on, so forth.

The lecture is available on YouTube on the link here.

Racing With Dolphins And Other Delights Of Underwater Photo Shooting

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Radio “Komsomolskaya Pravda” released a program from the cycle “Club of Famous Travelers” in which the presenter Yevgeny Sazonov interviewed photographer Viktor Lyagushkin. The conversation was about the secrets of shooting underwater caves and sea animals and about photography as a way of life.

The program is available on the link.