Bats Of Georgia: The Lecture At Akaki Tsereteli State University

Posted on December 1, 2023 by SnowKitty

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.

Freediving in Baikal: Our Piece in National Geographic (Russia)

Posted on June 2, 2021 by SnowKitty

My and Viktor’s article about Alexei Molchanov’s record, which he set for the Guinness Book this spring on Lake Baikal. The goal of the record was to draw attention to the ecological problems of the lake.

The entire May issue of National Geographic (Russia) is dedicated to the seas and oceans, and it’s great that we succeeded to become a part of it.

Text by Bogdana Vashchenko, photo by Viktor Lyagushkin.

The piece can be reached also at NAtGeo (Russia) website here.

How To Make Photography For NG – Viktor’s Lecture

Posted on April 29, 2020 by SnowKitty

On April 28, 2020, our leader Viktor Lyagushkin gave a three-hour lecture in Zoom on how to shoot for National Geographic magazine. It is amazing how many new things we have learned: what are the criteria for choosing the material, how to find a topic that may interest the magazine, how to make your photo story according to the requirements of the editors. Viktor gave examples of his projects both under water and underground.

Thanks to everyone who connected to the broadcast, and have sent us such rave reviews! Let me give you a few:

Andrey Krivoshein: A positive moment of what is happening in the world – more virtual meetings that we need, the opportunity to hear something new, to see each other at least on the network and chat! Viktor, thank you for carrying away yourself and us!

Sergey Sheremet: Viktor, thank you, it was interesting to listen about the NG routine and the competition among authors. I caught myself thinking that I personally know almost all speleo photographers who shoot for NG, they are on the fingers of one hand. I also noticed that people came to listen about photography and asked questions about caves, you fascinated them so!

Elena Kurilyuk: Thank you very much for the lecture! So much new and interesting! Sheer delight. I’ll definitely visit the remaining lectures. Thank you for your work and time.

The lecture is available in recording here:

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//screenrec.com/share/BsnLPq6pF0

Hurry to see while the service stores the record.

Photography by Viktor Lyagushkin is Nat Geo Editors’ Choice

Posted on April 24, 2020 by SnowKitty

A new selection of the 25 best underwater photos in the world has appeared on the website of National Geographic magazine. Photographs by our leader Viktor Lyagushkin from the Orda cave and the White Sea from the project “Until the Ice Melts” are on the list.

Interview with Viktor Lyagushkin on PhotoWebExpo YouTube Channel

Posted on December 3, 2019 by SnowKitty

A great interview with a member of the PHOTOTEAM.PRO and Nikon Ambassador Viktor Lyagushkin on the PhotoWebExpo channel.
Honestly and sincerely, Viktor answered the questions: is camera plays the most important role in taking pictures, how to become the best, how do sea animals like to be shot, etc.

//youtu.be/l0Zb9nTV1Jk

White Sea Backstage in National Geographic Russia

Posted on June 20, 2019 by SnowKitty

Reportage in the National Geographic Russia for June 2019 tells what it takes to create new underwtaer shots in the Arctic conditions. A lot of photos from our trip to the White Sea in 2018. And warm words from the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Andrei Palamarchuk to Viktor Lyagushkin in the editor’s word to reader on the first page warm the heart. Thank you, Andrew, very nice!

One Dolphin, Two Dolphins… Feature story in NatGeo Georgia

Posted on June 12, 2019 by SnowKitty

My feature story for National Geographic Georgia, illustrated with Viktor Lyagushkin’s photography, about the Black Sea dolphins and dedicated scientists. During the work on the material I was deeply impressed with Professor Natia Kopaliani from Elias University in Tbilisi, who heads the program for studying and counting marine mammals of the Black Sea. There are only seven people in her group, but they manage with a huge amount of work: this includes counting dolphins and analysis of tissues of dead sea mammals for dangerous viruses and genetic analysis, assessing the diet of dolphins based on fish otoliths found in their stomachs, a lot of samples and so on. And finally, accurate and literate work with the obtained data, which then builds the most interesting scientific publications.
The work of the group made such an impression on me that I changed my original idea to devote an article to Black Sea dwellers only, shifting the emphasis to the work of scientists.

Bright Lights of Prometheus in National Geographic (Georgia)

Posted on February 4, 2019 by SnowKitty

Cover story by me, Bogdana Vashchenko, illustrated with photographs by Viktor Lyagushkin in National Geographic (Georgia) about cave dwelling creatures, and also about issues appeared for the prominent touristic Prometheus cave and how to fix them.

Let Everyone Saves One Tree! – National Geographic (Georgia)

Posted on December 11, 2018 by SnowKitty

Let Everyone Saves One Tree! – is the main message of my article about Colchis boxwood, published in the November 2018 issue of National Geographic (Georgia) Magazine.

Boxwood is a special plant for Georgia. In just a few years, the Colchis boxwood almost completely disappeared from the wildlife of the Caucasus, eaten by an invasive insect – a boxwood moth brought from the Far East.

The article describes what kind of plant it is, and what is its main enemy, what are the ways to save boxwood, and what has already been done.

Photography by Viktor Lyagushkin.

Many thanks to everyone who helped in the photoshooting and writing of the article.

25 Amazing Photos of Life Underwater – National Geographic Editor Choice

Posted on October 4, 2018 by SnowKitty

Editors of National Geographic Your Shot picked 25 Amazing Photos of Life Underwater from dozens of millions pictures sent by participants of this popular contest.

Editor’s selection included two photographs by Viktor Lyagushkin: Orda Cave underwater landscape andWhite Sea under ice.

Congrats, Viktor! Good job!

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