About Me

G'day! I'm Ilya Genkin, an Australian landscape and contemporary art photographer based in Sydney, Australia. I specialise in exhibiting, selling prints, licensing photographs, and writing about photographic topics.

I was born and raised in Almaty (formerly Alma-Ata), Kazakhstan, and hold a degree in Computer Science from the National Technical University of Kazakhstan. My journey into photography began as a hobby in 1980, but my passion for landscape photography truly ignited during my mountaineering adventures in the Northern Tien-Shan mountains of Kazakhstan. The breathtaking beauty of the high peaks, along with inspiration from renowned landscape and nature photographers like Ansel Adams, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, John Fielder, and others, deeply influenced my work.

In 2004, my family and I relocated to Australia, a move that further fueled my love for photography. The following year, I completely revamped this website to share my portfolio with the world.

My photographic journey began with film, capturing images on color negatives and transparencies. While I still cherish the craftsmanship of film photography, the rapid advancements in digital technology have made it my medium of choice. Digital cameras now provide exceptional quality and make reproduction and distribution far more efficient. Today, I work exclusively with digital equipment.

I live in Sydney with my wonderful wife, Irina, who is not only my greatest supporter but also my steadfast companion on all my photographic adventures. From enduring pre-dawn wake-ups to tackling long hikes and drives, she has been by my side every step of the way.

I shoot with Fuji X series cameras and I currently use a few Fuji X-T5's and Fuji X-T2 along with various Fujinon lenses. Before switching to Fuji, I spent around 15 years using Nikon DSLRs and before that I was using Contax 35mm film cameras with various Carl Zeiss lenses.

As a landscape photographer, capturing the perfect interplay of light, color, and texture is everything. After years of shooting with Nikon DSLRs, I made the switch to Fujifilm cameras for their unmatched color science, compact design, and intuitive controls. Traveling to remote and rugged landscapes often means carrying gear over long distances, and Fujifilm's lightweight mirrorless systems have been a game-changer. The smaller size and reduced weight not only make my kit easier to manage but also allow me to travel as light as possible, whether hiking through mountains, wandering coastal cliffs, or navigating dense forests. Fujifilm's innovation and attention to detail have reignited my creativity, letting me focus on the art of photography without being weighed down - literally or figuratively - by my gear.

Aside from the Fujifilm camera gear and lenses I use Leofoto aluminium and carbon fibre tripods. I use Vanguard and Thule backpacks to carry my gear and Haida circular filters in the field. Post-processing is done using Adobe Photoshop CC.

As a landscape photographer, I am driven by a deep passion for the natural world and a desire to capture its beauty and complexity. My photographs are a reflection of my love for the great outdoors, and I am constantly seeking to push the boundaries of my craft to tell the stories of the landscapes that inspire me.

My photographic journey is inspired by the artistic traditions of the great landscape photographers who have come before me, from great names such as Ansel Adams, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, John Fielder and many others. I am drawn to the ways in which light and shadow can be used to evoke emotions, convey a sense of place, and reveal the hidden secrets of the land.

Through my lens, I strive to translate the vastness of the world into intimate moments of connection. From the rugged grandeur of mountains and coastlines to the serene tranquility of forests and deserts, I seek to evoke a sense of wonder and reverence for the beauty that surrounds us.

Ultimately, my photography is not just about creating beautiful images – it's about using my craft to inspire others to appreciate and protect the natural world. I believe that by sharing my photographs with others, I can help raise awareness about the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship, and encourage others to join me in this effort.

Thanks for having a look!

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