Multi-talented

Pianist and avid photographer Yevgeny Sudbin shares some of his favourite photos

Luxurious Accommodations. I often get sick of staying in hotels as it becomes a very repetitive and bland experience. I took a detour after one of my recitals and went straight to the Lake District where I found a secluded spot by the lake. June 2017, Buttermere, Cumbria.

Survival Instincts. I was following a mother leopard with her three cubs (who were also followed by a clan of hyenas) to a safe location where she put all her resources towards protecting her offspring. The other two cubs managed to climb up the trees; this cub was already injured and stayed close to her. August 2008, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.

Dark Side of the Moon. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to observe the total lunar eclipse from the roof of my house which was a breath-taking experience. During the eclipse, the moon can take various shades of red, orange or gold and this photograph is from a series of photographs, towards the end of the event, when the shadow of the earth (umbra) is just beginning to ‘uncover’ the moon. 28 September 2015, London.

Prague Nights. The best time to take photos of a popular city is in the early morning hours. I tend not to sleep after a performance and usually spend the night walking down the streets with my camera to get a real sense for the place. March 2014, Prague.

Reflections. I caught the light reflections on the wall coming through one of the many wonderfully crafted stained glass windows, during a stroll through the majestic Cathedral of St. Vitus. March 2014, Prague.

Elephant’s Trunk Nebula. I’ve always been fascinated by space and often wondered how the images of the cosmos using the Hubble Telescope were taken. Taking photographs of the deep space is a very steep learning curve. This is one of my early attempts of the Emission Nebula IC 1396. It is a collection of interstellar gas and dust located at the very end of the outer spiral arm of our Milky Way, approximately 2,400 light years away. I was using special narrowband filters in order to pick up the light emitted by the hydrogen within the nebula. February 2016, London.

Montana Deer. I love waking up early and exploring with no-one about. That’s when the light is most special and when you have the most unexpected encounters with nature. I accidentally walked into a herd of deer who froze still for a millisecond when they saw me.

Daydreams. One of the many artworks, scattered around the 10,260 acres of privately owned land, this structure (Daydreams) was built by artist Patrick Dougherty, using local willows. July 2016, Tippet Rise, Montana, USA.

Long Away from Home. I took this photograph towards the end of my tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The last two performances took place at the Sydney Opera House which you can see just behind the Harbour Bridge. October 2014, Sydney, Australia.

Between the Pitons. Overlooking the Jalousie Plantation on the (between two volcanic spires, the Pitons). This breathtaking view was used as a background setting for many movies (including Christopher Reeve’s Superman). This picture really takes itself. December 2013, Saint Lucia, Caribbean.

Lobtailing. I had a few days between concerts during a tour with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra so I took a short expedition from Kairoura to go whale watching. The weather was difficult; it was raining and the water was choppy, but we did manage to find a couple of sperm whales who put on quite a show. May 2015, Kakoura, New Zealand.

You can see more of Yevgeny’s photos on his website: www.yevgenysudbin.com