Trophy – a unique shot. A photo hunter from Sharkovshchina shared the secrets of his hobby

Photographer Valery Kovalenok has been working at the Sharkovshchina Household Services Combine for almost 25 years. However, thanks to the well-known Vitebsk ornithologist Vladimir Ivanovsky, he became interested in studying birds. He learned to ring birds and distinguish them by their singing and plumage.

For many years, Valery has been a member of the public organization "Aхова птушак Бацькаўшчыны" (Birds of the Homeland Protection), and this year he was recognized as the best public ecologist in the region. This honorary title is a high assessment of his activities, including finding nests of rare birds listed in the Red Book of Belarus.

- I remember when my parents bought me my first "Vilia," says Valery Kovalenok. - I photographed classmates and nature. I am originally from the village of Vasilkovo, not far from the republican landscape reserve "Yelnya." I often went to the forest, observed birds with interest, and admired the beauty of nature. After school and military service, I graduated from Vitebsk Vocational School No. 19 of Household Services, where I studied photography.

Since then, he has almost never put his camera down. In his free time from work, he goes in search of the best shot. For example, prompted by local residents, one evening he went to a place where 7 white-tailed eagles had been seen. He spent the night in the forest in sub-zero temperatures to start shooting at dawn. But the birds never came. A photographer, like a hunter, is not always lucky.

- I have two Canon cameras that I have been working with for a long time, the interlocutor continues. - I started with film cameras, and now I have digital ones. Of course, one can buy a camera with excellent optics and observe birds and animals from a distance, but it's not as interesting. It's another matter to get closer, to immerse oneself, even for a moment, in the world of wildlife.

The most exciting part is the observation process. The desire to get the best trophy – a unique shot – motivates the photographer to sit in one place for hours if necessary, or to climb to the tops of trees.

Recently, Valery found a white-tailed eagle's nest in the Sharkovshchina district. If the birds are not disturbed, perhaps very soon similar nests will appear nearby. The conservation measures taken should contribute to this.

This year, Valery Kovalenok was fortunate enough to conduct a full-scale photo session of young raccoons, mischievous foxes, graceful deer, nimble hares, and roe deer. Dozens of different birds also appeared in his lens.

- I often go to Yelnya or Dolbenishki marsh, to the floodplains of the Yanka River. There are countless amazing places! - says the photographer. - I meet with schoolchildren, conduct classes, show photographs. The children listen and watch with great interest. I hope that after such meetings, they will develop a desire to learn as much as possible about the world around them.

Valery's photographs adorn booklets, books about the local region, and are often published in the magazine "Rodnaya pryroda". This year, exhibitions of his works were held in Sharkovshchina, Minsk, Miory, and Braslav. Kovalenok participates in various photo contests and ornithological competitions.

Valery has received a number of high awards, including a letter of gratitude from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for socially significant work in preserving and increasing the natural wealth of the region. Today, he helps the district inspectors identify unauthorized landfills and other offenses.

- It's hard to count how many photographs I've taken over the years, - Valery Kovalenok continues. - But it's not about the quantity, but the quality. I want to have a good portrait of every bird, every animal, if not from all corners of Belarus, then at least from our region. I dream of photographing the boreal owl and the badger.

During the summer holidays, I plan to take my 14-year-old daughter Anya with me on an exciting journey into the world of nature. I don't think she'll be bored.

Diana Bernikovich, "Vitebskiye vesti"