Photographer Taras Bychko documents forced emigration in a project that reflects his family’s own emotional move from his home in Ukraine to Tunbridge Wells

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In 2022, Taras Bychko (@tas0ma ) and his family left their home in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Settling his wife and children in the safety of Tunbridge Wells, photographer Taras set about using his skills to explore the experience of forced emigration and the deep emotions that accompany this process.

A multi-award-winner, Taras works in the genre of documentary and art photography and is a curator, teacher and judge of various international competitions.

Previously published in The Guardian, Burn Magazine, National Geographic and Fisheye magazine, Taras used his skills to create the project Where Paths Meet, which aims to capture how a person’s inner world transforms in the face of displacement.

Surveying 50 other people who had experienced forced emigration, Taras discovered shared emotions and experiences, which then became the foundation for the photographic project. Settled in Kent, Taras also embarked on his Dreamland project, documenting the South East coastal towns in the off-season. We caught up with him to find out more.

1. Tell us about the first time you picked up a camera.

Photography entered my life after the birth of my eldest son.

That moment became a turning point, though I had no idea how much it would change everything. I bought a camera to create a family album, never imagining that this purchase would define my future path. Before that, I had never been interested in photography – neither in childhood nor during my university years. But I vividly remember the first time, picking up a camera to photograph my son. I was struck by how the light that had just touched his face was captured on the photosensitive element, preserved with us forever. Over time, this passion grew into something much greater. In the end, I left my job as a legal adviser in a large government institution and dedicated myself entirely to photography.

2. How would you describe your style to our readers?

For me, photography is a language, and the camera is a tool that allows me to speak. I work in documentary photography, but I am probably best known for my street photography. My style is an attempt to turn everyday life into poetry of light and shadow, to find depth and magic in ordinary moments. I am fascinated by how reality directs the scenes itself, while I only sense the right moment to press the shutter. It is a dialogue between chance and intuition, between the chaos of the city and its hidden harmony.

I strongly relate to the idea that, in the end, a photographer always captures themselves. Through my images, I speak about what truly matters to me, what moves me, and what makes me pause and look deeper. Every photograph is not just a reflection of the outside world but also a mirror of my inner state, my experiences, feelings and searches. It is important for me to capture the spirit of the time, to work wherever I am and to simply live with the desire to become a better version of myself and my photography. Photography is an endless process of self-development, observation and the urge to communicate meaningful messages about the moment we are all living in. It is not just about documenting reality but engaging with it, uncovering meanings and passing them on.

3. How did you end up in Tunbridge Wells?

In June 2022, my family and I moved to Tunbridge Wells after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our main goal was to find a safe place where we could live without the constant threat of shelling, air-raid sirens and the overwhelming tension that had become a part of everyday life in Ukraine. One of the key reasons behind this decision was our desire to create an environment where our children could feel calm and secure. The war had taken a serious toll on their emotional well-being –constant anxiety, fear and uncertainty. The first few months were especially difficult as each day brought news of destruction, loss and danger.

Relocating gave our children the chance to return to something resembling a normal childhood. Here, they could study in peace, attend school without the fear of running to a shelter and engage in activities they enjoyed. For me, this move was also crucial. Being in remission after a serious illness, I was able to be with my family. Home is where your loved ones are, and this opportunity gave me the strength to move forward. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the British people who have opened their homes and hearts to thousands of Ukrainians forced into exile. I am especially grateful to the Voke family from Frant, who helped us take our first confident steps in a new country, in a new reality.

4. Tell us about the project Where Paths Meet. What is it about and how did you conduct it?

The project Where Paths Meet is an exploration of the experience of forced emigration and the deep emotions that accompany this process. It aims to capture how a person’s inner world transforms in the face of displacement, from uncertainty and fear to moments of hope, self-identification and acceptance of a new life. I conducted a study by surveying about 50 individuals who experienced forced emigration. Their responses allowed me to identify shared emotions, experiences and feelings, which became the foundation for the photographic project. Each frame in the project conveys certain stages of adaptation – loneliness, nostalgia, discomfort – while also showing the discovery of new opportunities and moments that shape a new identity. This is not just about physical emigration but also about the inner paths each person walks in their quest to find themselves in a new reality. The photographs create an atmosphere of silence and unspoken words. They visualise emotional moments – the transition between past and future, loss and discovery, the unfamiliar and the accepted new. They attempt to convey these moments as symbolic, intimate instances that can only be fully understood by those who have gone through this experience.

5. What was the purpose of your Dreamland project and what did you capture?

Dreamland is a photography series that captures the atmosphere of life on the English coast before the summer season begins. Without the rush of tourists, these towns revealed themselves to me in their true nature – quiet, peaceful and filled with anticipation. For me, this place became a refuge where I could find tranquillity, be alone with my thoughts and imagine a dream life. The coastline, infused with the sea breeze, breathed new meaning into my journey, filling it with inspiration. I shot this street-photography series between February and May 2023 while travelling along the English coast from Brighton to Margate. Through this project, I wanted to reflect a moment of stillness before the summer crowds arrive, when the towns seem to pause in expectation. It is a world that balances between reality and dream, between calm and movement, between past and future.

INFO: bychko.com