Commercial Photographer

Jennifer Loicht

Christian Mushenko is living his dream. The former geologist has always been passionate about taking pictures, and now works full-time both as a commercial photographer and on his own exhibitions.

The latest, called Soul, is a joint affair with artist Lynda Howitt, and is on at Bathers in Balmoral until April.

American-born Mushenko, who’s had a camera since high school, was working as a geologist in a West Australian goldmine when he unleashed his photographic passion on local businesses and the Norseman community newspaper. In the late ’80s, Muschenko, who is married to an Australian woman, moved to NSW to pursue his dream. While working in the University of Sydney’s photography department, he did a four-year TAFE course on the subject.

Mushenko was then hired as a photographer by an advertising studio whose clients included Qantas and McDonald’s -and eventually opened his own studio in Newtown.
“What excites me is being able to portray the feeling of a subject, the soul within,” he says, adding that this applies equally to his abstract art and his photos of people, food and buildings. Mushenko recently received an Honour of Distinction at the World Photographic Arts’ International Colour Awards for a commissioned image called Factory, and has built up a regular client base over the years.

Qualifications: Most aspiring snappers in Australia start out as assistants for established photographers, photographic departments, magazines or newspapers, according to TAFE NSW.
Professional photographers work in studios or on location. Formal training is not a prerequisite for entering the field but study can be undertaken at university, through a private college, or at TAFE NSW -Sydney Institute.

Course description: TAFE courses are designed to meet industry needs and have been endorsed by all professional photography bodies in NSW. Stage one of the certificate course concentrates on black and white processing, printing and camera handling in conjunction with tungsten studio lighting. Stage two looks at lighting, using an electronic studio flash and introduces colour. Stage one of the diploma calibrates colour for reproduction and stage two brings it all together. You’ll need to submit 6-12 photos you’ve taken when applying for the course.

Costs: Certificate IV in Photoimaging -$790 per year, plus $100 for materials (the full-time course comprises 20 hours/week over one year, or you can study 10 hours/week for two years part-time). Diploma of Photography -$1050 per year plus $100 for materials (part-time only).

From the inside: Photographer Christian Mushenko says practical courses like these are great.

“They teach you the technique. You can break the rules later if you want, but at least you go into it with a bit of knowledge,” he says.
More information:More information: 02 9217 2900; www.sit.nsw.edu.au

By Jennifer Loicht, The Daily Telegraph, March 17, 2007.