By Editor Michel Romaggi in collaboration with the author Radana Kucharova
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 17th of May 2023

I was struck by the eyes of child and mother, perched on the roof of a locomotive.
Radana Kucharova excels in capturing these portraits full of humanity.
Thanks for answering my questions, dear friend.

'Travelling on locomotive'

First, can you tell us how you came to photography and what place it takes in your life?

As a child, I used to paint stories. As an adult, I started recording life, my stories, my children, my family and events, with a camera.
Photography was intertwined with my profession as a civil engineer. I wasn't such a passionate photographer until the last few years when I took part of photo trips. I don't say a lot about my photos, I think they should tell the story by themselves.

'Two sisters'

Your portraits have a huge impact and are very emotive. What motivates your choice?

Thank you very much for your compliment. I am pleased that it makes such an impression on you. As I said, people and their stories have always interested me. I don't think I can capture a life story in one photo, but perhaps one moment of the story.

'There and back'

In what circumstances do you usually take this kind of pictures?

The presented images are from Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. I took these pictures while travelling in these countries.

'Girls from the village of people named Luli'

Can you tell us in what circumstances and how you took 'Travelling on locomotive'?

'Travelling on locomotive' was taken at the Dhaka railway station, when hundreds, or rather millions of people were returning home after the celebrations of the Muslim Festival. People also climb on the roofs of wagons when travelling, which is common here in Bangladesh, but also very dangerous. While photographing the departure of a large number of people at the station, I was intrigued by a young woman with child, seated on a locomotive. Something incredible for a European mom. I saw courage and bravery in her actions. Poverty did not allow her to use the inside of the wagon.

I took this picture with a Nikon 850 full frame camera, Nikon 58mm f/1.4 lens, 1/80sec at f/5.6, ISO 800.
I post-processed it with Lightroom and Photoshop, and also used the Nik collection.