The school of conceptual and art photography, MYPH, was founded in 2018 by Sergey Melnitchenko in his hometown, Mykolaiv but quickly gained recognition throughout Ukraine. Currently, the students of the school are artists located both within the country and abroad.
The institution aims to broaden awareness and understanding of contemporary conceptual and artistic photography among photographers. Thus, in theory and in practice, online and offline, even during times of war in Ukraine, Sergey, along with invited lecturers, shares his diverse artistic and commercial experience with students.
Over the course of 5 years, more than 250 students have graduated from the MYPH school. For many of them, it was the first step in their creative careers, while for others, it marked a turning point in the established approach to photography. However, MYPH is not just about education; it's also a community of school alumni, numbering over 100 active authors today. The main goal of working with this community is to continue supporting the promotion and popularization of their works among galleries, specialized publications, and collectors.
Dozens of MYPH students exhibit and sell their works in galleries worldwide. Many of their creations are found in prestigious private collections beyond the borders of Ukraine. Group and solo exhibitions, art fairs and festivals, winners of international contests and grants, mentions in popular photo books and magazines – this is just an incomplete list of the achievements of the school's graduates. Since 2018, MYPH has organized and participated in over thirty projects: exhibitions, festivals, and fairs in Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, the USA, and Norway.
MYPH is love. For love to spread, unfold its wings, and fill the space with its incredibly beautiful and free flight, energy is needed. The energy of MYPH is called Sergey Melnitchenko! Thanks to him and the carefully selected team of instructors, the school's students begin to feel wings behind their backs and gain courage and creative confidence for independent flight. This is invaluable.
Yana Hryhorenko
I believe in the incredible power of photography. It changes the world for the better! Thanks to MYPH school and personally to Sergey Melnitchenko for his incredibly interesting course! He didn't teach us how to take photos but guided us to think about projects, develop our stories, and analyze materials. To anyone who wants to delve deeper into the field of art photography, I recommend the online course.
Xenia Petrovska
The MYPH school has provided me with a wealth of knowledge that has helped me view photography from a more professional perspective. I am very grateful to Sergey Melnitchenko for his constant support of us, his students, and graduates. Being a member of this school feels like being part of a powerful mechanism where everyone motivates and supports each other. Thank you ❤️
Kris Voitkiv
I discovered the MYPH school for myself in 2019 during the enrollment for the 3rd course of hybrid learning: half of the group from Mykolaiv, and the other part from all over Ukraine. I had heard about Sergey Melnitchenko and his groundbreaking project "Schwarzenegger - my idol." It was one of the key elements that influenced my perception of the nude body. The choice was obvious: to explore this medium of photography but, above all, to find those means of self-expression that would harmonize with me. The MYPH school, with its wide range of engaging topics and excellent teachers, helped me orient myself in the best possible way! I am very grateful to the school for the development direction that currently helps me stay on track. Thank you!
Olia Koval
As soon as I learned that Melnitchenko was launching a course, I knew right away that I would enroll in it. The reputation (from reviews, exhibitions, and the success of students) gave confidence that Sergey not only achieved heights himself but could also teach others how to get there. That's important. Not every master is a good teacher. Here, unquestionably, the speakers were fantastic, the lectures were inspiring, and the information was golden. If you've made it this far and it seems too good to be true, I'll say that this learning is a marathon. It's challenging, lengthy, and you have to work to see results. However, it's much more pleasant to look back at the path taken and take pride in yourself. Communication in the group and with the speakers is comfortable, easy, and beneficial.
Li Biletska
One of the most important things I gained from this course is the ability to go beyond my usual creative abilities. MYPH teachers and curators support students in their experiments and discoveries, helping them find their own style and develop it. Thanks to their support, I confidently stepped out of my comfort zone and acquired new skills that I hadn't even dreamed of. In addition to education, MYPH also pays great attention to community development. Meetings, exhibitions, and collaborative projects with other students help build interesting connections and find new friends who share my passion for photography. This allows learning not only from teachers but also from like-minded individuals, exchanging ideas and inspiration. Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience at MYPH. This course provided me not only with professional skills in photography but also helped me develop my creativity and self-confidence. I recommend MYPH to anyone who wants to seriously work on their photographic mastery and feel genuine support in this process.
Anastasiia Antonenko
Before the start of the course, I was already following Sergey on social media, observing his works and activities. To be honest, I was quite skeptical about contemporary photography because I didn't fully understand this direction, having worked more with graphics. I also saw the works of Artem Humilevskyi, and from that moment, I became more interested in contemporary photography. Just at that time, a new enrollment for the course opened, so I decided to give it a try. Throughout the course, it was an absolutely fresh breath of inspiration. The material in the lectures, examples of projects, authors, and their stories increasingly captured my attention. The overall atmosphere among students and teachers is very harmonious; we actively support each other, and this also gives strength and belief in our work. Thanks to the NFT lectures, as a result, I had my first sales of works in a short period. Even after the official completion of the course, the creative life at the MYPH school continues. What impressed me the most is the tremendous platform of opportunities and support that MYPH and Sergey Melnitchenko provide for their students. It's a breakthrough, without exaggeration.
SAVKA
I have been fascinated with photography for many years, collecting photo books, shooting on film, but this passion never evolved into something more serious due to a lack of understanding of how to do it and a supporting community. Thanks to MYPH, I was able to realize myself as a photographer, gaining not only a wealth of knowledge but also an invaluable community! Additionally, I want to note that, as a successful photographer, Sergey Melnitchenko doesn't just give abstract phrases like "shoot well, and it will be great." He provides very valuable advice on shaping your creativity and, most importantly, promoting it. These pieces of advice are crystallized from his own experience, and he generously and honestly shares them.
Olha Lobazova
A course that changed everything. I've been in a creative search my whole life, and at one point, I entered the world of commercial photography. It was fun, but after half a year, I became incredibly bored, so I started looking for something else and stumbled upon Sergey Melnitchenko. His photographs were completely incomprehensible and strange to me, but they drew me into a dialogue. At that moment, he had an enrollment for the course, and I joined out of curiosity. From the first session, it began to blow my mind, and everything I knew about photography turned out to be just a tiny speck in the ocean. It was so fascinating that it's hard to put into words. I learned to see differently. The visual world started to be perceived differently for me. Now I can proudly say that, thanks to the course, my projects are published in well-known magazines, I have success in international competitions, exhibitions, and festivals, and my works even were sold to European collections and a few well-known collections in Ukraine. Overall, this course is the best thing that happened to me in the last few years. Thanks again to the MYPH school.
Artem Humilevskyi
My name is Polina Laptii, and at the end of 2022, I joined the school of conceptual and art photography led by Sergey Melnitchenko. I still consider this decision the most successful one in recent times. The school has given me many new connections and, in perspective, collaborations, new knowledge in the field of conceptual photography, self-promotion as a photographer, and an understanding of where and how to move forward. The course also allowed me to participate in a residency in Nuremberg, which became a powerful boost for me as a photographer and an individual. Before MYPH, I had never participated in photography exhibitions, and after the course, I became part of a group exhibition in my favorite art space in my hometown. However, I want to emphasize that without the desire to develop and learn, you won't achieve success instantly through courses. But if you approach any learning responsibly, everything is possible, especially at MYPH!
Polina Laptii
