Workspaces: The Story of Alexey Dmitriev, Ukraine's Best Sommelier 2008 and Renowned Russian-Language Videoblogger

Today, we welcome a truly fascinating personality from the Ukrainian internet scene. Alexey Dmitriev is not only Ukraine's best sommelier but also one of the most talented Russian-speaking video podcasters I have ever encountered.

What does your work involve?

My profession, often met with puzzled looks and the need to spell it out, is that of a sommelier. Six years ago, I dedicated my life to wine and everything connected to it. It's an extraordinary career filled with continuous learning, tastings, travel, and interactions with countless fascinating people. I started in the restaurant industry and have spent the last three years working in a hotel. After being named Ukraine's Best Sommelier in 2009, I decided to launch my own wine video blog to share my passion with everyone who loves or wants to discover wine.

What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is divided into two main areas: the hotel where I work and my home, where I devote most of my free time to blogging:

• Wine-focused video blog.
• Sommelier lifestyle blog.
• Alexey Dmitriev's Twitter feed.

My small desk is covered with a poncho I brought from Chile during one of my vineyard trips.

Space is limited but perfectly sufficient for video editing. The only inconvenience with my MacBook is the lack of USB ports on both sides, making it tricky to connect my iPhone 2G charger, Apacer card reader, and a 500GB WD Passport external drive simultaneously. That drive fills up fast – this is my second one, and a third might be on the way. I’m considering alternative data storage solutions. Currently, I film in Full HD, with each video averaging 10GB, storing both original and compressed web versions. I’m even thinking about releasing a DVD compilation of episodes. Nearby, a stool holds a pile of books about wine and food that I frequently revisit and consult when preparing for shoots.

How did your workspace evolve?

Just nine months ago, I swore never to use a MacBook and stick to a PC. I had an Acer 17" Aspire 7250 with decent specs:

• AMD dual-core 2.0 GHz processor
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600 1280
• 2GB DDR2 RAM
• 500GB dual HDD

On this laptop, I edited my first 19 video episodes. Using a Panasonic NV-MX500 camcorder and Adobe Premiere Pro, I learned the ropes. However, the process was time-consuming: recording on MiniDV tapes, transferring footage, searching and cutting clips, all while lugging equipment to various locations. Despite the effort, I enjoyed it immensely. But when I found that the audio was often barely audible due to a dying battery, I realized I needed a major upgrade. I invested in a Canon 5D Mark II DSLR capable of Full HD video, along with a set of lenses: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM. These lenses were leftovers from my previous camera. Before becoming a sommelier, I aspired to be a professional photographer, so these skills and equipment are a perfect fit.

Editing Full HD footage on my old Acer was frustratingly slow, which pushed me to finally buy a MacBook Pro. Like with relationships, it started with one purchase, then grew to include matching accessories like a handbag and coat!

My first Apple experience was with the iPhone 2G, which I now can't imagine living without. It’s incredibly user-friendly and essential for bloggers and social media enthusiasts. Handy apps like Echofon for Twitter and Facebook* keep me connected, and the WordPress app allows me to moderate comments anytime, which is crucial since I spend most of my day at the hotel with limited internet access. I check emails every 30 minutes and respond promptly, as my blog has attracted a significant audience even after just five months.

After purchasing the MacBook Pro, my excitement is unbounded. I enjoy its speed, silence, and sleek design daily. Specs include:

• 2.8 GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 6 MB shared L2 cache
• 4 GB DDR3 RAM
• 500 GB HDD
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT graphics with 512 MB GDDR3
• 17-inch widescreen display at 1920×1200 resolution

For editing, headphones are indispensable. At home, I use large Samson CH700 headphones, while on the go, I prefer small white earbuds.

My next goal is to transform my room into a proper studio: moving the sofa, setting up a Velbon tripod, an affordable 300W lamp stand, a Rode VideoMic microphone, and ensuring my camera battery is fully charged before filming.

My chair doubles as the operator's seat—my wife helps with filming. Using the Mark II camera makes recording convenient, allowing quick deletion of unwanted takes and easy review of footage.

What software do you use?

I transfer video from CompactFlash Extreme III 8GB cards via Apacer and convert files to Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) using MPEG Streamclip. This process makes editing in Final Cut Pro smooth, and I compress videos for the web with DivX Converter.

Once, I accidentally deleted important files, but the handy Data Rescue 3 software helped me recover them.

While editing, I keep Firefox open with numerous bookmarks: Twitter, Facebook*, and Gmail.

Honestly, I regret not exploring more software options in the past three months, as I mostly use my MacBook for blogging tasks like editing, emails, and social media. I plan to improve this by learning from experienced Mac users soon.

Do you still use paper in your work?

Paper remains useful in two ways:

• To assess wine color during tastings, a white sheet is perfect.
• Half an A4 sheet for notes before filming, outlining episode structure and key points.

Do you have a dream setup?

Currently, I’m satisfied with my setup. Of course, there’s always room for improvement—faster processors would speed up video editing. My laptop’s portability lets me film and edit anywhere worldwide, which was crucial when choosing it. In the future, I plan to add a professional shotgun microphone like those used in films and softbox lighting for better video quality. For now, I remind myself this is a wine video blog, not a TV show, where I share my love for wine.

*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are prohibited in Russia.

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