Progressive Street

I walk in the street with my camera, and I feel absolutely, purely happy

I was born in Russia, former USSR. My father was an amateur photographer. My memories about his hobby are related to the tiny shower room where he set up his photo lab. I was never interested in learning photography at this age, and it is my biggest regret. At the age of 23 I finished Moscow University where I studied French and literature. After the University I worked as a teacher, translator and books seller.

In 1999 I immigrated to the United States where I started my life from the beginning. I couldn’t speak any English, had no money, and did not know a single person. I was literally homeless for some short time and I have spent nights sleeping on a bench at the small Russian cemetery. Still, my crazy desire to learn about the world was enormous. I started working cleaning houses in Jewish Orthodox community for very little money, and I was happy to explore the new experience. Two years later I entered and completed college of Nursing and started to work as a nurse. I am an Oncology nurse. I deal with life and death situations on everyday basis. At work I witness people suffering, desperation, hope, dying and recovering.

The photography helps me appreciate the value of every single day. Street photography is full of surprises and unpredictable situations. Every time going to the street I remember Joel Meyerowitz saying, “A street photographer has no fucking idea what’s going to happen on any given day”. And this makes my photography experience very exciting.

I photograph New York city a lot and it’s absolutely wonderful. However, if I was given a choice I would go to live in the most remote Russian village and just photograph people and life there. No glamour, simple everyday life of my beautiful hard working very honest people. That would be my dream assignment.

I think the main element that makes a good photo is a light. Light is magic and can turn the most trivial things into something amazing. I always look for a good light. I am also very attracted to colors. Bold bright colors, soft delicate pearly nuances, or monotone tones – colors can make your work very distinctive. One of my favorite photographers is Fred Herzog. His work discovered to me the world of color photography in its ultimate glory. His work is all about colors and nuances. I wish I could ever achieve such level of seeing colorful world.

Group Exhibitions

BLUR Challenge

“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.”  Van Gogh   

“Memory blurs, that's the point. If memory didn't blur you wouldn't have the fool's courage to do things again, again, again, that tear you apart.”  Joyce Carol Oates   

“If you look carefully at life, you see blur. Shake your hand. Blur is part of life”  William Klein

Progressive Street Gallery

WINNER

I am interested in many different aspects of street photography and I like to experiment a lot with different styles. I love fearless bold approach to subjects and I admire photographers who always try something new. I don’t care what people around think about me. I never feel embarrassed when I have camera in my hands.

I can sit in the middle of the road and stop the traffic if I think I can produce a great shot. I can do anything for a good photo. Sometimes I come to Manhattan, sit right next to the homeless person at the street corner and we start feeding pigeons together having a nice conversation. I made a lot of good photos by doing that with help of my friends.

Street never gets boring