Street Photography nominee

‘Fragments of Consciousness’ is a collection of photographs taken in a city where people are present in a physical sense, but often disconnected from reality. Visibly tired of the hustle and bustle of urban life, people retreat to empty subway cars and darkened street corners to have a moment to themselves. Unexpected and unforeseen by anyone, these are private, intimate moments that are occurring in crowded, public spaces. Some people are compressed by the space they are in and by the strangers who surround them. Others appear minuscule or lifeless, as if part of a movie backdrop. Using black and white photography as my medium, I strive to show moments of loneliness and restlessness that an urban dweller often experiences. All of my photographs are candid or ‘accidents’ and most of the people in them are not even aware of my existence. My background being in social psychology, I am very interested in how different environments affect and shape our psyche.

Originally from Kiev, Ukraine, but now living in New York City, I have been practicing candid street photography for 5 years. Using a quiet, compact digital camera I aim to capture the emotions of strangers in moments when they are unaware of being photographed. My interest in social and antisocial human behavior has been present since college, where I studied Social Psychology. Some photography projects I am working on deal with social media addiction and anxiety disorders. I am also putting together a book on my subway photographs.
Currently, my photo series "Fragments of Consciousness" along with an interview is published in the December 2018 Dek Unu Magazine. I will also be exhibiting work in January for LoosenArt Magazine in Rome.
In the past I have won the Nikon Scholarship for study at Santa Fe Photography Workshops, had photographs exhibited at Michael Ingbar Gallery in Soho and at the Umbrella Arts Gallery in the East Village.
Apart from photographing and exhibiting my work, I also enjoy teaching photography and chess to young adults.