Statement:

I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. At age 14, I migrated to New York City and lived in Brooklyn up until recently, when I moved to Manhattan. Growing up in New York was no easy feat, as I did not speak a word of English. I struggled with cultural differences and language barriers throughout high school. I found my passion at Kingsborough Community College, when I took a course on film photography taught by a wonderful professor named Janice Mehlman.

I learned photography from scratch using a film camera and was taught the development processes of film photography. The experience of seeing the image appear in the dark room through intricate development processes changed my life. Soon after, I began to collect more photography equipment and purchased a DSLR camera for the first time. I experimented with digital photography and learned that I acquired the skill of light manipulation in photographs.

My love for photography grew when I realized that it helped me understand people and their daily roles within architectural infrastructures better. I feel that the camera lens gives me a different perspective while I’m capturing the photograph and during digital post-production. It has helped me take notice of all the minute details that are visible through the viewfinder, and for a deeper appreciation to grow when I’m editing the photos. It has also given me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, and to participate in photography events that bring me more awareness on cultural differences and socioeconomic struggles.

For my BFA capstone, I chose to take photographs of New York cityscapes that show architectural transitions of buildings from the 1800s to the present. The city possesses examples of buildings built pre-war that have been well maintained. I capture the contrast of historical and modern architecture from different perspectives through the lens of my camera. Circumstances such as the time of day, weather condition, or the urgency of the image regardless of what camera is on me, capture the essence of the city’s transformation.

The goal of my thesis is to further emphasize the contrast between historical and modern-day architecture in New York city. It is also to capture these photographs from an abstract perspective to add a personal touch of artistic value. I gravitate more toward portraiture and cityscapes in my exploration of photography, however I still have not mustered up the courage to capture aerial views of Manhattan. Another challenge I have yet to overcome.

What I have found particularly interesting about my journey is my newfound ability to read people’s emotions. I am now more sensitized and able to tell when people are actually upset or disturbed, even though they are smiling for the camera. I believe a photograph possesses the ability to tell us so much more than we realize. Photography has also made me a much more creative person than before I embarked on this artistic journey, and has helped me in practicing patience and fostered my ability to focus on certain scenarios.