What drove you to pursue image-making?

The realization that I wanted to do photography came quite spontaneously. In the early 2010s, before Instagram, there was an app called PixArt where you could post photos. Mostly professional photographers posted photos there, and there were almost no selfies or food images that were popular on Instagram. I was looking at other people's photos, and gradually I had a desire to take up photography, and I bought my first camera. I loved the process of taking pictures: you could capture a moment or a place that you wouldn't notice if you were without a camera. I had moments when I wanted to give up photography, but in the last few years when I started doing documentary photography, my desire for photography has only increased.

How did your series of portraits come to be?

When I studied at Docdocdoc (School of Contemporary Photography, St. Petersburg), we were given homework to take pictures of different places or people. Most of all I liked the portrait assignment, when we had to take pictures of people in classical poses in natural light at home. I looked for models from people I knew and through Instagram. Through these shoots, I realized that I am very close to the portrait genre, and I focus more on character portraits when creating documentary projects.

What inspires you as a documentary and portrait photographer?

I am inspired by the work of my favorite photographers. Contemporary photographers include Alec Soth, Rob Hornstra, Brian Schutmaat, Michal Chelbin. The classics are André Kertész, August Sander, Diane Arbus. And the biggest influence on me as an author is the people around me and their stories.

If you could teach a one-hour class on anything, what would it be?

I've never imagined myself as a teacher, but if given the opportunity, I'd probably talk about what I love —photography.

What was the last book you read that resonated with you?

"The Choice" by Dr. Edith Eva Eger is an autobiographical book about how the author survived the Holocaust and then became a psychologist helping PTSD survivors. A very inspiring story that shows that we can always choose what life teaches us and how to relate to what happens.

Describe your creative process in one word.

Research.

What is your favorite film to watch?

I love movies and watch a wide variety of genres. But I like independent, festival films the most. There are many favorite directors, but at the moment my favorites are Jafar Panahi and Hong Sang-soo. Their films are more like documentaries, which is probably what attracts me.