Interview with Mika Stetsovski | An Armenian Photographer Fascinated with Desolated Places
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Mika Stetsovski
Mika Stetsovski from Yerevan, Armenia is a photographer who is fascinated with desolate places, particularly those in the former USSR. His love for these places is due to how they belong to everyone and no one at the same time. He likes the feelings of space and calmness that these places fulfill in his photographs while inspiring others to walk, travel, observe, and capture photos in the same way.
1Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
I am a photographer currently residing in Yerevan, Armenia. I've always been fascinated by desolate places, particularly those in the former USSR, and I've wanted to photograph them to better preserve them in my memory and in history as a form of art.
2Where did you study photography?
I developed some of my early photography skills simply by watching my father take photos during our summer family vacations. Years later, I began working as a photo editor at a news outlet, where I learned more about photography.
3Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I believe my first shot with a ‘Smena’ film camera was of a view of our garden at our dacha—a village house where we spent our summer days when I was a young boy.
4What equipment do you use?
Currently, I use two Canon DSLRs—one film and one digital—sharing the same set of lenses: a 35mm, a 70-200mm, and occasionally a kit zoom lens. I also don’t mind using an iPhone as a camera sometimes.
5What do you hope to achieve?
I hope to gather enough material on one of the topics I’m researching to publish my first photo book.
6What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
Sometimes people notice small details in my photos that are especially meaningful to me for various reasons. When they do, it feels like a compliment. Maybe I’m wrong, but that's how I perceive it.
7What inspires your unique storytelling?
I am deeply inspired by people who have mastered the art of storytelling through visual media, especially in a way that resonates with how I feel. If you were to ask me to name someone, Mark Power would be the first that comes to mind.
8What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Candid, emotional, and timeless.
9Congratulations! As the winner of the European Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
It makes me feel that I am closer to something meaningful in that part of my life dedicated to photography.
10Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2024 European Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
I currently live in the beautiful country of Armenia, where I am developing my ongoing project, "Armenia Between the Past and the West." In this work, I explore how modern Armenia merges the lingering remnants of its Soviet past with the rising influence of the West. This contrast is striking, positioning me at a unique juncture in Armenian history, where the past and the future meet.
11How has winning an award developed your career?
It gives me the motivation to continue, and that’s no small thing for me.
12Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
My favorite photographer, of course, is Mark Power from Magnum Photos.
13What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
The best advice is to not stop. Good photos often need to be sought out and discovered over days, sometimes even weeks or months.
14What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
Just take photos of what makes you feel connected to the world. It will give you all the other answers.
15What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Photography encompasses many genres, techniques, philosophies, and creative approaches. I simply choose the ones that resonate with me.
16How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
When you're truly interested in something, you'll naturally find yourself surrounded by a bubble of information on topics you want to follow regularly. It happens effortlessly.
Winning Entry
Armenia between the West and the Past | European Photography Awards
Mika Stetsovski
Mika Stetsovski from Yerevan, Armenia is a photographer who is fascinated with desolate places, particularly those in the former USSR. His love for these places is due to how they belong to everyone and no one at the same time. He likes the feelings of space and calmness that these places fulfill in his photographs while inspiring others to walk, travel, observe, and capture photos in the same way.
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