Black Earth; Chornozem
No.2 Pamiati Street, Izyum, Ukraine: 16 April 2025
As a war photographer, my practice is rooted in documenting the human and environmental cost of conflict. Photography is a vital tool—allowing me to work with immediacy and urgency in response to unfolding events in Ukraine. It enables direct engagement with the subject matter and elicits a deeply personal response to the spaces and stories I encounter.
My photographs record the visible scars of war on Ukraine’s built environment—bombed-out apartments, hospitals, schools, and industrial sites—but also focus on the subtle traces of lives that have been displaced or lost. In these abandoned places, everyday objects such as family photographs or personal belongings become poignant markers of absence.
Working in dangerous and often unstable environments, there is an inherent element of risk. Many images are made only after multiple visits to a site, carefully assessing safety and access. This methodical approach is as much about respect for the subject as it is about capturing a moment of truth.
This ongoing body of work seeks not only to bear witness, but to create space for reflection—on memory, loss, and the enduring presence of those who once inhabited these spaces.
My photographs record the visible scars of war on Ukraine’s built environment—bombed-out apartments, hospitals, schools, and industrial sites—but also focus on the subtle traces of lives that have been displaced or lost. In these abandoned places, everyday objects such as family photographs or personal belongings become poignant markers of absence.
Working in dangerous and often unstable environments, there is an inherent element of risk. Many images are made only after multiple visits to a site, carefully assessing safety and access. This methodical approach is as much about respect for the subject as it is about capturing a moment of truth.
This ongoing body of work seeks not only to bear witness, but to create space for reflection—on memory, loss, and the enduring presence of those who once inhabited these spaces.
Shevchenka Street, Kharkiv, Ukraine: 13 April 2025