Creating Fantasy

Born in Soviet Russia into a family of an administrative scientist and a teacher, I discovered my passion for photography at the age of 15, developing black-and-white images in the small bathroom of our "space-challenged" apartment. During college, I became fascinated with color film and transparency slides, which I also processed at home. In the late 1970's, I started photographing semi-underground exhibitions by nonconforming artists - events held in unconventional and often challenging spaces, from outdoor areas to public clubs and halls. It was both exciting and a bit risky, thought nothing truly serious ever happened: the authorities had bigger concerns to occupy their attention.

My family carried a deep distrust of the Soviet system, largely due to the loss of my grandfather in Stalin's Gulag in 1937 (he was posthumously acquitted in 1956 under Khrushchev). Growing un in this strongly, but publicly silent, anti-Soviet household, I began thinking about leaving the country. After earning a degree in economics and linguistics, I worked at a government scientific institution - since there were no private organizations a the time - until the early 1990's. In the post-Soviet era, I was finally able to leave for the United States, a country I had long dreamed of.

In the U.S., I attended the two-year Washington School of Photography to study professionally. Seeing the difficult and often compromising nature of commission-based work, I decided against pursuing assignments. Instead, I chose to become a freelance, independent photographer, shooting what I wanted, when I wanted. I also entered real estate to support my family. Throughout this time, I continued photographing and taking part in numerous competitions. The first contest I entered - hosted by Canon USA - earned my second prize. Inspired, I kept going, participating in many exhibitions (often winning or receiving awards) and holding multiple solo shows.

About five years ago, health issues required me to have a knee replacement. Unfortunately, my blood became contaminated during the surgery. Within months, my condition worsened so severely that I had to be hospitalized - later, I was told that without that step, I might not have survived much longer. The infection (sepsis) was so aggressive that I spent over half a year going in and out of hospitals. My liver was affected, and my test results eventually made me eligible for a transplant. On March 1, 2023 (the day I can never forget), I was discharged form the hospital with a new liver. I felt reborn. This experience changed me deeply, including my approach to photography. I began seeing the world differently, noticing details I had normally overlooked. My subjects shifted, and a new photographic and artistic style emerged - which led directly to the creation of the Water Abstracts series, my latest project.

You can get in touch with me, Alexander Stefan 

by email: www.astefan100@hotmail.com or at (1+) 202-281-4100