Interview with Mika Stetsovski | An Armenian Photographer Fascinated with Desolated Places

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.

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.

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.

I hope to gather enough material on one of the topics I’m researching to publish my first photo book.

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.

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.

Candid, emotional, and timeless.

It makes me feel that I am closer to something meaningful in that part of my life dedicated to photography.

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.

It gives me the motivation to continue, and that’s no small thing for me.

My favorite photographer, of course, is Mark Power from Magnum Photos.

The best advice is to not stop. Good photos often need to be sought out and discovered over days, sometimes even weeks or months.

Just take photos of what makes you feel connected to the world. It will give you all the other answers.

Photography encompasses many genres, techniques, philosophies, and creative approaches. I simply choose the ones that resonate with me.

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.