It is not what it looks like

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Wednesday, October 13, 2010 | flickr photos

My name is Alex Mandych, I’m from Moscow, Russia, and I’m 36 years old.
I had worked as IT project manager for some years but quit some time ago and decided to do, something  that I really liked and wanted to dedicate myself to. In my life I used every opportunity I had to travel around the world. And I’m still feeling sad that I did not have enough of them. I have put my step on a few continents, have seen many countries, but I definitely want more. My main motivation and inspiration is that when you travel around - doesn't matter how far or exotic - you always see slight or huge differences, the more you travel - the more details you see. But if you are open to the world and people around you - you are discovering more and more - that we are all the same. And with every next travel you are going deeper and deeper in this understanding. And finally - the World starts smiling at you, doesn't matter - where you are - dangerous Somalia or quiet Switzerland. That is what I like to feel and what I want to do more. Also - I really want to be able to share this undertanding and approach through words and photos.
The story I am presenting to the noble comission, is called "Underworld", is about subway in St. Petersburg. People always travel as far as possible and as far as comfortable - to most exotic places they can imagine and then visit. My goal was to go to the pretty close and similar city, but with different soul and atmosphere. We, Russians, call St.Petersburg our "cultural capital" compared to our "political capital" - Moscow. I really admired St.Petersburg and tried to catch its feeling, its idea, its spirit. And to reflect it in my project. "Underworld" is only one of the stories about St.Petersburg but perhaps the most beloved by me.