Photographer Aleksey Kaznadey

Ballet

In 2013, my dream to go backstage at the theater came true.
I got the opportunity to shoot ballet rehearsals, to learn the ins and outs of a performance.
At first, I didn’t quite understand what was going on. But then I began to see the subtleties and feel the atmosphere:

• grace
• piano sounds
• worn ballet shoes
• scent of sweat
• frequent breathing
• mirrors and re-reflections
• confidence in the director

This is the atmosphere I want to share in the photos and depict the painstaking work of the artists.

I witnessed the restoration of the performances:

• Spartacus, 2017
• Romeo and Juliette, 2018
• Carmen Suite, Carmina Burana, 2019
• The Creation of the World, 2019
• The Nutcracker, 2020.

During this time, four photo albums of ballet by choreographer Valentin Elizariev, People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus have been published.

The albums show photos of rehearsals and performances.

You will witness moments that cannot be seen by the average viewer, go backstage and watch the Master at work from the very first rehearsals to the applause at the premiere.

More photos…

Jazz

I love jazz.
Jazz is a kind of music you can and should watch. Because jazz artists are the most emotional folk among musicians.

I love jazz for its atmosphere. I notice how people suddenly change when they pick up a musical instrument. And especially in their eyes.

For a long time, this special look in the eyes I saw from all sorts of musicians was a mystery to me. After a while, I realized that it was love for the music they were playing.

I made it my goal to shoot jazz.

I’ve been in the dressing rooms, backstage, on the lighting mast, and lying under the drum kit. In these moments I play my camera together with everyone else. I show the concert in a way you cannot see it from the audience.

My goal is to show that music can be captured, and those photos will sound.

I’ve been taking photos of jazz since 2010, and I’ve been to concerts of such celebrities as Kevin Mahogany, Al Jarrea, Wayne Escoffer, Kekko Fornarelli, Sebastian Studnitzky, Konstantin Goryachiy, Alexander Sapega, and Vitaly Yamuteev.

You can see my best photos in the photo album
“Jazz. Aleksey Kaznadey”, 2019.

More photos…

The Faces of Armenia

This is the story of Man and his inner world.
About the invisible. About something you cannot put into words.
But you can feel it

My biggest impression of Armenia are the Armenians — smiling, hospitable, open people with a sense of dignity and strong charisma, which you can feel even in children, but especially in men and elderly people.

The Faces of Armenia is a photo collection of people I’ve met. I only had time to ask what their name was, where they come from, and what they do.

I enjoy looking at people. Looking at them as pieces of art, imagining how time transforms a person, how their way of life, thoughts, and deeds reflect on their face.

It’s important to me how one’s eyes reflect this world.

All that matters is who you are!

What you breathe and what you dream.
What’s important to you.
What you see in people.

After all, the way you are is the way you’ll see others.

I believe that in the Faces of Armenia everyone of you will see your own. Your own image of goodness and light.

And that Love lives in all of us.

More photos…

My work can be found in museums and private collections all over the globe.

Photo exhibitions:

• 19.11.2006 — 4.12.2006 — “Second Wave” Group Photo Exhibition, “Academy” project, Creative Workshops, works of photography studio graduates.

• 19.10.2018 — Individual photo exhibition of musician Kekko Fornarelli, Minsk, OK16.

• 14.05.2019 — 25.05.2019 — “Self-Portraits” Group Photo Exhibition. Co-project of Azgur School and Blowup Debate Club. Minsk, Azgur Museum.

• 8.11.2019 — 10.11.2019 — “See Jazz”. Individual Photo Exhibition, Art-Belarus Gallery, Palace of Art, Minsk.

I’m open to collaborations and projects in theater and arts photography.

I will consider shooting jazz festivals, classical music concerts, theatrical performances, ballet, and backstage at other theaters.