Photographer Alexander Sviridov is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘Selfies with My Daughter Iris’. To see Alex ’s body of work, click on any photograph.

My journey into photography began because of my daughter, Iris.

In 2012, when she was only three years old, I took a simple photograph of her with an amateur camera. While reviewing the image, I suddenly felt that it carried something unexpected — a light, a mood, a depth that reminded me of a Rembrandt painting. Curious and inspired, I processed the photograph in Photoshop. The result shocked me. That moment became a turning point in my life, when I transitioned from painting into photography.

Since then, my daughter has become my main muse and model. Through her presence, I discovered a new visual language — one rooted in classical art, storytelling, and emotional intimacy. Over the years, many ideas naturally emerged: small narratives, symbolic scenes, and moments where I felt the need to step into the frame myself.

This project, Selfies with My Daughter Iris, is not about casual self-portraits. It is a dialogue between a father and a child, between generations, time, and imagination. Each image is a shared story — quiet, theatrical, sometimes playful, sometimes melancholic — capturing not only how we look at each other, but how we see the world together.

Biography.

Alexander Sviridov is a fine art photographer and digital artist based in Toronto, Canada. With over 15 years of experience, he creates photo-art that blends classical painting techniques with surrealism, often exploring portraits, nudes, nature, and horror-inspired themes. His creative process begins with hand-drawn sketches, followed by careful photography, and meticulous digital editing in Photoshop, sometimes enhanced with drawing on a tablet.

Alexander’s work has gained international recognition, earning multiple awards in prestigious photography competitions. His artworks are celebrated for their unique combination of painterly aesthetics and imaginative visual storytelling, making them widely exhibited and admired worldwide.

All images and text © Alexander Sviridov