Sergei Stroitelev is an investigative documentary photographer and visual artist who studied at the Galperin Faculty of Photojournalism in St. Petersburg and the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX). He is an artist who always raises a question about social stigmatisation, marginalised identities, and the fractures of political or bodily crises, based on collaborative portraiture and visual reportage.

His latest practice, “Behind The Surface Of Addiction” (2025 – ongoing), is a profound visual inquiry into the lives of female drug users navigating Berlin's major hotspots, Leopoldplatz and Kottbusser Tor. From his recent methodology—collaborating directly with his subjects to compose still lifes of their personal belongings, paired with transcribed personal testimonies—the artist tries to bring the hidden inner worlds and daily battles of women facing homelessness and crack cocaine addiction back to our reality. The societal stigmatisation and daily biases surrounding addiction are continuously confronted with nuanced narratives of personal memory, habits, and family bonds. He describes his work as a means to step beyond traditional reportage, using a slow, trust-building process that acts as a mutual space for reflection and visibility.

Stroitelev’s distinguished career is marked by an array of premier international accolades, including the Kolga Tbilisi Photo Award, Pictures of the Year International (POYi) honors, and the Luis Valtueña Humanitarian Photography Award. His photographic series and visual monographs have been published and exhibited globally, featuring collaborations with major outlet

Education & Training

2022

Photo 2 Advanced Programme, Danish School of Media and Journalism, Aarhus, Denmark

2015 - 2016

Beyond Photojournalism, International Summer School of Photography, Riga Latvia

2012 - 2014

Photojournalism, Press Photographers Faculty, Yu.A.Galperin at the Journalists' Union of St.Petersburg and Leningrad Region, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2008 – 2011

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / Legal Practice Course (LPC), BPP Law School, London, UK

2007 – 2008

LLM in International Human Rights Law, Bristol University, Bristol, UK

2014

Contract Photographer (HIV & Drug Addiction Department), Red Cross, Kathmandu, Nepal

2012–2014

Studies in Photojournalism, Press Photographers Faculty named after Yu.A. Galperin, St. Petersburg, Russia

2008–2012

Practicing Human Rights Lawyer (Filing applications to the ECHR on behalf of persecuted Chechen gay men)

2007–2011

LLM in International Human Rights Law (University of Bristol) & Graduate Diploma in Law / LPC (BPP Law School, London), UK

Exhibition & Projects (Selection)

2026

Participant, New York Times Portfolio Review

2025

Winner, Kolga Tbilisi Photo Awards, Documentary Category

Honorable mention, Gomma Black & White Photography Awards

2024

1st place, NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Portrait Singles category

3rd place, NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Portrait Series category and General News Picture Story category

Finalist, Pictures of the Year International 2024, Portrait Series category

2023

Highly Commended Award, Bartur Photo Awards, Unity in Diversity Professionals category

Winner, Grant for Independent Journalists & Filmmakers, Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom

1st place, Pictures of the Year Asia, Cultural Practices, Daily Life story and Photographer of the Year categories

2nd place, NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2023, Portrait Series category / Honorable Mention in Portrait Singles category,

Winner, Book Publication Open Call of Experimental Photo Festival

Participant, New York Times Portfolio Review

Finalist, World Report Award, Master Award category

Shortlis, Gomma Grant, Main category

Honorable Mention, Neutral Density Photography Awards 2023, People: Portrait category

2022

Winner, IPOY (Indian Photographer of the Year) 2022, Portrait category

Winner, Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival open call, Arts and Photography category

Winner, Helsinki Photo Festival open call (Theme "Believe")

1st place, Istanbul Photo Awards, Portrait Story category

Finalist, Pictures of the Year Asia, Photographer of the Year category and Portrait Singles category

2nd place, Neutral Density Photography Awards 2022, Editorial category

Silver, PRX (Prix de la Photographie Paris) 2022, Press Professional category

Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards 2022, Professional / Editorial Personality category

Finalist, Kuala Lumpur Portrait Photography Prize 2022

Finalist, Urban Photo Awards, Projects and Portfolios category

Shortlist, Gomma Grant, Documentary category

Shortlist, Vonovia Photography Award

2021

Winner, Indian Photofestival 2021 open call

Winne, Grant for Journalists who conduct visual research in the field of cancer, Andrei Pavlenko Fund

Winne, Bartur Photo Awards, Unity in Diversity Professionals category

Bronze, Budapest International Photography Awards 2021, People / Portrait category

Winner, Riga Photomonth 2021 open call

Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year International, Portrait Series category

Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year Asia in Portrait Singles category

2020

Jury's special mention, Luis Valtuena Humanitarian Photography Award

2019

Winner, Golden Pen Photojournalism Award of Saint-Petersburg (Russia), Photo of the Year category

2018

1st place, Istanbul Photo Awards, Daily Life category

3rd place, Direct Look International Photocontest, Compromise category

Finalist, Hellerau Portraits Photography Award

2017

Finalist, Hellerau Portraits Photography Award 2017, 2018

2016

Winner, Luis Valtuena Humanitarian Photography Award

Grand Prix, Non-accidental Witness photocontest

3rd place, Stenin International Photocontest in Top News Series category / Award of Excellence, Top News Singles category

Winner, Golden Pen Photojournalism Award of Saint-Petersburg (Russia), Photo of the Year category