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In this edition of #ThroughMyLens, we spotlight Yuriy Baranov (@_yuriyy), a photographer whose work lives at the intersection of energy and intention. His images translate the details that often go unnoticed. Whether backstage at a major event or in the crowd of a packed concert, Yuriy’s lens is always focused on whispering the experience through the photo.
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Yuriy’s latest project took him behind the scenes of the 2025 Met Gala, where he worked closely with the esteemed British-Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng. “It was a surreal experience,” he reflects. “Being part of that team and documenting the tailoring process was about being present in a space where legacy, craftsmanship, and creativity come together. You’re watching garments take shape, but also how people come alive when they wear them.”
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The experience sharpened Yuriy’s understanding of what draws him to photography in the first place: the meaning behind the moment. “There’s so much intention in every detail,” he explains. “From the exact cut of a suit to how someone carries themselves once it’s on. Capturing that process reminded me that visual storytelling is just as much about energy as it is about aesthetics.”
His journey into photography wasn’t something he planned. It began in small, almost invisible ways. “Growing up, there was always a camera around whether it was an old camcorder, a digital camera, I was constantly filming or taking pictures during family events,” he says. “But back then, it was just fun. It wasn’t something I saw as a path.” That changed during college, in the quiet period following the COVID-19 lockdowns. “I found a camera that had been collecting dust at home. I picked it up again and started shooting school events, campus festivals, whatever I could. That’s when I discovered concert photography, and everything just started to align.”
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Concerts quickly became Yuriy’s playground— The lights, the movement, the rhythm of the crowd fed into his style. He tells deeds, “I think what pulled me in was the challenge of capturing something so unpredictable. Every moment is fleeting, but also charged with energy. You don’t get to plan much, so you learn to feel your way through it. That’s where my creativity thrives.”
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Yuriy’s approach to photography is deeply intuitive. Each shoot starts with emotion and ends in intention. “My process feels new every time,” he explains. “If I’m shooting a concert, I start by tuning into the artist’s energy, that becomes my guide. I pay close attention to set design, lighting, colors, and the mood in the room. And even while I’m shooting, I’m already thinking about how the final frame will look. I can see it in my head, almost like a movie still. That helps me shoot with clarity.”
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Beyond client work, Yuriy is now carving out time for more personal projects; intimate visual explorations that are rooted in identity and self-expression. “When you’re constantly working for others, it’s easy to forget your own creative instincts,” he says. “Lately, I’ve been giving myself space to build concepts that feel personal. No deadlines. No limits. Just me following an idea to see where it goes. It’s still early, but I’m excited for what’s coming.”
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Through his work, Yuriy Baranov continues to elevate the essence of modern photography, capturing how it feels. With every frame, he invites us to pause, to see deeper, and to feel more. And as his lens widens, so too does our understanding of what it means to tell a story visually.
