Svetlana Korneliuk | Biography and CV

Artist Statement

“Reimagining the Classics: A Dialogue of Light and Emotion”

My photography is an attempt to stop time and look into the human soul through the prism of eternal subjects. I do not simply capture an image; I strive to create a timeless portrait in which light falls as softly as in Vermeer’s paintings and composition breathes with the harmony of the Renaissance. For me, Fine Art is a bridge between the painting of the past and the contemporary visual language. I explore how shadow can tell more than light, how a gesture of the hand conveys what cannot be expressed in words. In every shoot I seek this dialogue — between model and viewer, between classicism and modernity.

My path to art was indirect. For many years I worked as an accountant — in a world of exact numbers, strict reports and order. After retiring, I was able to devote myself to what had always lived within me — photography. This transition from the world of precision to the world of images taught me to value both structure and spontaneity and, above all, to see beauty where previously there had been no time to notice it.

In a world where there is so much evil and violence, I see my task as reminding people of beauty and goodness. I am convinced that negative emotions destroy human health. Therefore, in my works I strive to create a space for calm, harmony and light. Beauty is near — one only has to look around and learn to notice it.

About

For more than ten years I have been learning to see this world through the lens, but with a heart open to art. Travel inspires me, and portrait photography allows me to materialize that inspiration. My awards and recognition are not just medals, but confirmation that the viewer needs not merely a photograph, but a story told with soul.

Personal Details

  • Name: Svetlana Korneliuk
  • Based in: Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • Specialization: Portrait and Fine Art Photography
  • Phone: +7 922 617-71-37
  • Email: skorneliuk@gmail.com
  • Website: skorneliuk.com
  • Portfolio: skorneliuk.com/en/portfolio

Education & Professional Development

  • 2026 — Course in artistic retouching “FACE FROM A PAINTING”, author’s program by Nina Zhikhareva
  • 2025 — “Renaissance” Workshop (School of Contemporary Fine Art Photography). Certificate of successful completion
  • 2025 — Elina Garipova’s masterclass “Artistic Portrait”
  • 2025 — Daria Komarova’s masterclass on shooting with complex light
  • 2024 — “FINE ART RETOUCHING” course (School of Contemporary Fine Art Photography)
  • 2023 — Professional course in Fine Art portrait, Pro level
  • 2023 — “Shoot Like Jan Vermeer” workshop (School of Contemporary Fine Art Photography). Work selected in Top 10
  • 2022 — Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop courses (Daria Bulavina)
  • 2021 — Author’s course “Light and Emotions” (Elena Shumilova)
  • 2020 — Course “Secrets of Professional Retouching” (Evgeny Kartashov)

Professional Memberships

  • GPU — Global Photographic Union
  • PSA — Photographic Society of America
  • ICAP — International Club “Art Portrait”
  • IAAP — International Association of Art Photographers (Titan IAAP)
  • FIAP — Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (Artist FIAP)
  • Association of Photographers “Eurasia”

Awards & Achievements

2026

  • STF Certificates of Merit, Vision Unbounded, VIPA Organizing Committee, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
  • Uttar Purv Honorable Mention, North East International Salon 2026 | IIG 2026-291, India
  • November 2026 — invited to the award ceremony, India (trip to take place in November 2026)
  • 2024-2025:
  • Gold Medal IAAP — ART Life contest, Skopje, North Macedonia
  • Silver Medal IAAP — Stolen Moments contest, Birmenstorfer Fotoclub, Switzerland
  • Bronze Medal — Stories in Frames “OUT OF CONCEPT” contest, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Acceptance in the 2025 IAAP Collection, London, United Kingdom
  • Honorable Mentions and STF Certificates of Merit at international contests, including Vision Unbounded, Taizhou, China
  • 35 Awards International Contest:
  • Top 10 Photographers in Ekaterinburg (2023-2024).
  • Top 150 Photographers in Russia (2023-2024).
  • Top 35 in “Stylized Photography” category.
  • Top 35 & Top 100 in “Daily Life” category.
  • Top 100 in “Architecture” category.
  • Top 200 in “Male Portrait” category.

Publications

  • Photo Vogue 
  • TOP Posters kids Magazine (NY)
  • Hollyway Magazine
  • Dehazed Magazine

Exhibitions

  • 2024 — Participant in international exhibition projects.
  • 2022 — Vernissage of the International Exhibition of Painting, Graphics, Sculpture, and Photography “REFLECTION”.

Professional Skills

  • Deep understanding of portrait photography techniques, composition, and lighting.
  • Mastery in Fine Art, children’s, family, and artistic portrait genres.
  • Ability to translate artistic concepts into photographs, inspired by classical and contemporary painting and cinema.
  • Continuous self-learning and skill improvement; proficiency in modern post-processing tools (Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom).

Short Bio for Catalogs and Galleries

Svetlana Korneliuk is a Fine Art and portrait photographer based in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Her journey into art was unconventional: after many years as an accountant, she retired and devoted herself to photography. Drawing on the light of Vermeer and the harmony of the Renaissance, she creates timeless portraits that explore the dialogue between shadow and light, gesture and silence. In a world marked by violence and negativity, Svetlana seeks to remind viewers of beauty, kindness, and peace, believing that positive emotions help restore human health. Her work has received international recognition, including IAAP medals, the 2025 IAAP Collection, STF Certificates of Merit, and honors in China and India. She is a member of GPU, PSA, ICAP, IAAP, FIAP, and the Eurasian Association of Photographers.

 

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