Anastasia is a Kazakhstan-born Russian award-winning photographer specializing in documentary photography with over 10 years of experience working on socially significant topics. She began her photographic journey in 2009, inspired by her own childhood experiences. Initially, she photographed families affected by domestic violence, including her own relatives.
In her work, Anastasia explores social and political issues in Russia, often through deeply personal projects connected to her family and inspired by her own experiences. Her topics include life in penitentiary institutions, mental health, and domestic violence. She lives in the Vologda region of Russia and works as a freelance photographer for Russian and international media, also collaborating with non-profit organizations and foundations, as well as private clients.
Her work has been published in Forbes, La Repubblica, Le Figaro, FT Magazine, The Guardian, Courrier Japon, Capital, PDN, British Journal of Photography, etc., as well as catalogues and book publications.
Art Education:
2009-2012 Moscow School of photography and multimedia named after A. Rodchenko
Danish School of Media and Journalism, 2013, with Mads NIssen, Soren Pagter, and Kent Klich
Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts 2014
Danish School of Media and Journalism, 2013, with Mads NIssen, Soren Pagter, and Kent Klich
Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts 2014
Awards
2025
WSP Artist Residency 2026 - 2nd Runner-Up
First Prize Winner of the competition "Heritage and Innovation: Dialogue between Analog and Digital Photography"
Recipient of State scholarships for outstanding figures of culture and art of Russia
WSP Artist Residency 2026 - 2nd Runner-Up
First Prize Winner of the competition "Heritage and Innovation: Dialogue between Analog and Digital Photography"
Recipient of State scholarships for outstanding figures of culture and art of Russia
2023
Winner Shutterstock Create Fund 2023
Winner Shutterstock International Contest #unexpectedb0nds
2021
Winner of #SHOWUS BODY POSITIVITY GRANT by Getty Image
2020
Recipient of State scholarships for outstanding figures of culture and art of Russia
Winner of Amplifying Creative Voices Grant by Prince Claus Foundation, 2020
2019
Grand Prix of the photo competition “POINT ON THE MAP. RHYTHMS OF EVERYDAY" 2019, XIII festival of photography "PHOTOPARAD in Uglich"
Finalist of POY76, WORLD UNDERSTANDING AWARD, AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
2018
Honorable mention of ISTANBUL PHOTO AWARDS organized by Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Finalist Direct Look organized by FOTODOC Center for Documentary Photography at the Sakharov center, Russia
Finalist of Bird in Flight Prize
3rd Place «A New Look. Transforming through the centuries» + Exhibition
2017
Persephone Miel Fellow by Pulitzer Center
2016
Finalist Philip Jones Griffiths Award
2015
Winner of Canon Female Photojournalist Award by Visa pour l'Image, Perpignan, France
2013
Winner of Young Photographers of Russia, 2013
Finalist INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2013: GLOBAL WORLD - Through the Lens of Human Rights
finalist PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Awards 2013
2012
Selected by 19th Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo, 2012
Selected by PDN for 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch, 2012
2011
Finalist Magnum Expression Award, 2011
Emerging talent by Reportage by Getty Images, 2011
Finalist LUCEO Student Project Award, 2011
2010
Finalist 2010 FotoVisura Grant for Outstanding Student Photography Project
Amateur Grand Prize of the 2010 PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Awards
Winner Shutterstock Create Fund 2023
Winner Shutterstock International Contest #unexpectedb0nds
2021
Winner of #SHOWUS BODY POSITIVITY GRANT by Getty Image
2020
Recipient of State scholarships for outstanding figures of culture and art of Russia
Winner of Amplifying Creative Voices Grant by Prince Claus Foundation, 2020
2019
Grand Prix of the photo competition “POINT ON THE MAP. RHYTHMS OF EVERYDAY" 2019, XIII festival of photography "PHOTOPARAD in Uglich"
Finalist of POY76, WORLD UNDERSTANDING AWARD, AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
2018
Honorable mention of ISTANBUL PHOTO AWARDS organized by Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Finalist Direct Look organized by FOTODOC Center for Documentary Photography at the Sakharov center, Russia
Finalist of Bird in Flight Prize
3rd Place «A New Look. Transforming through the centuries» + Exhibition
2017
Persephone Miel Fellow by Pulitzer Center
2016
Finalist Philip Jones Griffiths Award
2015
Winner of Canon Female Photojournalist Award by Visa pour l'Image, Perpignan, France
2013
Winner of Young Photographers of Russia, 2013
Finalist INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2013: GLOBAL WORLD - Through the Lens of Human Rights
finalist PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Awards 2013
2012
Selected by 19th Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo, 2012
Selected by PDN for 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch, 2012
2011
Finalist Magnum Expression Award, 2011
Emerging talent by Reportage by Getty Images, 2011
Finalist LUCEO Student Project Award, 2011
2010
Finalist 2010 FotoVisura Grant for Outstanding Student Photography Project
Amateur Grand Prize of the 2010 PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Awards
Professional Membership:
Union of Photo Artists of Russia, http://www.photounion.ru/Show_User_Info.php?unum=2639
Stocksy United , https://www.stocksy.com/ananas/
Women Photograph, https://www.womenphotograph.com
Woman Street Photographers , https://www.womenstreetphotographers.com/photographers-i#/anastasia-rudenko/