Honorable Mention TOKYO-2020 Editorial / Photo Essay

Behind The Red Line

  • Photographer
    Olena Shved
  • Technical Info
    Nikon D7100.
  • Photo Date
    2018-2020

The theme I was always reflected on is inner world of persons working in medicine, where work is connected to human suffering, pain and death as well as risk and responsibility.This topic had not usually been discussed until COVID-19 has focused peoples' attention on medical problems. «Behind the Red Line» is about specifics of work in operating block, closed object, which entrance is marked by the Red Line. Anyone who crosses this line, falls into the zone of inner anxiety, emotional and physical tension. My aim was to open the veil to this "operational theatre" and convey its atmosphere.

Olena Shved, was born at 1975 in Kyiv, Ukraine. I have graduated from National Medical University (Kyiv, Ukraine) and work as a vascular surgeon for the last 20 years. I became interested in photography about 2 years ago. I study at Kiev School of Photography. Years of work in surgical clinics made me think about special features of doctor?s work, including risk, responsibility, absence the right to make a mistake. This experience pushed me to create a photoseries «Behind the Red Line». In 2020 I have received a Paris Photo Prize - Silver Prize in amateur category.