My name is Igor Shutov (b. 1984). I was born in Russia and now live and work in Tallinn, Estonia. I see myself as a collector rather than a creator. I observe, I listen, but I don’t interfere. Each day, I look for a photograph that will add to my collection—one filled with colors, moods, seasons, and sensations. Simplicity, absence, minimalism, form, and the everyday are what interest me. My work is built on simple narratives. Capturing ordinary things is my main goal because the everyday is important and shouldn't go unnoticed. Though I don’t photograph people, my pictures are about them. When a person is in the frame, I see them first. By leaving them out, I focus on the place and its hidden presence. I think about why a space exists the way it does and how it interacts with people. Sometimes, the absence of a person makes their presence even stronger. The way I photograph shapes how I see the world. Accepting reality as it is feels freeing. I don’t resist—I seek beauty in what surrounds me. Striving for simplicity is my way of being honest.