Let me introduce myself

I am Shad (Dmitry Polkanov), a multi-awarded dark art photographer and body painting artist.

I graduated from medical academy in 2006 and have been working as a doctor ever since. I have had many hobbies, photography being one of them. In 2018, I decided to take a big training in photography with the best masters I could find. In 2020, my works started winning various international competitions and exhibited in many countries. So over time photography became my main profession.

Each photograph in the “Under the Black Sun” series features a demon that I have brought to life using body painting techniques, transforming my models into otherworldly creatures.

Everyone lives with their own demons. People are afraid of them, avoid them… But I want to show their dark beauty. I want to show that we shouldn’t be afraid of our inner demons, we can learn to live with them and harness their power to create.