Danil Usmanov

Documentary Photographer
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
 

Danil Usmanov is a documentary photographer dedicated to capturing the untold stories of Central Asia. His work explores protests, gold miners, poaching, border conflicts and other social and political realities. Rather than directing his subjects, Usmanov takes a patient approach–sometimes waiting for days to capture a single fleeting moment that encapsulates an entire life.

This dedication to authenticity and human emotion allows his subjects to forget the camera, enabling him to become a natural part of their world. His work has been featured in The Guardian, DIE ZEIT, Meduza, and DER SPIEGEL. An alumnus of the Nikon-NOOR Academy and the DocDocDoc School of Modern Photojournalism, he continues to immerse himself in the stories unfolding around him, driven by his passion for visual storytelling.

Danil Usmanov Website
Danil Usmanov Instagram

 

Valley of the Winds

In the quiet Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan, young lives unfold in the spaces of absence. Valley of the Winds offers a rare glimpse into their world, told through the lens of photographer Danil Usmanov and through the eyes of the children themselves.What does it mean to grow up in the shadow of migration? Step into a story of distance, memory, and the quiet power of everyday life.