Sergey Karepanov

Karepanov Sergey is the only Russian photographer to have won the international photo contest as ‘International Garden Photographer of the Year’ (IGPOTY). A photo of his which he named ‘Tulipa. Universe of Flowers’ is one of his most memorable pieces of work, which after being held at the Royal Botanical Garden in an exhibition, became the album cover for the exhibition. Having won this in 2008, he was later shortlisted several times for competitions specialising in garden photography, including this same competition also, which is conducted by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew (Kew) London.

Photos of Karepanov Sergey have been printed in a variety of magazines in Russia, ones ranging from ‘Mezzanine’, ‘Home and Garden’, ‘Herald Grower’ and ‘Peasant’. Over the period of the last seven years, Sergey has made up a total of 98% of all the reports that have been written about French gardens and gardening which were published in Russian journals. This, in all cases and circumstances, is quite an achievement and a representation of his hard work.

Kerapanov spent his childhood near the Siberian forest of Taiga which is on the bank of the Angara River. Here, from a young age, he was educated by his parents about the surrounding flora and the appreciation that one ought to have towards it. He has then also spent thirty years of his life living in the suburbs of Moscow where, to his delight, he has been able to maintain a natural garden.

Sergey Kerapanov is a photographer and member of the international Federation of Journalists. He knows and understands Gardens and the technicality with which they are maintained and made pleasant to the eyes of the perceivers. He understands gardening and gardens in a number of places, for instance Russian gardens, European ones in general and especially France and its private gardens which have been a passion of his since 1955, having visited them several times a year. He played the role of the pioneer photographer and journalist to have highlighted the French gardens for the Russian reader(s). Kerapanov has generated a total of two hundred reports on French gardens.

There are many types of photographs that he takes and practices, including macro and landscape shots. His photographic and journalistic work is constantly published by twenty two Russian journals which specialise in gardening. His reports also have been found to appear simultaneously on sale in four or five different editions. To date, his photographs have made it to fifty five book covers and have been published in countless magazines in Russian, leaving him with a much known and loved status and reputation.