Seeing the Unseen, Beyond Rivers with Iva Sidash

Name, age, where are you from, what format you like using, what are you currently working on if you are? 

Hi, I’m Iva Sidash, I’m 29 and originally from Lviv, Ukraine. I work primarily in documentary photography, focusing on long-form projects that blend artistic and journalistic approaches. Alongside documenting Russia’s war in Ukraine, I’m also developing a project centered around memory — tracing how landscapes, personal belongings, and intimate rituals preserve the memory of people and places lost to war. This work explores the invisible emotional residue of war through a deeply personal and reflective lens.

What about your surroundings/environments and upbringing interested you? 

I grew up in Ukraine, and 11 years of war caused by Russia’s aggression has shaped everything around me. It changed everyday life and deeply affected people and me. I photograph it because I can’t do otherwise. 

When was the first time you met photography? How did you feel when you met it?

I first met photography in 2019, starting with street photography. It felt like discovering a new language—one that let me observe quietly and express things I couldn’t put into words. That was the beginning of everything for me.

Tell us about current projects you have been working on (could be any, or just work you have been doing in general). Is this story inspired out of personal reasons, or others? What are you most excited about in these projects? 

Currently, I’m working on a few different projects, each of them deeply personal. One of them is "Seeing The Unseen", which follows the life of Aliona, a single mother living in the frontline village of Slatyne in the Kharkiv region. It’s about capturing the resilience of civilians during and the war in Ukraine, showing their struggles, their love, and their hopes.

I’m also working on a project called "I Will Be Across The River", which explores how landscapes, personal belongings, and intimate rituals help preserve the memory of places and people lost to war. It’s a very personal reflection on how we hold on to what’s left after destruction.

All these projects are rooted in personal reasons—whether it's my connection to Ukraine or witnessing firsthand the physical and emotional scars the war leaves behind. What excites me most is the chance to document these stories in a way that resonates with others, giving voice to those who often go unnoticed, and showing the human side of war that goes beyond the headlines.

How did you find your visual literacy? Why are you attracted to certain images more than others? 

I developed my visual literacy through exposure to various photography styles and by immersing myself in the world of documentary photography. As I began to photograph the realities of war, I started to see not just the events, but the emotions and stories beneath them. The more I learned, the more I understood how images can speak without words and how they carry the weight of time, memory, and identity.

I'm drawn to images that capture raw emotion and tell a story in a way that feels authentic. I gravitate towards images that make you feel something. I look for moments that offer insight into personal and collective experiences, often those that are overlooked or forgotten.

Imagine meeting someone who is picking up a camera for the first time. What do you tell them?

I would tell them to be patient with themselves and enjoy the process. Photography is about capturing the world in a way that feels true to you. Explore different subjects, find stories, and let the camera help you tell them. Above all, remember that every photo is an opportunity to learn and grow, so don't be afraid to make mistakes.