Mikhail Potapov is a Russian photographer (фотохудожник Михаил Потапов). He is an award winner and multiple winner of Russian and foreign competitions in the field of photography. His work has been awarded more than 100 international awards, including achievements: the winner of the Grand Prix at the OneEyeland Photography Awards 2019 — recognized as the best photographer of the year; the winner of the Italian Siena Creative Awards 2020 — 1st place (Pangea Prize - Gold); the winner of The Independent Photographer Award Black & White Award 2020 — 1st place; winner of other prestigious awards 2016-2024: 1x Photo Awards 2016, 1x Photo Awards 2017/18, Paris Awards 2018, Best of Russia 2018, Budapest International Photo Awards 2019, All About Photo Awards 2019, Head On Landscape Prize 2019, EPSON Inertnational Pano Awards 2019 and others; His photos have been published in such well-known publications as The Washington Post, Forbes.com , Daily News, Sputnik, RIA Novosti and others. In 2022, his work "Only one", taken in the mountains of Adygea, was recognized as the best in the aerial photography category in the rating of the international network of photographers "The Independent Photographer" (Great Britain). Since 2018, Mikhail Potapov has been the chief curator of the world's prestigious and largest online photo gallery "1x.com " (Stockholm, Sweden), where the best works of world-class photographers and artists are presented. The author artfully combines traditional painting techniques and modern photography, creating deep, dramatic compositions using shapes, light, textures and tones. His original paintings combine Eastern philosophy with a European vision of color and form, impressing viewers with a unique style, skill and a deep understanding of the essence of classical fine art — the desire for harmony and balanced composition, emphasizing the sublime idea and moral meaning.