EARLVILLE – Victor Petryakov describes himself as a professional photographer turned amateur while discussing his most recent project, Lament for the Beach. “After 30 years of surviving in commercial photography, I am embarking on an environmental project: a calendar and exhibition, my magnum opus, my swan song,” said Petryakov.

Born in Russia in 1939, Petryakov majored in English before immigrating to the United States in 1978. “For seven years I had a studio in Manhattan, and worked for fashion magazines and publications such as Gentleman Quarterly, Cosmopolitan, Menswear Daily, and commercial clients such as Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue,” said Petryakov.

From 1995 to 2008, before relocating to Earlville, Petryakov’s principal clients included the Museum of the City of New York, the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City of New York and Barnard College of New York. However, it was the years he spent on Sea Gate beach in Brooklyn which provided the inspiration for his latest work of art, in collaboration with artist Diana Kupris-Mettler.