Sofia Verzbolovskis (also known as Svetlana) is a Panamanian photojournalist based in New York City. A member of Foto-Konica mina, she graduated in the International Center of Photography’s Photojournalism and Documentary Program (2021 2021). Born in Soviet Union, Verzbolova worked for two years in America, first in New York and then in Los Angeles as a domestic worker. After that she went back to her homeland where she freelanced, taking photos for newspapers, magazines, online publications and commercial institutes.
So, how did this young lady from Panama become a renowned Panamanian photographer? She has been awarded many awards for her work, most of which have gone to major commercial photographers. Her portfolio has also been shown at various exhibitions in Europe and America. Among her awards are the Gold Medal of the Grand Master of Photography, the Silver medal for Best Travel Photographer at the Venice Biennale, the Gold Medallion of the Order of Saint Bruno of Panama and her awards as a member of the International Academy of Photography.
Aside from being a professional photographer, Sofia Verzbolovskis engages herself in street photography, doing so on assignment for different companies. As a result, she has collected images and put them in booklets and brochures for commercial as well as residential properties. As a result, she knows how to blend elements together to bring out the real beauty of Panama. For instance, one of her images from a recent commercial project shows the view from the rooftop of an apartment block in Panama City. This is part of a series called Panama Skylines, which also included views from high buildings in the cities of Quito and Panama City.