In 1986 Alexander Degtyarev graduated from the All-Union State Cinematography Institute (VGIK, Photography dept, studio of V.Tchumak). He worked as a photographer for feature films and documentaries in Moscow and Leningrad studios: Telefilm, LSDF (Leningrad Studio for Documentary Films), The Screen, The Person (TVC).

Alexander cooperated with such well-known Russian filmmakers as Dinara Asanova, Igor Shadkhan, Yury Koltun, V.Latyshev.

Photographer for Sokurov's films:

1984-1987 – EVENING SACRIFICE (in collaboration with a group of photographers)
1998 – THE DIALOGUES WITH SOLZHENITSYN
2001 – ELEGY OF A VOYAGE