Adelina & Polina: From from Magnitogorsk
ST. PETERSBURG: Polina and Adelina, 24, were walking around the center of St. Petersburg. The young women said they grew up in the steel town of Magnitogorsk and both live now in St Petes. However, they dont plan to stay. Polina will go to the Czech Republic to study and would like to stay there. Adelina plans to travel around Russia if not abroad. She said she wants to travel while she is young, saying she had previously lived in Sochi for half a year before moving to St. Petersburg. ''I simply live temporarily in places that I like,'' said Adelina. ''How my life will shape up, I don't know. But such a style of life suits me.''
Irina: St. Petersburg Image Stylist
St. Petersburg: Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg gets quite crowded during the white nights period as domestic and foreign tourists flood the city. It must be pretty difficult to walk a dog along Nevsky during the early evening in this period. That may be why Irina, 25, was carrying her dog. She said she worked as an image stylist for magazines.
Kazbek: Family of Teachers
ST. PETERSBURG: Kazbek, sporting a big bow tie, was walking along Nevsky in St. Petersburg with his bicycle. He said he is studying to become a teacher of Russian language and literature. If his plans work out, he will represent the third generation of teachers in his family. His mother, grandmother and grandfather all taught at schools at one point. Kazbek said that when he becomes a teacher, he will wear a bow tie, but a small one. When I asked if the students will tease him, he said ‘’no, they will see me as a good example.’’ The future literature teacher said his favorite book is The Three Musketeers ''because it is about real friendship.''
Mikhail: High-Fiving Strangers
St. Petersburg: As I jogged along a St. Petersburg street, a young Russian guy stuck out his hand as I passed to give me a high-five. He had a smile on his face. I was shocked. I don’t recall ever being randomly high-fived by someone on the streets in Russia. After 10 seconds, I decided to turn around and catch up with him. Mikhail, 23, said he grew up in Ulyanovsk, moved 7 years ago to study in Moscow, where he now works as a programmer. He came to St. Petersburg to take part in a marathon. Though he has liked running since youth, he gave himself the goal last year to complete a marathon. The longest he has run to date is 26 km, which he did a few years ago after breaking up with his girlfriend as a way to release tension.
Kirill: Owner of Hairfucker Salon
ST. PETERSBURG: How do you scare away the average person from your salon? Call it 'Hairfucker.' That is what Novorosiisk-native and barber Kirill did. "We choоse our clients," he said, adding the Hairfucker street sign isnt very visible on purpose. Kirill said he became a barber because he was looking for a career that was 'interesting, easy and with a lot of women.' However, he said he was initially disappointed on all three accounts. Kirill opened 'No Name' barbershop in St. Petersburg in 2010 that was he described as a closed shop mainly for friends and acquaintances. In 2012, he co-opened Hairfucker with another stylist Maria. The name was suggested by a mutual friend years ago. About a third of Hairfucker clients now get their hair dyed, a growing trend in St. Petersburg that is no longer confined to the punk subculture, said co-owner Maria. Kirill, a 12-year barber veteran, is using social media more and more to show off his and his barber's work. Aside from using Instagram actively, he is filming a 'reality show' for his youtube page that will follow two head-shaven female clients over two years as their hair grows back.
Alexander: Engineer-Turned-Photographer
St. Petersburg: Alexander, 24, was walking along Nevsky Prospect dressed in a jacket and tie. Alexander said he studied engineering at university, but decided to pursue photography, his hobby for the past five years, after graduating. He has been working as a photographer for about one year and now specializes on photographing jewelry. When I asked if he gets his hair cut at one of the new men's barbershops popping up around major cities, he answered that his mother cuts his hair.
Valeria: Left Ukraine for St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg: Valeria was rolling down Nevsky on her foot scooter, a white bow in her hair. She said she moved July 7, 2014 to St. Petersburg from Kharkov, Ukraine due to the economic difficulties back home. She chose St. Petersburg as a friend from Kharkov region was here. Valeria, who has a 'V V' tattoo on the back of her legs to signify her name Valeria Valerovna, said she was able to find a job as an administrator at a hair salon within two days of arriving in St. Petersburg. ''St. Petersburg has been good to me,'' she said. As for the foot scooter, Valeria had wanted one for a half-year and finally bought one in June. She said foot scooters weren't popular in Kharkov.
Zhanna & Yana: Twins Studying Chemistry
St. Petersburg: Zhanna and Yana, 21, taught me the Russian word for 'hair bangs': челка. These twins from the town of Oryol were walking down Nevsky dressed in the same dog-print shirt, rayban sunglasses and New Balance sneakers. Dressing alike is 'their thing' and one of them described themselves as 'one whole.' The twins both study chemistry and plan to work in their profession. I asked how they chose that subject. Their mom teaches chemistry at school.
Tatiana & Anna: Illustrators from Novosibirsk
St. Petersburg: Tatiana and Anna were walking down Rubinshteyna Street in St. Petersburg, a popular street filled with bars and restaurants. The friends - who have known each other for six years - said they grew up in Novosibirsk and moved to St. Petersburg to study book illustration. They said it was difficult at first to adapt to St. Petersburg, but 'feel more comfortable now.' Due to their black outfits, people often joke with them, asking 'who died?.' The two said that second-hand clothing is becoming more popular as people seek out unique clothing. A second-hand store just opened across the street from them.
Anna & Anastasia: St. Petersburg Students
St. Petersburg: University students Anna and Anastasia, 20, were walking along Nevsky on a sunny afternoon when I noticed Anastasia's large summer hat. Such hats are in fashion this year and are more noticeable on the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg . The two girls are studying PR in St. Petersburg.
About Shades of Russia
Shades of Russia is an independent photography blog about people and life in Russia and the former Soviet Union. There are more than 500 portraits posted from about 15 Russian cities, Belarus, Ukraine and Caucasus. The first portraits date back to the summer of 2013.
