Capturing Russia from white to black, north to south, east to west

Posts Tagged "photojournalism"

Russia-NYC Series 27

Russia-NYC Series 27

Andrei, in his NYC shirt, was selling souvenirs near the top of Mount Akhun, which offers a panoramic view of Sochi. His girlfriend Alexandra joined him on this slow business day in late August. The highschool students met in their Sochi neighborhood and said they enjoy the same type of music.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 26

Russia-NYC Photo Series 26

Karina, a political science major, was walking toward a Moscow park with friends when I saw her in her Brooklyn jacket. This looks very much like a real Brooklyn highschool football, something that Travolta and the gang would have worn in the TV serial "Welcome Back Kotter."

Russia-NYC Photo Series 25

Russia-NYC Photo Series 25

Moscow's population has grown rapidly over the past 50 years, meaning many of its inhabitants have shallow roots. Alexei, wearing a NYC t-shirt, said his family's Moscow roots go back to the time of Ivan the Great in the 16th century.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 24

Russia-NYC Photo Series 24

If the outdoor market in Elista, Kalmykia tells you anything, it's that this region of Russia isn't doing well economically, something expressed in the number of young Kalmyks traveling to other regions for work. I saw Murat at the outdoor market in Elista in his NYC shirt. He said he came from Uzbekistan to work in Elista...an indication that the work/wage situation in Uzbekistan isn't any better.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 23

Russia-NYC Photo Series 23

Dasha and Lena were sitting on a bench under a big tree on an overcast day in the southern town of Stavropol, relaxing and chating as their summer vacation neared an end. Lena was wearing Nike hightops and a shirt that had NYC written on it in several spots, so I walked over to talk to talk to them. Lena said she studies economics and bought the NYC shirt while on vacation in Italy, which for some reason seems to sell a lot of NYC-themed clothing. Dasha said she studies management, but that her real passion is photography.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 21

Russia-NYC Photo Series 21

He was hanging out at a tiny cafe in the center of Moscow in his New York t-shirt. He said he moved here from Pridnestrovie, a breakaway republic wedged btw Moldova and Ukraine because he saw no future for himself there. He said he dreamed of a career in the music industry.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 19

Russia-NYC Photo Series 19

The skies opened up and rain poured down when I saw Mikhail in his Brooklyn shirt in Moscow. Neither of us had an umbrella, yet he didn't mind chating or being photographed in the rain. He said he grew up in the former Soviet republic of Moldova. While working at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, he fell in love with a co-worker ... though he didn't start dating her until he changed jobs. She is from the Moldavan breakaway region of Pridnestrovie. They are now married and will be having their first child soon. He says they will continue to rent in Moscow as apartment prices and mortgages (avg ~12%) are too expensive - an all to common complaint. On a separate note, this is the second guy I spoke with this summer who married a co-worker from a Moscow restaurant - both women were from Pridnestrovie.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 18

Russia-NYC Photo Series 18

Both Vitali and Alexei are from Novosibirsk, the so-called capital of Siberia. Both attend Moscow State University, where I ran into them. Both are studying oil and gas engineering....and both are wearing NYC-themed shirts. Alexei, on the right, said he bought the shirt in Thailand, which is one of the top five foreign destinations for Russian tourists, attracting more than 1mln a year. It takes roughly the same time to fly to Thailand from Novosibirsk as it does to Italy (7hrs).

Russia-NYC Photo Series 17

Russia-NYC Photo Series 17

Zhenya, a loan officer for Russia's largest bank Sberbank, was walking in the southern city Stavropol this summer in his Brooklyn shirt. It reminded me of t-shirts made by Brooklyn Industries. I just happened to meet Zhenya on a street that had a huge advertisement by the clothing store New Yorker. With Russia's economic growth coming in much lower than expected, Zhenya just may be busier these days trying to recover loans rather than dispense new ones.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 16

Russia-NYC Photo Series 16

I was exploring the back streets of Sochi one night this summer when I ran into Kristina and her dog Torik. Kristina, who was wearing a NYC shirt, moved with her family from Omsk, an oil town in Siberia, to the Black Sea town of Sochi because of the better climate. Kristina said she is into music, including rap, and was proud to have recently met one of her favorite DJs. Kristina said she wants to be a DJ in New York or Miami.

13 of 18
91011121314151617