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

Posts Tagged "streetportrait"

Christina: Belarus English Student & Musician

Christina: Belarus English Student & Musician

This English-language student said the biggest event of the pasy year was a trip to Italy, her first visit to a foreign country. "I alsolutely loved it. People there are happy, friendly, open...not rushing around and angry at the world." She said she chose English as it's "the language of languages" and loves to sit and think long and hard how to most beautifully translate literature. When not studying, she plays experimental music with her bass guitar. The photo was taken in front of her university. 

Victor: Minsk Artist

Victor: Minsk Artist

Victor, 59, was sitting on a bench in the center of Minsk and I approached him to get his views on the city. He ignorned the questions and talked about his painting career. He said as a university student in USSR, he - like other students - was sent to a village to help with the potato harvest. While taking a break in a village house, he noticed a typical Belarusian rug with flower designs on a black background. The babushka let him take it. Twenty years later, he came across the rug amongst his stuff and it inspired a painting in his 'Snow in Black Square' series. The series itself is a play on 'Black Square' by Kazimir Malevich, who lived a few years in Belarus. Victor's site is: www.vitart.net  

Artyom & Denis: Belarus Musicians

Artyom & Denis: Belarus Musicians

Artyom & Denis perform chillout and ambient music outside their regular jobs. Artyom said he started experimenting with music while attending a military school and played trance for a while. I asked how he got into these other music genres. "I was resting with a friend by a river early one morning outside Minsk, when we heard ambient music and it inspired us." 

Evgeniya: Future Baker

Evgeniya: Future Baker

Evgeniya and her boyfriend Vanya (left) were visiting the friend (right) who initially intoduced them. Evgenia said she is going to be a baker like her grandmother. She fondly recalled visiting her grandmother at work for first time at the age of 8. Her grandmother let her play with the dough. I asked Evgenia what her favorite pastery is. 'Eclair - it's the hardest to make, but it is the most delicious.' 

Anna: English Major, Rock Lover

Anna: English Major, Rock Lover

Anna, an English-language student, was listening to 'Shadow Maker' by Finnish-rock group Apocalyptica as she walked toward her university, adding she 'can't stop listening to it. Higher up on her list of favorite groups is Canadian rock band 3 Day Grace. Anna said attending their concert in Minsk was the most memorable event in 2014, 'a dream come true.' 

Russia-NYC Series 33

Russia-NYC Series 33

The young man on the left in the NYC shirt and his uncle come from a small village on the shore of Lake Issyk Kul in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan. The young man said he graduated with a law degree, but as there were no jobs at home, came to Russia. He said he worked 2.5 years on Yamal Peninsual, Russia's main gas producing region, which lines on the Arctic circle. He loved the region's nature, but found it tough to bear -45c. Now he works as a cashier in Moscow and says he is satisfied with the work and pay. He dreams of earning enough to buy a car and build himself a home in is village in Kyrgyzstan. He then showed me a few photos of his village at the foot of Lake Issuk Kul with the Tian Shan Mountains rising in the background. 
 

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.

Anna: Moscow Fire Twirler

Anna: Moscow Fire Twirler

Moscow: Anna was on her way to work, listrning to her headphones, when I passed her. She said she likes to practice twirling chains with fire with friends in a park across the river from the Kremlin. She is wearing black socks up to her calf. 
 

Anya: Quit Job, Enjoying Summer

Anya: Quit Job, Enjoying Summer

Moscow: Anya is drinking her Coke and watching Muscovites dance in Gorky Park as the sun goes down behind her and tourist boats cuise by below her. Anya said she recently quit her job and wants to enjoy the rest of the summer before seeking work. 

Zhenya: Hairstylist with Greek Roots

Zhenya: Hairstylist with Greek Roots

Moscow Street Portrait: Zhenya, a hairstylist with Russian and Greek roots, knocks back a Coke while taking in the Moscow sunset. She has an interesting combo of black leather jacket, aviator sunglasses with what looks like soccer shorts and Black converse. The sports shirt reads 'Tokyo.' Black is clearly her color.
 

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