Posts Tagged "Dagestan"
Mila: Dagestan Native Studying in Moscow
MOSCOW: Siyana and Mila (right), Dagestan natives both studying in Moscow, were hanging out at Gorky Park on an early evening when I noticed Mila’s legs were covered in tattoos. Mila, 19, said she wanted a tattoo from about the age of 11, but only got her first one the day after her 17th birthday. She had it done in Moscow, where she was attending a rock concert. Her tattoos clearly give away her music taste…hard core. As it is uncommon for females in Dagestan to have tattoos, Mila said people in her home town sometimes mistake her for a visitor. Mila would like to have a career in the arts, preferably acting. In the meantime, she has begun learning to play the drums.
Dagestani Youth
MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN: As I walked through a small park in central Makhachkala with my camera, two groups of youth approached to have their photo taken. Of all the towns I have been to in Russia, youth approached me for photos only in Makhachkala and Stavropol. In the latter case, it was two groups of girls.
Kamil: Dagestani Volleyball Player
MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN: Kamil was walking with friends along the Makhachkala seaside, dressed in a Brooklyn Nets sweat suit. Kamila, two meters tall, said he plays volleyball while studying at an automobile technical college to become a traffic police officer. He said he boxed from 5th grade till 9th grade, but moved over to volleyball at the recommendation of his teacher, who said he had the right height for the sport.
Sharukhan: Dagestani Dental Student
MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN: Sharukhan, 19, was hanging out in a park with friends when they approached to ask for a group photo. Sharukhan, dressed in a red 'Russia' sweater, said he wanted to become a dentist, following somewhat in the footsteps of his father, who is a a top doctor. The dental student said he ''likes the profession, plus it offers a normal salary.'' Makhachkala is considered an economically depressed region, where salaries tend to be lower than in other parts of Russia. He said he spends the weekends with his friends, playing football, going for walks or dancing at night clubs.
Sakura: Dagestani Dancer
MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN: Sakura, 22, was probably destined to dance. As a baby, she once woke up to music on a TV commercial, shaked her body, and went right back to sleep when it ended. She may have inherited the love of dancing from her mom, who performed ethnic Dagestani and Indian dances. Sakura said she practices experimental dance when alone at home and will be moving to St Pete to develop further her skills. While many girls her age in Dagestan are contemplating marriage, Sakura is dreaming of visiting Japan .... Marriage is not in her near-term plans. She says she still feels like she is 16.
Shuana: Caught Between Family and Dreams
DAGESTAN: Shuana’s father passed away when she was just a few months old, so her older sister had to step in and help her mom raise her. Both mom & sister were always there for her, she said, adding that growing up with one parent nonetheless ’strongly impacts’ a child. Shuana, who works part-time with children as an animator while finishing two university degrees, wants to travel for personal and professional development. However, the 20 year-old feels she can’t leave her mom and sister, who have done so much for her. Her mother would like her to get married and have children. Shuana describes her predicament as being in an open cage that she can’t fly out of.
Dagestan Street Style
MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN: This young man was walking around in a USA hat and a RUSSIA sweatshirt.
Magomed: Dagestan Photographer, Student
DAGESTAN: Magomed bought his first SLR camera in 2012 on the encouragement of friends that liked his photography. Until that moment, he had been using a point-and-shoot digital camera. In 2013, he registeted on Instagram, posting photos mainly from his phone. He quickly built up a following thanks to his landscape shots around the Caucasus. In 2014, while attending a university lecture on emergency situations, he got a call from the Dagestan Presiential office. The administration said they had an opening for a photographer and that he was recommended based on his strong Instagram feed. Magomed took the job. Magomed said one of his dreams is to visit Iceland to photograph. The island country offers diverse landscape photography opportunities, he said.
