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

Posts Tagged "photojournalism"

Eduardo: Migrant from Ghana

Immigrants who have come to Russia to work are also among those hurting from the ruble drop. Eduardo, a Ghana national, was handing out flyers by a major train station in Moscow. He said he came to Russia with hopes to play soccer, but things haven't worked out. He said he is trying to save up $2,000 before leaving. Assuming he spends half his modest salary on food and rent, it could take him a year to save that much money after the massive ruble decline to 70/$. 

German: Automotive Student

German, 16, was riding his 22,000 ruble ($400) bike around the historical Russian town of Kolomna. He said he was studying at an automotive technical school about an hour bus ride from Kolomna. He said there were about 25 students in his class, one of whom was a girl. He said girls study economics .... (If you have ever walked into a Moscow bank, you will almost always find women behind the desks). I asked if his father was also involved in the auto industry. 'I don't have a father,' he replied. 

Roman: Wander with a Story

Occasionally, people I photograph tell some unusual stories, that I question their validity. This was the case with Roman, who approached us in a church in Kolomna (Moscow region). Quite knowledgable about history and religion, Roman said he has been traveling around Russia for the last few years after his wife and daughter were killed, leaving him with nothing really to live for as he put it. He said he was Uzbek by nationality, but raised in an orphanage mainly in Russia. He went into the army and served in Afghanistan. He said he was headed to the south of Russia where it would be warm and where the people are hospitable and may settle there.

Garich: The Juggler (2)

I met Garich, a juggler, in the Moscow metro in the summer. He invited me by for tea to see his apartment and juggling studio. A free-lance journalist for more than a decade, Garik said he was inspired to go full time as a juggler after an interview last year with a Soviet photographer that specialized in nude portraits. When Garik asked him how he managed to get away for so long with taking nude photos in USSR, he answered "if you really love something enough, you will find a way to do it." Garik now supports himself by juggling on Arbat street and teaching.

Garich: The Juggler

Another photo of juggler Garich in his apartment. He lives on the ground floor of a 19th century building that was damaged by fire two years ago. His 'apartment' has no shower room or heating, though the electricity works. It reminds me of images of squatter housing in NYC in 80s. Garich built a fire place and is making a shower. He often sleeps on a hammock. The walls are bare except for some drawings by his school aged daughter, who lives separately with her mother. Garich said his daughter comes over occasionally and likes the unusual settings. He is hoping to find more juggling students in Moscow to incease his income, but his real goal is to have his own performance. He practices juggling to music by The Kinks, The Stooges and Thamusement in a bare room across the hallway.

Nikolai: Unicyclist, Magician (2)

I have seen a few people in Moscow on a unicycle over the years, but almost always at a park. Nikolai was riding near a metro station and I asked why. He said he was a student at Moscow's circus and arts academy and was trying to improve his riding ability. He said his parents realized early on he wasn't headed for an academic career and enrolled him in Moscow's only grammar school with a circus focus. Nikolai says he hopes someday to organize his own circus show and knows his life will always be some way connected with the circus and/or magic performance.

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Ukraine War Refugee

He said he had a good life - an apartment, car and his own small store - until fighting erupted in his hometown of Luhansk. A bomb damaged the roof of his store and he left for safer territory in Moscow, where he now sells boiled corn-on-cob at popular Moscow park. Half Russian, half Ukrainian by nationality, he will get Russian citizenship and says may end up settling in Russia, but he misses his home town and previous, stable life. 

Islam: Afghan in Moscow

Islam grew up in Afghanistan in a family of 10 children. A good student, he was sent to study in Russia for six years during the 1980s just as USSR troops were in his country. He returned to Russia in the 1990s as the Taliban took power. He now works in trade at a massive Moscow market that feels like a Asian melting pot. He counted off several countries where his siblings live - Austria, Norway, Canada. Of the 10 children, only two are in Afghanistan. He says he is getting to the age where money is less important and the desire to do some good greater. Islam says he would like to return home someday to help young people looking to start their own business. 

Akram: Kyrgyz Getting Russian Citizenship

The ruble decline impacts nearly the entire former USSR, not just Russia and Russians. Akram grew up in Kyrgyzia, lives in Chelyabinsk and currently works in Moscow like many of his former countrymen. He regularly sends money to his parents, who are raising his two youngest children in Kyrgyzia. Akram said his parents now get 20% less for each ruble he sends them. Akram said he is getting Russisn citizenship and hopes someday to build a home outside Chelyabinsk, where is wife is raising their eldest child. 

Katya: Jehovah Witness

Katya, a nanny, was standing by a popular Moscow park offering interested people Jehovah Witness literature. While I often come across JW followers in NYC, I have met few in Russia and thus I asked Katya how she become a follower. Katya said she become interested in religion as a young child growing up in Siberia. She would often accompany her grandmother to church, asking her questions about Jesus and heaven.

Following a move to the south of Russia, her mother became friends with a woman who was a JW follower. Katya said her mother thought the woman had made a mistake joining JW and sought to convince her. Katya said her mother ended up with the reverse outcome - her mother ended up becoming a JW follower herself. Katya said she and her sister then also joined JW because she ‘found answers to the questions’’ troubling her  

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