Posts Tagged "Street Photography"
Timofei & Dasha: Vladivostok Teenagers
Vladivostok: Timofei and Dasha, Vladivostok teenagers, were sitting by the shore as the sun set, taking in the beautiful view like many other couples. Timofei said they met a month ago via Russian social media - like so many others I have met lately. Russians normally give flowers on such a holiday, but I noticed that Dasha wasn't holding any. ''The most important thing [in a relationship] is not to be banal,'' Timofei said. ''You have to do something original.'' Apparently, he had something special planned for Dasha.
Valentine’s Day in Vladivostok (2)
Vladivostok: It was unseasonably warm on Valentine's Day in Vladivostok with the temperature breaking above zero Celsius and the sun shinning bright. That didn't seem to worry these two young lovers, who walked, ran, hugged and kissed on the ice for a good half-hour. They said the ice normally remains thick enough to stand on until the end of February. They exited the ice safely.
Valentine’s Day in Vladivostok
Artem and Yulia were slowly strolling along the seaside in Vladivostok at sunset on Valentine's Day eve. Yulia was carrying a bouquet of nine roses. They said they met via Russian social media about two weeks ago and had been writing each other since them. Today was their first date. ''I don't normally meet people through social media,'' Yulia said. ''He was lucky.''
Vlad: Rapper from Siberia
Vlad, 26, works in a fast-food kiosk in central Moscow around the corner from the $7.50-a-night hostel bed he is staying at. He moved to Moscow less than two months ago from the Siberian steel town of Novokuznetsk to pursue a rap career with his friend Misha, one of the three people he shares the hostel room with. ”We hit a ceiling there,” Vlad said. ”In Moscow, there is a chance to grow.”
Olya: Music Student from Moscow Suburbs
Olya, 15, was asking commuters for money as they exited the metro in the center of Moscow. She was carrying a violin, so I asked why she didn’t play for money. ”It is quite cold and my fingers go numb.” She said she just started a music academy and will study for four years. Olya said she lives in the Moscow suburbs and is one of 11 children by the same mom.
Nadezhda & Igor: 4 Months Together
Nadezhda was walking through the Yaroslav railroad station around 9 am on a Saturday morning, slightly ahead of me. I was on my way to a town outside Moscow...she was on her way to see her boyfriend Igor before he took a suburban train back home. Igor said they met four months ago through a friend and that they were a perfect match. I asked what they had in common - besides an apparent love of music (both were wearing headsets). ''Everything. We are the same person, just different sexes.''
Danila: Moscow Teenage Dog Owner
Danila, 19, was walking along a pedestrian street in Moscow, on his way to meet his girlfriend, a dog at his side. He said he bought the dog ''because I really like this breed...but he is still not well trained.'' Danila said he enjoys skateboarding, BMX biking and computers and is now in his second year at Moscow's information and communications university. I asked why he chose that study. ''My brain is wired that way,'' he said.
Moscow Woman Checking Her Looks
She was standing next to a kiosk not far from the Moscow Kremlin shortly before midnight. Aside from the kiosk worker, who was reading a book, and three police officers on the other side of the street, there was no one around. She was just standing there against the kiosk at first…three shopping bags at her feet. Probably in her 60s, she might have been homeless.
Sakhalin Girls at Burger Joint
Angelina and her friend were sitting in a fast-food burger join, a sort of McDonald's equivalent for the distant island. Both were dressed in fashionable outfits, so they posed for photos outside the fast food spot. Angelina said the two study together at a local college and specialize in organizing cultural performances. Angelina said she would like to work in the modeling industry while her friend would like to sing. Her friend already sings on stage. I asked Angelina if she would like to leave Sakhalin. ''Maybe I will give it a shot in a big city and see how I do,'' she said. ''But, nonetheless, I would return to my native region. Sakhalin is a unique Island.''
Alexei: Moscow Hipster, Apple Specialist
Alexei was holding a screwdriver, fixing some electronics equipment at a stand in a Moscow mall, when I notice the tattoos all over his hand. I stopped to chat with him. The 24 year-old said he went from bartending to becoming a certified Apple sales manager because he loves their products. ''I know all about Apple. It's not just my work, but my hobby.'' He said he got into repairing Apple products simply by watching Youtube videos. His first repair was an LCD screen. As for the tattoos, he said he has his parents, grandparents and brother's birthdays imprinted on the fingers on his right hand as they are the important people in his life.
