"Rodina": Post-Soviet Russia through the eyes of an English photographer
"Rodina": Post-Soviet Russia through the eyes of an English photographer

Video: "Rodina": Post-Soviet Russia through the eyes of an English photographer

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Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts

The homeland, like the parents, is not chosen, and since we happened to live in Russia, it would be interesting to look at how the face of the state changed in the post-Soviet years. Many foreign photographers, traveling around the country, tried to capture iconic moments from the life of “born in the USSR”. Today we present to your attention a photo cycle with an unpretentious name "Motherland" Englishman Simon Roberts.

Photo tour of Russia by Englishman Simon Roberts
Photo tour of Russia by Englishman Simon Roberts

Simon Roberts says that from childhood he was fascinated by the scale of the country, which "occupied almost entirely the map that hung on the wall of the nursery." The photographer traveled around Russia for a little over a year - from July 2004 to August 2005, visited more than 200 cities, towns and villages, so his collection of photographs is quite extensive and diverse. He visited Siberia, drove to Kaliningrad, visited the Caucasus, Altai and moved along the Volga.

Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts

According to the author himself, he tried to get away from certain clichés that are traditionally imposed on ordinary people. He debunks the myth of the total poverty of the country and the depression of the regions by publishing vivid photographs that capture the beautiful and fertile land. Getting to know ordinary people better, he was struck by their openness and unquenchable optimism, which is even stronger than patriotic feelings.

Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts

The photographer was pleasantly surprised by the deep religious feelings that he discovered in casual acquaintances, as well as by the fact that many sincerely consider the land on which they live to be holy. The very concept of homeland, consonant with the words relatives, native, family, he considers uniting, this is precisely what forms a special connection between people, which gives rise to the riddle of the Russian soul.

Post-Soviet Russia in photographs by Simon Roberts
Post-Soviet Russia in photographs by Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts

A photo book about travels in Russia was published in 2007, was nominated for the prestigious Arles Contemporary Book Award and recognized as one of the best at the annual PHotoEspana photo competition.

Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts
Photocycle Homeland from Englishman Simon Roberts

Recall that on the site Culturology. RF we previously published photo album "Moscow 1920s", rare photographs of the early twentieth centurytaken by foreign photographers.

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