2. Photography

Project RuSu 365

Not always so successful or interesting, & not always daily, though certainly a reflection of our daily lives - more like pick of the day. Our goal - to share our world and improve our skills. Thanks to all the members of the SmugMug Daily Community for your support and input. Feel free to leave feedback by clicking on 'Add Comment' below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. The photo of the day will always be in first position. Thank you for looking. - Rustem Safronov & Susan Gilman a.k.a. RuSu. This gallery was started on October 26, 2010.

Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.", so bear with us...
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Old Russian banyas along the river in the village of Vyatskoe. Before the days of indoor plumbing, Russians built steam baths. After the incredibly intense heat (up to 200ºF, 90ºC) people jump in cold water or roll around [naked] in the snow. Russians love their banyas to this day & go to what are often elaborate paid, public banyas. Banya traditions include smothering yourself in honey and/or coffee grounds & being beaten with dried birch branches. These banyas dating from the beginning of the 20th century belong to village residents & are still in use today. (7.2.20111)<br /> <br /> I used Orton & sepia filters to reflect how it might once have been photographed. Hope all American & Canadian Smuggers enjoy their holiday weekends.
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Old Russian banyas along the river in the village of Vyatskoe. Before the days of indoor plumbing, Russians built steam baths. After the incredibly intense heat (up to 200ºF, 90ºC) people jump in cold water or roll around [naked] in the snow. Russians love their banyas to this day & go to what are often elaborate paid, public banyas. Banya traditions include smothering yourself in honey and/or coffee grounds & being beaten with dried birch branches. These banyas dating from the beginning of the 20th century belong to village residents & are still in use today. (7.2.20111)

I used Orton & sepia filters to reflect how it might once have been photographed. Hope all American & Canadian Smuggers enjoy their holiday weekends.

banyarussian banyasteam bathrussian bath houseblack banyabanyas in vyatskoevyatskoe villagerusurusu photography

  • Purple & white lupine detail. A unique multicolored lupine we grew from seeds purchased in the States. Shot vertically, I prefer the horizontal comp. (07.2011)
  • Fiery Lilies (07.2011)
  • The Vanilla Sky restaurant on the Volga River. (7.12.2011)
  • For the car lovers out there, here's a 1960's era Volga in mint condition (Reworked 7.11.2011)
  • Old coal burning samovar spout & handle. (7.10.2011)<br /> <br /> Samovars were traditionally used for boiling water for tea. They're not in use much nowadays having given way to the electric kettle, but this one was used recently to make tea for us. Many old samovars are things of real beauty & one needs permission to take them out of the country. <br /> <br /> Not too inspired on this gloomy Sunday & not thrilled with this shot, but it's what I have.
  • Bike parked alongside a bench in front of an exhibition. Wishing all an enjoyable weekend. (7.9.2011)
  • Out early again to see the hand doctor so it's one from the archives. A Rustem shot of a place he says is one of the most beautiful he's ever visited - wild & relatively uninhabited with stunning scenery. This in the Cape Taran lighthouse in the Koni Peninsula. (Sea of Okhotsk, Russian Far East) Taken in July 2009.<br /> <br /> Thanks for your overwhelming response to my rose & encouraging words. Bit by bit... Have a good Friday. (7.8.2011)
  • Our first rose of the season. (7.7.2011)
  • Whispy-haired woman resting on a park bench. (7.6.2011)
  • I suspect today may be somewhat of a fireworks shootout & there are already some beauties posted, but no fireworks here, so a shot of pickles in the market instead.<br /> <br /> Russians pickle everything. During the days of food shortages, it was a necessity. People used to spend all summer canning & pickling produce grown on small plots of land given them by the government in anticipation of winter. Nowadays imported fruits & veggies are available all year long in the cities [at a price] & many Russian manufacturers produce pickled products, but homegrown are still popular in the markets. The price for these is $1.75/kilo. It's back to work for many you... hope everyone has a good week. (7.5.2011)
  • Spices for sales in our local market. People from all over the former USSR come to Moscow to sell their fruits, vegetables, and spices. These are from present-day Uzbekistan along the ancient Silk Route. (7.4.2011) Enjoy your 4th!
  • Rustem recently attended a conference near his home town of Zlatoust in the southern Urals region & had the opportunity to visit his beloved Lake Turgoyak. Extending more than 2,500km (1500 miles), the Urals are one of the world's oldest mountain ranges and are the dividing line between Europe & Asia. (7.3.2011)
  • Old Russian banyas along the river in the village of Vyatskoe. Before the days of indoor plumbing, Russians built steam baths. After the incredibly intense heat (up to 200ºF, 90ºC) people jump in cold water or roll around [naked] in the snow. Russians love their banyas to this day & go to what are often elaborate paid, public banyas. Banya traditions include smothering yourself in honey and/or coffee grounds & being beaten with dried birch branches. These banyas dating from the beginning of the 20th century belong to village residents & are still in use today. (7.2.20111)<br /> <br /> I used Orton & sepia filters to reflect how it might once have been photographed. Hope all American & Canadian Smuggers enjoy their holiday weekends.
  • Salads as many of us know them are relatively new in Russia. Caesar & Greek salads are now on every menu though they're often overflowing with peppers & stale-prepackaged croutons. Some, such as this, go beyond the usual. This baked feta with greens, sun dried tomatoes, sprouts [hope they weren't from Germany], & pomegranate seeds in a pomegranate dressing was spot-on and delicious. (7.1.2011)
  • Balloon in the evening sun. Taken around 8PM. Not quite "White Nights", but the sun goes down very late here this time of year. (6.30.2011)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments & anniversary wishes yesterday. Have a good day.
  • Rose in an anniversary bouquet in honor of our 20th Anniversary. Thank you Julie, Mark & Joshua. (06.29.2011)
  • Detail of the wallpaper in our hotel room in Yaroslavl. A relatively new hotel, each room in the Cinema Club Hotel is based on a famous Soviet or Russian film. We stayed in the "Twelve Chairs" room where the wallpaper was created from old newspapers & magazines. When I heard of the hotel, I thought it'd be terribly kitschy, but they really pulled it off - our room was lovely & spacious with a beautiful view, and only minutes from the Yaroslavl Kremlin. (6.28.2011)
  • We found Carrie's friends Cheburashka & Gena riding the flower train right in the center of Yaroslavl. They send their regards to their American cousins. (6.27.2011)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments & anniversary wishes on yesterday's shot. Couldn't comment too much as our Internet connection was somewhat unstable. Getting ready to hit the road back to Moscow. Have a good Monday.
  • View from our hotel room in Yaroslavl, Russia. Last year the city celebrated its 1,000th anniversary. We're here celebrating our 20th. Have a great Sunday!
  • Salmon catch. (Cape Nuklya, Russian Far East) (мысе Нюкля, Магаданская область)

  • Photography By Azore

    on August 9, 2011

    Gorgeous Scene, love your creativity..

  • Jean Darveau (darjeau)

    on July 19, 2011

    Awesome capture

  • 100987laurajohnson

    on July 18, 2011

    This has got a really neat look to it.

  • Tom Reichert

    on July 18, 2011

    Wow this is stunning !

  • rdungan

    on July 17, 2011

    Great image and use of PP

  • 349390pitchingwedge33

    on July 17, 2011

    fantastic use of light.....

  • Deborah Irene Glessner

    on July 17, 2011

    Excellent job with the PP

  • JenniferDiFranco

    on July 17, 2011

    this photo makes me feel like I am stepping back in time

  • InOurTime

    on July 17, 2011

    great shot and commentary...

  • Len

    on July 17, 2011

    You have come a long way from your old Besseler enlarger

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