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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Ice maze under Lenin in Chelyabinsk. (12.29.2011)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your [undeserved] comments yesterday - looked at it on another computer this A.M. & was really upset by how bad it was - yikes!<br /> <br /> Just back from my last shopping of the year - what a nightmare! Unbelievably crowded at the supermarket & the prices were more obscene than usual - you don't even want to know my grocery bill, though they still keep the price of vodka low. Meanwhile our expensive Danish holiday tree has become petrified - just a bad day all around. Hope you're having a good one. <br /> <br /> FYI, Moscow has dropped from the #1 most expensive city in the world to #4. To give you some perspective London's at #18 & NYC at #32.
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Ice maze under Lenin in Chelyabinsk. (12.29.2011)

Thanks for your [undeserved] comments yesterday - looked at it on another computer this A.M. & was really upset by how bad it was - yikes!

Just back from my last shopping of the year - what a nightmare! Unbelievably crowded at the supermarket & the prices were more obscene than usual - you don't even want to know my grocery bill, though they still keep the price of vodka low. Meanwhile our expensive Danish holiday tree has become petrified - just a bad day all around. Hope you're having a good one.

FYI, Moscow has dropped from the #1 most expensive city in the world to #4. To give you some perspective London's at #18 & NYC at #32.

ice mazeLeninChelyabinskRussian winter mazerusurusu photography

  • Laughing Kyrgyz boy in a blue sweater. (2.5.2012)
  • Migrant worker in front of housing she & others are building on the outskirts of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (2.4.2012)
  • Old New York? (2.3.2012)<br /> <br /> Couldn't quite meet Kim's challenge, so this is the compromised challenge shot. The shot is one Rustem took in NYC during his November trip, that I processed. I do all the processing anyway, but haven't gotten to NYC yet. Processing certainly is not my forte, so for what it's worth...
  • Barcelona rooftops. (2.2.2012)<br /> <br /> Thanks for yesterday's welcome & comments - much appreciated.
  • Yes, I've been MIA [again]. Have been very busy of late & don't like to post knowing I haven't time to comment. Wanted to get back on track this month, so here's one of construction workers at Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. (2.1.2012)
  • Advice sought... (1.16.2012)<br /> <br /> A late post for me as I'm really pressed for time. Hadn't planned on posting since I really haven't time to comment either, but I could use some advice... <br /> <br /> A company wrote requesting 'use' of this shot on the cover of a report they're preparing for USAid. It's certainly not one of our better shots but, I suppose it demonstrates a point they're trying to make. <br /> <br /> It may not be one of our faves, but they want/need it & my gut instinct says that they should be charged a fee for usage. I would really appreciate your input as to whether you agree re: payment & if so, suggestions re: the amount. After all, who better to ask than such a great group of photographers! Thanks!<br /> <br /> BTW, the shot was taken at the Kambileevskoe refugee camp in North Ossetia. Other shots from the series are here:<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.rusuphotography.com/Russia-Redux/North-Ossetia/17301917_6W77gX#!i=1313586759&k=fJkXR9M">http://www.rusuphotography.com/Russia-Redux/North-Ossetia/17301917_6W77gX#!i=1313586759&k=fJkXR9M</a>
  • Bar man reading newspaper. (1.12.2012)
  • Steps along the Tiber. (1.11.2012)<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments yesterday - such a nice welcome back.
  • Russian Christmas in Rome. (1.10.2012)<br /> <br /> Back from our whirlwind trip to Rome. On Orthodox Christmas (January 7th) we had dinner with a couple of the other Visa winners including this young boy, Semyon, who enjoyed setting off sparklers in honor of the holiday. <br /> <br /> Hope everyone had a good week. Will try to catch up in the coming days. It's back to work time here - somehow it doesn't feel as if we've had 10 days off...
  • Fairytale cottage on Turner’s Beach, Antigua. (1.3.2012)<br /> <br /> Obviously one from the archives (from one extreme to another), but had to post something just to express our thanks for the overwhelming response to yesterday's shot. Very much appreciated! Will check in if/when we can. Have a good week
  • Frozen Tobolsk Kremlin. (1.2.2012)<br /> <br /> Off to Rome tomorrow afternoon so may be MIA the rest of the week. Hope everyone's enjoyed their holidays & renewed for a fresh start to 2012.
  • A sweet New Year. (12.31.2011)<br /> <br /> Wishing everyone a sweet New Year & all the best in 2012! May it be a year filled with health, happiness, prosperity, fulfillment...and lots of shooting. Thank you members of the Daily Community for your comments, feedback, and friendship. Look forward to seeing more of your work in the coming year. <br /> <br /> BTW, this is a cake I bought for dessert as too many of my homemade goodies got wiped out at Christmas. Cooking two ducks based on a recipe from a famous old Moscow restaurant, Praga. Wanting to celebrate Rustem's holiday while in the USA, I picked up the recipe from a U.S. based magazine called "Russian Life" - it's been our family tradition ever since. Happy New Year!
  • Rustem checking out a replacement tree this morning. (12.30.2011)<br /> <br /> Considering our tree has to last until at least January 10th, we went & bought a replacement for our already dried-out one. This time we bought a Russian tree, which is about 1/2 the price of the imported Danish trees. They always have a bit of a Charlie Brown-ish feel to them with trunks about as thick as my arm, but couldn't see spending so much a 2nd time. Now the work begins dismantling the old & putting up the new - needles everywhere. North Americans should be grateful to Christmas tree farmers who invariably deliver beautifully formed, full trees. <br /> <br /> As for Moscow being so expensive, believe it or not, many Russians, at least in Moscow where the average monthly wage has now reached $1500/month, have more disposable income than many Westerners. Most don't have mortgages & utilities are still relatively cheap. People spend more than 70% of their income on food & clothing. Additionally, Russians have a 'live for today' mentality & few think about their future or retirement, partially because many saw their life savings disappear with the fall of the USSR. Sadly, the majority of the country's capital is in Moscow & even in Moscow retirees receive as little as $200/month. How do they survive? Bread, potatoes & cabbage all of which are quite cheap. <br /> <br /> Hope to catch up on commenting late this evening. Have a good one!
  • Ice maze under Lenin in Chelyabinsk. (12.29.2011)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your [undeserved] comments yesterday - looked at it on another computer this A.M. & was really upset by how bad it was - yikes!<br /> <br /> Just back from my last shopping of the year - what a nightmare! Unbelievably crowded at the supermarket & the prices were more obscene than usual - you don't even want to know my grocery bill, though they still keep the price of vodka low. Meanwhile our expensive Danish holiday tree has become petrified - just a bad day all around. Hope you're having a good one. <br /> <br /> FYI, Moscow has dropped from the #1 most expensive city in the world to #4. To give you some perspective London's at #18 & NYC at #32.
  • Happy New Year [Russia]! (12.28.2011)<br /> <br /> Just can't seem to get a decent shot today maybe because my ever- expanding 'to do' list has me distracted. Saw an article on NPR's blog about Russian New Year (link below), so thought I'd show you how even New Year's can become a national or nationalistic event. :-) This ornament says, Happy New Year Russia. In anticipation of the New Year, we wish all our friends around the world, a happy & healthy one.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/27/144326826/for-russians-new-years-eve-remains-the-super-holiday?ft=1&f=1001">http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/27/144326826/for-russians-new-years-eve-remains-the-super-holiday?ft=1&f=1001</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments & feedback yesterday.
  • View of Manhattan while descending the elevator at Apple's Fifth Avenue store. (12.27.2011)<br /> <br /> One of those indecisive days. Couldn't decide which version to go. Finally decided on realism. If you have a moment, always appreciate your thoughts on other versions which are here:<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.rusuphotography.com/Photography/Variations-on-a-Theme/18559088_cWvQGk#1646950748_5JbNRDF">http://www.rusuphotography.com/Photography/Variations-on-a-Theme/18559088_cWvQGk#1646950748_5JbNRDF</a>
  • Big brother is watching. (12.26.2011)<br /> <br /> Hope everyone had a memorable Christmas yesterday. We had guests so today's been a clean up day. Though our holidays have yet to begin, I already feel holiday'd out, so here's a shot from Rustem's recent trip to NYC. This is the lobby of the Grand Hyatt at Grand Central following their recent renovation. I suspect this is supposed to represent everyman, but, to me, it has a big brother-ish feel. <br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments on The Little Snow Maiden yesterday. She's a Russian character I adore. Hope you're having a relaxing day today.
  • The little Snow Maiden ~ Snegurochka. (12.25.2011)<br /> <br /> Santa, known as Grandfather Frost here, doesn't have elves to help him deliver presents. Instead, he & his grand-daughter, Snegurochka (from the word for snow) ride in a horse drawn sleigh delivering presents on December 31st. <br /> <br /> Snegurochka originated in a Russian fairy-tale in which a childless, elderly couple build a snow girl who comes alive and is known as The Snow Maiden. Sadly, in true tragic Russian form, Snegurochka melts & turns into a white cloud in the Spring.<br /> <br /> If interested, you can find the tale of Snegurochka in English courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh here:<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/tales/snow_maiden.html">http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/tales/snow_maiden.html</a><br /> <br /> I hope Santa fulfilled the dreams of all good boys & girls & that the joy of Christmas remains with you & yours throughout the coming year. Merry Christmas to all!
  • A gift from Visa - we'll be off to Rome! (12.24.2011)<br /> <br /> We didn't enter nor have any knowledge of this Visa sponsored contest - just kept using the card, but it's now been confirmed that Rustem's won a trip for two to Rome. We take off on January 3rd for 4 nights at The Savoy. Not a bad holiday present :) Thank you Visa International!<br /> <br /> Wondering about the dates? Well, Russia basically shuts down from December 31st to January 10th. New Year's Eve is like Christmas - a family event typically spent at home watching holiday classics on TV. January 7th is Orthodox Christmas, now a State holiday. January 13th is old Russian New Year [by the Gregorian calendar] &, though most people celebrate the Old New Year, it's a work day none-the-less. <br /> <br /> Many of you know this was a tough year for us so I hope our trip to Rome sets the tone for 2012! <br /> <br /> Merry Christmas to all! May your Christmas be magical.
  • A somewhat different take on the holidays. (12.23.2011) <br /> <br /> Almost twenty years ago to the day, the USSR was dissolved. For some it was a triumph, for others a tragedy. Certainly it changed the lives of millions; for some better, for some worse. You may know that Marx considered religion, "the opium of the people", and during the Soviet period thousands of churches, temples and mosques were destroyed or used as dormitories or even granaries. Religious holidays were not celebrated by any confession. New Year's became the dominate holiday & people of all faiths put up 'yolkes' (fir trees) to celebrate the New Year. And what did they put on their trees? Well, amongst other more traditional ornaments, the hammer & sickle, of course :)<br /> <br /> New Year's is still the most important holiday and to this day, people of all faiths put up trees. Ours is now up in honor of the New Year, but since it looks like a Christmas tree, I thought I'd post it today. The hammer & sickle ornament is from Rustem's childhood & I just can't deny him his childhood memories. The little snowman was made for me this year by Liza, the little girl whose photo I posted earlier this month.<br /> <br /> I certainly hope no one takes offense. Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season & all the best in the coming year.

  • indigostudios

    on January 1, 2012

    El Jay would love this maze!

  • Julie

    on December 31, 2011

    Ice maze? That is so cool.

  • nelli

    on December 30, 2011

    WOW!! Most beautiful!!

  • Tom Reichert

    on December 30, 2011

    Looks like fun !

  • Douglas Sandquist Photography

    on December 30, 2011

    Cool capture... and sorry about your day! tomorrow will be better than today.

  • dinglepeninsula

    on December 30, 2011

    Well done

  • Gene Hyder

    on December 30, 2011

    Cool shot.

  • fotoeffects

    on December 30, 2011

    Great shot; so interesting. I had no idea Moscow was so EXPENSIVE!

  • Amy Spencer

    on December 30, 2011

    Wonderful image!

  • Donna McCommon

    on December 30, 2011

    Cool ice maze.

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