Russian Pensioners.
Inner Beauty.
In 2015 and 2016 I volunteered for a non-profit organisation in Moscow. One of their programmes is to provide food assistance and support to elderly people. Every week, some Russian pensioners come for a food bag and spend some time socialising around tea and cookies.
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The original aim of the project was to develop a classic one portrait/one story project that would help raise attention and empathy for the annual fundraising event.
It took some time to get to know each other and the day I shot this series, I thought I would be doing some essays. I started to take portraits with a few volunteers, in natural light, against the wall of the parish center where they meet. No extra light, no make-up, no Photoshop of wrinkles, eyes or skin. They chose their attitude, smile or no smile. Some were shy, some very at ease. And it turned out that everyone present was willing to have their portrait shot and enjoyed the session.
The one-portrait/one-story still remains but something larger and unexpected happened. What emerged at the end of the session was a general feeling of having spent a good time together, of pride and self-respect of being photographed. Beauty and dignity radiate through the series.
Everyone was given their portrait. The organisation has the right to use the photographs for any use related to their programmes.
