IRON
The project calls "IRON", which means "Ossetian" in Ossetia, but it also has English meaning of metal. And this is the most accurate definition. I travel through the mountains of North Ossetia 5 years and take pictures of local dwellers that still save their authentic lifestyle. They live the same way as their ancestors: on the slopes of the mountains, in harsh conditions of the Caucasus, deliberately moving away from comfort of civilization.
Victor Ambalov
94 years old
Village: Verhniy Ursdon
Story:He is the only permanent dweller of Verhniy Ursdon village. He lives life of hermit about 60 years. Victor is engaged in agriculture: sheep grazing. He honors traditions of his people, knows their history and epos very well. In 2007 there was a documentary about Victor titled "Ursdon: The territory of loneliness"
94 years old
Village: Verhniy Ursdon
Story:He is the only permanent dweller of Verhniy Ursdon village. He lives life of hermit about 60 years. Victor is engaged in agriculture: sheep grazing. He honors traditions of his people, knows their history and epos very well. In 2007 there was a documentary about Victor titled "Ursdon: The territory of loneliness"
Ramazan Tokaev
79 years old
Village: Dargavs
Story:
All his life he has lived in Dargavs village with his wife. He leads a traditional lifestyle for Ossetian highlanders. Ramazan is engaged in agriculture and doesn't go away from the village
79 years old
Village: Dargavs
Story:
All his life he has lived in Dargavs village with his wife. He leads a traditional lifestyle for Ossetian highlanders. Ramazan is engaged in agriculture and doesn't go away from the village
Irbek Totraev
79 years old
Village: Verhniy Koban
Story:
I met him accidentally, in half-empty village, in two kilometers from Gizeldon Hydroelectric power station which was built in 1927 - one of the oldest power stations in Russia. He is not communicative, but understanding, so he let me take these photos.
79 years old
Village: Verhniy Koban
Story:
I met him accidentally, in half-empty village, in two kilometers from Gizeldon Hydroelectric power station which was built in 1927 - one of the oldest power stations in Russia. He is not communicative, but understanding, so he let me take these photos.
Taymuraz Ballayev
88 years old
Village: Jimara
Story:
He is a permanent dweller of Jimara village. Easygoing and open-hearted. Taymuraz is engaged in agriculture and lives alone. Through all his life he has been in town (Vladikavkaz) only two times. He refuses his relatives' requests to move from the village. Likes hunting.
88 years old
Village: Jimara
Story:
He is a permanent dweller of Jimara village. Easygoing and open-hearted. Taymuraz is engaged in agriculture and lives alone. Through all his life he has been in town (Vladikavkaz) only two times. He refuses his relatives' requests to move from the village. Likes hunting.
My first personal project, which I continue to work on since 2012. It tells about my homeland, people and their traditions. Thanks to everybody who's been supporting me, thanks to Esquire Russia redaction for the opportunity to share a part of this big story. Esquire inspired me since day one and I'm very glad to see my project on the pages of the magazine that was a standard of portrait and genre photography for me.
