Nizhny Novgorod



Nizhny Novgorod

Name: Mikhail Solunin

Age: 28

Profession: Photographer 

City: Nizhny Novgorod

How long have you been doing photography? What style or genre most interests you? 

About five years. At first, I was only interested in doing photojournalism for mass media and commercial shooting. Now I am more interested in documentary photo stories and personal projects.

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for?

Nizhny Novgorod is located 430 kilometers from Moscow at the point where two of the largest rivers in European Russia: the Oka and the Volga. People call the place where the rivers meet Strelka ("arrow"). This is also the birthplace of famous people like the writer Maxim Gorky, the inventor Ivan Kulibin, the founder of Russian photojournalism Maxim Dmitriev, and the Russian politician and social activist Boris Nemtsov. In the past, Nizhny was famous for its Commercial Fair. Today the city's calling card is its kremlin, and its very modern Aerial Tram line, which spans 3660 meters and crosses the Volga River to the town of Bor. It is the only cable car in Russia or Europe that spans a body of water, in this case the 861 meters of the Volga.

What is something about your city that only locals would know? 

Nizhny Novgorod is perhaps the only city in Russia where Lenin Prospect crosses Ilyich Prospect. The city also has a church located inside a railway car. However, the Church of the Icon of the Reigning Mother of God is stationary and has the address: Ignatiev Brothers 1, kilometer 3.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city?

It is worth visiting the kremlin. Pay for an excursion inside its walls and walk along its perimeter. One should also visit the Chkalovskaya Steps, on Fyodorovsky Embankment, from which there is a wonderful view of the lower part of the city, especially at sunset. Streets to visit include Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, Rozhdestvenskaya, Ilyinskaya.

 



Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955