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

A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Murder and the Muse

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

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.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

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.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

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.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.

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