Without pity. Experts appreciated the work of the blind photographer. How a blind photographer sees his work

30.04.2019

We have forgotten how to be surprised

In all languages, there is such a figure of speech as an oxymoron - a combination of the incongruous. That which cannot be. For example, in the titles of books and films, oxymorons can be found very often: "Dead Souls", "An Ordinary Miracle", "Back to the Future". Poets are very fond of constructing oxymorons.

They also meet in life. But still less often than in the field of art. For example, in Moscow, at the Center for Photography. Lumiere brothers, an exhibition of works by a blind photographer has opened. Sounds like the pampering of a rhymer. But no!

In a modern world spoiled by gadgets and wonders, people have lost the habit of being surprised. Many do not even stop near street magicians. And even past a bearded woman - they will pass, they will not turn around. But a blind photographer is still a miracle of such a level, which you cannot pass dispassionately.

And, of course, any person will ask the question: how does he shoot? Camera snaps randomly? And then sighted people choose something more or less digestible from the whole heap of filmed nonsense? Actually, there were no other options. Therefore, the author of these lines went to the opening of the exhibition "Beyond the Horizon" with considerable skepticism.

But, of course, the truth turned out to be more complicated and interesting.

The artist in the fog

First, it turns out that Alexander Zhuravlev is not completely blind. He retained 2% of his vision. Any visitor to the exhibition can understand what it is like for him. There is a stand in the hall with Gear VR virtual glasses. “If you put them on, you will understand how Alexander Zhuravlev sees,” says the young man at the stand.

I put it on. And I plunge into the fog - thick, gray. And only somewhere there, it is not clear where, some bright spot. But any fog (except perhaps very much Stevenking's) can disperse the wind. And Alexander, it turns out, lives in this fog. From 11 years old. And now he is in his forties.

Alexander took his pictures while traveling in the mountainous Urals - in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Yekaterinburg director Ivan Sosnin made a small but very beautiful film about this trip. And his beloved dog Umka was a constant and reliable companion of Alexander in mountain hikes. Which, unfortunately, you can't take to the exhibition in Moscow.

Aggravation of feelings

“Like any visually impaired person, I have exacerbated other senses, - Alexander Zhuravlev admits. - Thanks to them, I choose a composition for my pictures.”

One of the main senses is touch. Literally focusing on the sensations of his fingertips, Alexander made one of his most spectacular photographs in the Chelyabinsk region, on Lake Sugomak. It was inspired by the rubbing of spikelets swaying in the wind on the hands of the photographer.

Smell is also important. Alexander recalls how, in the same Chelyabinsk region, he came out of an abandoned mine, and fresh air literally hit his face. A photographer photographed this freshness. However, he was guided not only by the sense of smell, but also by hearing - because the leaves rustled.

And on the set in an abandoned mine, the blind photographer was guided by the sound of melting water and by the heat - the deeper the dive, the warmer.

Alexander focuses on the sensations of the ground under his feet, and on feelings that are generally unknown to a sighted person. Alexander Zhuravlev knows that a person has not five or even six feelings. And a lot more.

Alexander admitted to the Sputnik correspondent that he traveled not only in the mountainous Urals. He had a chance to wander around both Poland and India. Where he will go next time - he does not know yet. Maybe it depends on who's inviting.

A matter of technology

Of course, in many ways, the creation of these unique photos is a matter of technology. The technique is really high quality, responsive and smart. The smartphone with which the pictures were taken adjusted the sharpness itself and chose the shooting mode.

The exhibition of Alexander Zhuravlev will run until April 9. Samsung, the White Cane movement and the Shazam service helped to organize it.

You must see the exhibition. And not so much for the sake of the photographs themselves, as for understanding that there are no hopeless situations. That even a person who is deprived of sight is capable of much. That even if an irreparable misfortune happened to you, this is not a reason to give up.

And Alexander also talked about how many opportunities were given to people - everyone, including him. And he called on everyone to make fuller use of these opportunities - today, tomorrow. Now.

Recently, a short documentary film "Beyond the Horizon" appeared on the network - the story of Alexander Zhuravlev from Yekaterinburg, who lost his sight, but not love for life. He travels the country with his guide dog Umka and takes photographs. Next week at the Moscow Center for Photography. Lumiere brothers will open an exhibition of his works. The film appeared on the Internet just when Renata Litvinova and Vladimir Pozner apologized to the one-legged dancer, and the country learned that the singer in a wheelchair would go to Eurovision from Russia. “Nobody thinks about how she sings anymore. Everyone talks only about disability, ”wrote journalist Jan Shenkman. We took his words into service and asked experts - Yekaterinburg curators and photographers - to evaluate the photographs of Alexander Zhuravlev, without telling them that they were taken by a blind person.

Georgy Sapozhnikov, photographer, ZOOM ZOOM FAMILY

I liked some of the photos. In fact, the watercolor landscape is quite simple, but it has something in it. These are the notes of a naturalist traveler in a classic style. They evoke associations with illustrations from magazines of the 90s.

Photo: Alexander Zhuravlev / Samsung.com/ru/horizon/d

Sergey Poteryaev, artist working with photography, curator of the photographic museum "Metenkov's House"

I liked the two photos, but it's hard to understand something when looking at the scattered shots. Behind a single shot, I do not see the work of the author's head and heart. It is not difficult to shoot a separate beautiful frame. Cameras are fast, and Photoshop will bring the picture to mind. I would like to see the folded history, while I do not see it.

A photo:

Marina Alvitr, founder of Alvitr Gallery

Photos are similar to a large number of pictures that can be seen on stocks. They have no originality, no new look. I don't see any idea in them. We can say that this is travel photography. The author is not original, but visually pleasing. This is a good wallpaper for your desktop, but nothing more. Such pictures can be seen on upside-down calendars that are sold at Rospechat and usually hang in the accounting departments of enterprises.

A photo: Alexander Zhuravlev / Samsung.com/ru/horizon/d

Sergey Preobrazhensky, photography teacher and creator of the PHOTOTRIP project

I have already seen these photos on the Internet: they are memorable and simply recognizable. In fact, the work is simple, there are many such pictures on the network, on instagram. Moreover, in some incomprehensible way, they are very trendy. I suspect that someone is helping the main author process them.

A photo: Alexander Zhuravlev / Samsung.com/ru/horizon/d

Artem Berkovich, curator of the Center for Photography "Mart"

In my opinion, this is more of a traveler with a camera in hand than a bright independent creative person who can be called an artist. It’s like a memory record of a person who managed to find himself in some undoubtedly interesting places and see natural phenomena that not everyone will see. He tried to take away his impressions with the help of a camera, which in itself is neither good nor bad.

Of course, these are not works that make sense to exhibit in galleries or art museums. I think that the author has no such ambitions. At travel photography contests, these pictures also hardly have a chance of success, because they are too simple, they do not have really bright showiness and expressiveness that would allow them to be the best in this genre.

A photo: Alexander Zhuravlev / Samsung.com/ru/horizon/d

Ivan Sosnin, director of the film "Over the Horizon"

Alexander's limited vision definitely affects the assessment of people around. After all, people perceive Sasha's creative activity in the context of his ability to see, which is why such a stir. The value of these pictures is not so much in the beauty of the image as in the background - in overcoming. These are not even photographs, but a kind of "performance" that you pass through yourself.

A photo: Alexander Zhuravlev / Samsung.com/ru/horizon/d

Is it possible to take a photo if you rely only on your inner sensations and not on your eyesight? Photographer Alexander Zhuravlev is sure that yes. Alexander lost 98% of his sight when he was 11 years old. Since then, he sees only forms, contours, distinguishes between light and darkness.

“When my eyesight dropped, my senses such as hearing, touch, smell, taste, and inner sensations such as intuition immediately sharpened. These are my main tools, "he said in an interview with RT.

Alexander Zhuravlev

According to Alexander, he had never planned to become a photographer before, but then began to travel. He liked to conquer the peaks and experience vivid sensations. At some point, the traveler wanted to share his impressions. Then he tried to photograph his feelings on the phone.

“Since I used to have one hundred percent vision, when shooting this vision I transfer to the present moment. Sometimes I have such feelings that I forget that I am blind. This vision of integrity allows me to photograph. I still have the colors. I see forms. Maybe not as clearly as before, but I picture them more clearly in my head. I try to feel the perspective from the inside. My vision initially comes from within, ”said the blind photographer.

After all the frames during the trip have been filmed, friends help Alexander Zhuravlev to select the most interesting ones. Moreover, it gives him a separate pleasure to feel what emotions a photo evokes in other people. Very often they do not coincide with what he felt at the time of the shooting.

Willpower and desire to live

The photographer said that it was not easy for him to overcome himself, overcome his fear and go first for a walk, then on a hike, moving further and further from home. His childhood memories helped him.

“Since childhood, my parents taught me that I need to continue to study, I need to continue to live,” he explained. In his opinion, fear cannot be overcome without taking a step forward. It was with such small steps that he began his journey.

Alexander Zhuravlev

“I started traveling. First locally, in the Ural region, since I myself am from there. My friends and relatives live there. Then we began to travel with friends outside the Urals. I also traveled with other visually impaired people - by train, by bus, on foot, ”said Alexander, who now lives in Yekaterinburg. The 30-year-old photographer has already visited Poland and India.

Further, he has not yet made plans, but in the near future, it may be possible to visit Vladivostok. “There is a desire to visit every continent. Feel the difference between people, nations, cultures, climate, capture and convey, ”added the photographer.

"Don't be afraid to try"

Alexander Zhuravlev realized that, despite his incomplete vision, he can show people the beauty of this world, he can give them an example of courage, and this means a lot to him.

“I believe that the Lord takes something, but gives something more. I realized that, despite my disability, I can bring light and goodness to people. I really enjoy interacting with people, helping them, ”he said.

Alexander Zhuravlev

Alexander was once able to overcome his fear and now shares with people what he went through, inspiring others to courageous deeds.

“In the world in which we live, it is often scary, it is very difficult. This fear is inside, it holds back, it will never give development. After all, there are a lot of healthy people who are afraid. This is overcome by experience. It was very scary to step forward, it is scary even now. But I understand that without taking a step, nothing will be done, ”said the blind traveler photographer.

This is the main task of his work - to show people that there is always a way out, you just need to go forward and not give up.

“I like to inform people: do not be afraid to try, change in something, rebuild somewhere. The habit of life, stereotypes, public opinion, habitual living conditions, rooms, apartments, bad habits, bottles, cigarettes, drugs - they do not give breadth, ”he stressed.

Alexander promised that he would continue to “walk this road, do good and bring light, be fearless”.

"Over the horizon"

The creativity of Alexander Zhuravlev is supported by the White Cane Charitable Society, which helps the blind. Within the framework of the project "Beyond the Horizon", the traveler's photo was brought to an exhibition in Moscow. On it you can also watch a documentary film by Ivan Sosnin about Alexander Zhuravlev.

The young director told RT that the tape was filmed in the Urals mountains, since Ivan is also from Yekaterinburg. It was not an easy job for the entire film crew. They had to climb in a 30-degree frost.

“Filming lasted three days. We climbed the mountains together, filmed. It was hard, but Alexander was always smiling, not discouraged and was an example for all of us, ”he explained.

Alexander Zhuravlev

According to the film's producer Yana Shmaylova, if not for Alexander, many would simply not have survived the ascent. But everyone was ashamed to complain when they saw the courage with which a blind person overcomes difficulties.

“He was an example for all of us. Looking at him, no one complained. Everyone just went ahead. He was the engine of the process. The team consisted of 15-20 people. There were eight people in the difficult part. For one of the parts of the film, we climbed the mountains for three hours, filmed at the top for 20 minutes and went back two hours, ”she said.

According to the filmmakers, the film received a great response from the audience, Internet users thank Alexander for his courage and example of fortitude.

An exhibition of the blind photographer Alexander Zhuravlev is taking place in Moscow. In an exclusive interview with RT, he said that he was filming his feelings and impressions, and not any particular scene. According to Zhuravlev, he focuses on other senses - hearing, smell and even intuition. He began to photograph while traveling: he managed to visit many regions of Russia and abroad.

“When my eyesight dropped, my senses such as hearing, touch, smell, taste, and inner sensations such as intuition immediately sharpened. These are my main tools, "he said in an interview with RT.

“Since I used to have one hundred percent vision, when shooting this vision I transfer to the present moment. Sometimes I have such feelings that I forget that I am blind. This vision of integrity allows me to photograph. I still have the colors. I see forms. Maybe not as clearly as before, but I picture them more clearly in my head. I try to feel the perspective from the inside. My vision initially comes from within, ”said the blind photographer.

Willpower and desire to live

"Don't be afraid to try"

Alexander Zhuravlev realized that, despite his incomplete vision, he can show people the beauty of this world, he can give them an example of courage, and this means a lot to him.

Alexander was once able to overcome his fear and now shares with people what he went through, inspiring others to courageous deeds.

“In the world in which we live, it is often scary, it is very difficult. This fear is inside, it holds back, it will never give development. After all, there are a lot of healthy people who are afraid. This is overcome by experience. It was very scary to step forward, it is scary even now. But I understand that without taking a step, nothing will be done, ”said the blind traveler photographer.

This is the main task of his work - to show people that there is always a way out, you just need to go forward and not give up.

Alexander promised that he would continue to “walk this road, do good and bring light, be fearless”.

"Over the horizon"

“Filming lasted three days. We climbed the mountains together, filmed. It was hard, but Alexander was always smiling, not discouraged and was an example for all of us, ”he explained.

According to the film's producer Yana Shumaylova, if not for Alexander, many would simply not have survived the ascent. But everyone was ashamed to complain when they saw the courage with which a blind person overcomes difficulties.

According to the filmmakers, the film received a great response from the audience, Internet users thank Alexander for his courage and example of fortitude.

Director from Sverdlovsk Ivan Sosnin shot a documentary about the almost blind traveler Alexander Zhuravlev. The video is part of a large-scale project “For the Horizon”, which was launched by Samsung and the Cheil Russia advertising agency in cooperation with the White Cane Charitable Foundation.

Alexander Zhuravlev is 30 years old, he became blind as a child, and now he retains only 2% of the ability to see. “I went blind at the age of 11 - my residual vision is only 2% out of 100. This is very little and at the same time a lot. I see the sound of the wind, the crunch of snow. I see the horizon and I go to it, ”says Alexander in the video.

Several years ago Alexander decided that he did not want to consider himself an invalid and would not become one. The man began to actively travel independently, mastered alpine skiing and, finally, began to photograph.

Alexander Zhuravlev

The idea of \u200b\u200bthe project belongs to Ivan Sosnin. The young man said that at the end of the month an 8-minute documentary film will appear, which will include an interview with the traveler, and on March 23, an exhibition of photographs that Alexander took during his travels will open in Moscow.

“The most difficult thing in this world is to see your capabilities. They are all already in you. They surround you everywhere. Anyone who sees at least the horizon line can already step beyond it. "

Pictures of the blind traveler have already been exposed for sale . INall the proceeds will go to help blind people. The Beyond the Horizon website has a section called Inner Vision, where you can see how a person with very poor eyesight sees.

The filming took place in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Director Ivan Sosnin said that from next week this video will be shown on the largest screen in Europe, which is located in Moscow - on the building of the Research Institute of Hydroproject.

“Alexander is a very optimistic and bright person, he traveled to India, lived in Poland - he was everywhere. He has a very positive attitude towards everything and believes that everything is no coincidence. He says that he lost his sight, but found something much more. "