The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
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July 2015 back issue
by Denis Tarasov
Historically, most cities and towns in the Urals (Russia) have grown around a factory or factories. The life of these
places and their inhabitants depends upon the life of the factory.
Anna – 14 years, lives in an apartment house in the working residential district of the city. She will work at the plant or
in other enterprises accompanying the plant – this is the only future her city has to offer her.
Anna takes dancing lessons at the local club.
Polevskoy plant produces the raw materials for the production of aluminum. On the river flowing through the city of
Polevskoy, five dams forming artificial reservoirs, have been constructed to provide the plant with water.
Anna near a closed gate.
River near factory polluted with copper and acid residues and surrounded by dead vegetation.
Parents photograph their children after a performance in the local club.
Portraits of the plant’s best workers on a wall of the sports hall. Inscription: "I am proud of the metallurgist's profession".
Anna near her house.
Ruined buildings around an old, flooded, copper mine which was fully working during the time of the old USSR.
Death of nature around the factory as a result of acid and copper.
Anna playing in the river flowing through the city of Polevskoy.
One of five dams on the river flowing through the city of Polevskoy.
Dead fish in one of the plant’s artificial resevoirs.
Elk statue in the grounds of the plant.
Melting of steel at the metal-plant in the city of Polevskoy.
Anna near one of the dams.
A female cleaner at the night club.
The plant.
In the nightclub.
Anna near the plant.
Anna through the gate.
