Photographer Tatiana Vinogradova recently took portraits of gay men in Russia. Pictured here is Anatoly, a 23-year-old from St. Petersburg, in May 2014. The somber mood in the series is reflective of a country that has largely shunned them.
Photographer Tatiana Vinogradova recently took portraits of gay men in Russia. Pictured here is Anatoly, a 23-year-old from St. Petersburg, in May 2014. The somber mood in the series is reflective of a country that has largely shunned them.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"The meaning of life is to live your own life. Not someone else's, not illusory, but full," said Dmitry, 42. "To breathe with two lungs instead of one."
"The meaning of life is to live your own life. Not someone else's, not illusory, but full," said Dmitry, 42. "To breathe with two lungs instead of one."
Tatiana Vinogradova
"My mother's reaction was: 'It is a teenage thing, you'll grow out of it. You simply haven't met the right girl yet.' The most ridiculous thing is I was already 26," said Pavel, 44.
"My mother's reaction was: 'It is a teenage thing, you'll grow out of it. You simply haven't met the right girl yet.' The most ridiculous thing is I was already 26," said Pavel, 44.
Tatiana Vinogradova
Pictured here in Jenya, 25. Vinogradova reached out to LGBT organizations and social networking sites looking for subjects. Many of the responses were rejections, claiming that they saw the importance of her project but weren't ready to come out through a photograph.
Pictured here in Jenya, 25. Vinogradova reached out to LGBT organizations and social networking sites looking for subjects. Many of the responses were rejections, claiming that they saw the importance of her project but weren't ready to come out through a photograph.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"When it came to kissing a girl, I started laughing," said Oleg, 27.
"When it came to kissing a girl, I started laughing," said Oleg, 27.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"When I was 6 years old, I told my mother that I wanted to pierce my ear. She asked again if I really wanted to do it and then did it," said Lesha, 20. "The next day for the first time I heard people calling me a "f-----."
"When I was 6 years old, I told my mother that I wanted to pierce my ear. She asked again if I really wanted to do it and then did it," said Lesha, 20. "The next day for the first time I heard people calling me a "f-----."
Tatiana Vinogradova
"When you say to heterosexuals, 'You are not my sort of guy,' they are surprised," said Artur, 27.
"When you say to heterosexuals, 'You are not my sort of guy,' they are surprised," said Artur, 27.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"I'm trying to prepare myself for loneliness," said Dima, 28. "I don't cherish any illusions about surrogate mothers and mythical children that gays can adopt. I picture a scenario where there is no one to bury me."
"I'm trying to prepare myself for loneliness," said Dima, 28. "I don't cherish any illusions about surrogate mothers and mythical children that gays can adopt. I picture a scenario where there is no one to bury me."
Tatiana Vinogradova
Maxim, 28. "In Russia, only 1% of the gay population dares to live openly," said photographer Tatiana Vinogradova. "That is why the general mood in my work is dark and melancholic. The visual concept mirrors the idea that being gay in Russia is not a rainbow-colored life. In our country, rainbows have some very somber shades."
Maxim, 28. "In Russia, only 1% of the gay population dares to live openly," said photographer Tatiana Vinogradova. "That is why the general mood in my work is dark and melancholic. The visual concept mirrors the idea that being gay in Russia is not a rainbow-colored life. In our country, rainbows have some very somber shades."
Tatiana Vinogradova
These photos were captured over a two-year span, full of men -- like Sasha, 22 -- who were tired of hiding their true selves.
These photos were captured over a two-year span, full of men -- like Sasha, 22 -- who were tired of hiding their true selves.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"Love is like you have a compass inside which points to the north. And the north is this person," said Sergey, 20.
"Love is like you have a compass inside which points to the north. And the north is this person," said Sergey, 20.
Tatiana Vinogradova
"I can judge girls aesthetically, well, kind of like pictures in a museum," said Maxim, 21.
"I can judge girls aesthetically, well, kind of like pictures in a museum," said Maxim, 21.
Tatiana Vinogradova
Misha, 27. "I chose to take poetic, intimate portraits depicting an internal beauty of the characters," Vinogradova said. "And I want people to take just a few minutes to recognize each other's beauty instead of attacking each other for their differences."
Misha, 27. "I chose to take poetic, intimate portraits depicting an internal beauty of the characters," Vinogradova said. "And I want people to take just a few minutes to recognize each other's beauty instead of attacking each other for their differences."
Tatiana Vinogradova
"My grandfather was a very clever and acute person," said Sasha, 26. "I think I was about 9 or 10 years old, I don't remember, but once he asked me directly, 'Are you gay?' I answered like, 'What's a gay?' "
"My grandfather was a very clever and acute person," said Sasha, 26. "I think I was about 9 or 10 years old, I don't remember, but once he asked me directly, 'Are you gay?' I answered like, 'What's a gay?' "
Tatiana Vinogradova
Gay Russians living in the shadows

Story highlights

Tatiana Vingradova took portraits of young gay men in Russia

The somber mood reflects their real-life isolation and loneliness

CNN  — 

When photographer Tatiana Vinogradova set out to document the intolerance toward homosexuality in Russia, her first challenge was finding people willing to be captured on camera.

“Reality has driven the gay community underground,” Vinogradova said. “In Russia, only 1% of the gay population dares to live openly. That is why the general mood in my work is dark and melancholic.

“The visual concept mirrors the idea that being gay in Russia is not a rainbow-colored life. In our country, rainbows have some very somber shades.”

The numbers present a stark reality. Vinogradova read a 2013 survey by the Levada Center that said 74% of Russians did not think homosexuality should be accepted by society. Additionally, it said 16% of Russians thought gay people should be isolated from society, 22% thought they should be forced to undergo treatment and 5% thought they should be “liquidated.”

Photographer Tatiana Vinogradova
Photographer Tatiana Vinogradova
Tatiana Vinogradova

Unable to stay indifferent about this intolerance, Vinogradova wanted to use her camera as a way to promote human rights and advocate for social change. She reached out to LGBT organizations and social networking sites looking for subjects.

Many of the responses were rejections, claiming that they saw the importance of her project but weren’t ready to come out through a photograph.

Not everyone had the same reaction, however, and Vinogradova was able to begin her project. Using natural light, she was able to reflect their inner isolation and loneliness.

Before taking their photographs, Vinogradova would have conversations with her subjects and a personal story emerged for each one: “About rejection by their parents and intolerance from society, about coming out and accepting themselves as gay, about loneliness and fears, about their dreams and love,” she said.

The photos in her project, “Melancholy Days,” were captured over a two-year span, full of men who were tired of hiding their true selves.

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    Vinogradova still doesn’t understand why they are so ostracized by society. But she does believe that portraits have power.

    “I chose to take poetic, intimate portraits depicting an internal beauty of the characters,” she said. “And I want people to take just a few minutes to recognize each other’s beauty instead of attacking each other for their differences.”

    Vinogradova started photography three years ago. It gives her creative fulfillment while also immortalizing moments and emotions that she wants to share with others.

    Currently, Vinogradova is working on more portrait series.

    “For me, portraiture is the hardest and the same time, most mysterious genre,” she said. “It invites the viewer to study another person with an immediacy that could never be experienced in real life without embarrassment. Also, it describes how venturous and curious you are. You’re face to face with somebody and there is no escaping.”

    Tatiana Vinogradova is a photographer based in Russia. You can follow her on Facebook.