Saratov



Saratov

Name: Elena Kotova

Age: 38

Profession: Artist, photographer

City: Saratov

How long have you been photographing? What sort of photography most interests you? I became interested in photography when I was 18, while studying in art school. I surrendered to the influence of a girlfriend and began visiting a photo studio. Photography has allowed me to be more free in my compositions than in classical painting. I began by shooting on a Zenit-E, which I borrowed along with some expired film. After my studies I found work in the oldest and best known photo salon in Saratov. There I was able to work in various genres and learn every stage in the creation of an image. I photographed in wide and medium format film, developed, retouched, and printed, all by hand.

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for? Saratov is on the right bank of the river Volga. The name has Turkic origins and translates as "Yellow Mountain." But there are no mountains here, just hills, which have their own names: Falcon's Mountain, Bald Mountain, Cherry Mountain... The city's crest has three sterlet on it. These are fish of the sturgeon family, which previously were rather numerous in the Volga.

What are some things that only locals would know about the city? 

Not far from Saratov is the place where Yuri Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut, came back to Earth.

Almost every resident of Saratov has a dacha – in the city, on its outskirts, or on the Volga. It is a very small piece of land with a summer house. We live in our dachas all summer, raising berries, vegetables and fruits... to get ready for the long winter. Anyone who does not have a dacha, but has a boat, spends the summer in a tent on islands in the middle of the Volga. They catch fish, then salt and dry them. Dried vobla is a favorite appetizer to eat with beer.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city? One must visit Kirov Prospect, the city's main pedestrian street. Or stroll in the evening along Cosmonaut's Embankment. You can also rent a boat and sail in the channels between the Volga islands.

Instagram: @kotofotova

 



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

Some of our Books

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

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.

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.

 
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.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

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