A Model Problem-Solver

Ufa janitor Yuri, working it for the camera. Roman Philippov

Photography, it seems, has a very practical use. In the case of Ufa janitor "Yura," a modeling session helped him get rid of his 500,000-ruble debt (about $6800).

Yura, a local "dvornik" with a mild mental disability, recently fell on hard times when he accepted cash from a group of swindlers trying to take his apartment. They offered 500,000 rubles as a "loan" to disabled persons, placing Yura in debt that would be impossible to pay off.

Fortunately, a friend of his organized a professional-style photo-shoot to help him out. With the help of the images, not only did he get comments that he looks like Matthew McConaughey; he also received 657,000 rubles (about $8900) to help get him back on his feet.

Such a story is great for warming the heart even in the midst of a Russian winter.

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