Kirill umrikhin photographer. Photos of rare beauty of nature. The main thing is to be ready

This young photographer has definitely taken a unique niche in the world. professional photography: Cyril does not just shoot athletes, he is interested in extreme, or, as he himself says, active sports, mainly those in which boards are involved. Apparently, therefore, his photographs are difficult to confuse with anyone else.

Please tell us how you discovered the world of photography and how long ago did you start taking photographs?
I started shooting back in school years... I liked drawing, I studied at an art school, but I lacked perseverance and patience. Photography embodied my ideas much faster.

In about 10-11 grade, I firmly decided that I wanted to become a photographer. After graduating from school, I went to study at the Institute of Journalism and Literary Creativity at the department of photojournalism, and I must pay tribute, there they gave me not only the right education, but also the opportunity and time to do my work and what I loved.

Have you studied photography on your own or professionally?
Teaching photography is a rather conventional thing, it is difficult to teach it. Learning must take place within each person. It takes a lot of time to learn anything. I promised myself that every day I will spend 2-3 hours on my work; I used to spend a lot more time.

From the first year I worked in the editorial office of the snowboard magazine Onboard, and in the third year I became the chief photographer and photo editor of Mountain Bike Action magazine about mountain bikes. I was also very lucky: in my life there have been and are happening various meetings with people who shared their experiences. This is much more important than regular training. Personally, I would like to mention Vitalik Mikhailov and Nikita Morozov, who explained a lot to me in snowboard photography, and the travel photography guru in Russia, the chief photographer of National Geographic in our country, Andrey Kamenev. These people helped me a lot in my development as a photographer.

How did you get the idea to photograph extreme sports?
Since childhood, I have been rollerblading, alpine skiing, then skateboarding and snowboarding, I have always loved to travel with tents. My whole life, one way or another, is connected with extreme sports. I did not make a choice as such, everything was quite prosaic.

What sport do you like the most?
Every year something new comes into my life. I've always loved shooting in the mountains. In summer it could be a bicycle, in winter it could be snowboarding or downhill skiing. Aesthetically, I really love the board culture: surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding and the like. Recently, I recovered my sight, starting to shoot surfing from the water with an underwater box. This is unlike anything, that is, you can discard everything you knew before, because all this will only drag you to the bottom. Besides boards, I love wheels, but only when there are two of them. Cars don't fascinate me as much as bicycles and motor sports. In general, much depends on the season: in the summer you want the ocean, and in the winter you yearn for the mountains and clear snow.

Extreme sports are always, one way or another, associated with risk. Is it a lifestyle risk for you?
I would say this: life in the city, an ordinary simple life, it is also associated with risks. In car accidents, hundreds, thousands of times more people die than in the mountains. Many people misunderstand the concept of "extreme sports". In the world now it has become more often called Action Sports, that is, active, more advanced, new. At times he is no more extreme than athletics or boxing. Professional athletes, in extreme sports they are called riders, are not enemies to their health, and what they do is deliberate actions, and not throwing themselves into an embrasure. When it comes to being a photographer, yes, it often carries the same risk as a rider. An avalanche in the mountains does not understand who stands in its way. The main thing for you is to always think about safety, from knowledge of the properties of snow to the ability to provide first aid. But if we talk about surfing shooting, here the photographer sometimes risks more than the rider, being in the depths of the reef, and not waiting for the waves outside it.

What do you like most about the extreme photography genre?
I like the moment, I would even say the moment. Extreme sports photography is something that cannot be repeated at times and is very easy to miss, and I also love to bring other genres into sports photography - it could be portrait or landscape photography - and mix them up: that is, you see someone rides along the side of a mountain; you can take a big picture of his face, emotions; you can take a full-length shot with snow that flies out from under the skis or snowboard; or you can shoot the whole mountain, where the person will be a small point. All three shots are about extreme sports, but from completely different angles, it all depends on what you want to show people.

What's the hardest part about shooting like this?
The most difficult thing begins when you work with these people for a long time and they become your friends, and then one of them, God forbid, gets injured. It's one thing when you shoot in a competition: you are a photojournalist, you document an event, and if someone falls, you keep shooting; it's another matter when it's your friend and he does something, including for the sake of photography. You can no longer be just a photojournalist, you feel your full involvement in what is happening. And all the other questions in terms of organizing trips, difficult hikes with a photo backpack, etc. are household trifles in comparison with this.

To what extent is photography able to convey all that amazing range of feelings that you experience when you travel and play sports?
Photography conveys what is happening as far as the skills and abilities of the photographer are enough. You can often hear: “It was so beautiful there, you have no idea! Photography cannot convey this ... ”The task of every photographer, no matter what he is shooting, is to try to show what surprised him and touched his feelings. For the last five or seven years, there hasn't been a month without me going anywhere. Unfortunately, it is impossible to remember all the trips, and that's when photography comes to the rescue. Some shots are more working, some are made in a fit of feelings or under the influence of something, and they are the key to what happened to you there. It's great if you not only experience new feelings, but can also convey them to others through a picture.

You travel a lot. Can you tell us about the most interesting, in your opinion, your shooting?
The most interesting trip is the one that was no more than six months ago. Or you can put it another way: the best trip is the last one, because you still remember all the emotions and experiences, all the sensations that were with you. I take every trip as an adventure. Leaving home, you open yourself to the world, take out your camera and go towards what will happen. Then, sorting through the archives, I, of course, find and put aside interesting things that will be valuable to me later. I will not forget how I filmed the Red Bull X-Fighters in Cairo: the best freestyle riders in the world were jumping at sunset against the backdrop of the Giza pyramids. I will not forget how I took off the base jumpers from a small platform almost at the very top of the Ostankino TV tower. Or one of the last filming in Mauritius from a helicopter, when we were lucky to catch the biggest waves this year that came to the island.

According to some data from the Internet, your travels take about 140 days a year. How do you manage to do everything, and how compatible is such a schedule with work?
140 days is almost as long as I spent last year only in Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi. We decided to name the exhibition so because the numbers are similar: the Rosa Khutor resort is open 140 days a year, and I spent almost all of my time there, being its ambassador and chief photographer. I have organized all my work in such a way that I do not need to be in Moscow. Most of the cases I solve with the help of mail and phone, I agree on filming only for the dates when I will be at home. I am surprisingly lucky, but the trips fall so smoothly one after the other that it is extremely rare to have to refuse or transfer something.

You became the photographer of the year according to the jury of the annual Russian Snowboard Awards. What determines your success: traits of character or, perhaps, love for extreme sports itself attracts luck?
The year I received this award, the winner was not chosen based on the number of likes, but was asked by influential people in the snowboarding industry. Everyone was there: company managers, journalists, site editors, and, of course, riders. I was very happy to receive it then, and it became a kind of confirmation of my work. One of my main goals is to develop action sports, or extreme sports, as you like, in Russia through photographs, organizing various events, working with riders, holding master classes or exhibitions. What is the reason for success? I always want to move.

Our editors decided that you fully deserve the title of one of the. Was this a surprise to you?
Of course, yes. I even remember how calmly I was sitting in Mauritius in the morning and letters began to come to me that someone had added my blog as a friend. Six months ago I was disappointed in LiveJournal: there is only politics on the main page. Of course, I respect Navalny, I like reading Rustem Adagamov and a few other people, but on the whole, LJ was overtaken by a crisis. I decided to stop blogging there and went to tumblr.com, changing the concept: not writing long stories, but just posting one or two photos. Your article has inspired new life to my journal. I started writing there every day, since I am now in Moscow and there is a lot of unpublished unique photographic material. I noticed that there were more readers, saw the return and understood: we need to continue; in Russia there is not a single more or less popular blogger who would write about extreme sports, and this is a very popular topic. I am ready to claim this place.

How many readers do you have at the moment, can you say?
There are about 2,000 subscribers to my blog, over the past month my blog has been visited more than 100,000 times, not counting re-posts on many sites, and I consider this an unprecedented indicator for our small world of extreme sports. I give people unique content. These are not just trips in the style of Ilya Varlamov or Sergei Dolya, this is shooting the best riders in Russia and the world, unique places where it is difficult to get to, but it is simply impossible to be in such a company.

Are you shooting Nikon now? Have you already decided that this is a technique for real professionals?
Yes, as a person who has shot Canon for about seven years, tried everything from 30D to 5D Mark III, I'm ready to say that I like Nikon and everyone suits, but you won't get me into an argument about who is cooler. I recently described my journey from brand to brand in a serious way, and after a year, I'm happy.

What character traits do you think should be inherent in a sports photographer in the first place?
Lack of laziness, enthusiasm, endurance, patience. You need to be ready for difficult working conditions, stress, unforeseen situations, be able to get ready at the right time and stay calm. I would say that filming extreme sports is not for the wimps, both physically and psychologically.

What are five non-photography facts about you?
Love my life. Married to Chekhova. I like the mountains and the ocean. I work as a team manager at Quiksilver, Roxy and DC, I am responsible for the largest and strong team riders in Russia. Pages in the passport expire much earlier than its expiration date.

Your favorite quote about life or photography?
“I understand what your trouble is: you are too serious. A clever face is not yet a sign of intelligence, gentlemen. All the stupid things on earth are done with this facial expression. Smile, gentlemen, smile! " - the final quote from the movie "The Same Munchausen" in 1979 with Oleg Yankovsky in the title role.

Application form. about the author

Name, surname, age: Kirill Umrikhin, 25 years old.

Technics: Nikon D4, Nikon D800 plus Nikon professional lens series.

Exhibitions, awards, achievements: photographer of the year according to the Russian Snowboard Awards, author's photo exhibitions "Running: 6 Stories", "140 Days a Year", Made in Ocean. Participation in other photo exhibitions and shows.

Inspiration: life and travel.

Best advice: the photographer should shoot more, think and be able to choose shots.

I have chosen two main genres for myself: extreme sports photography and travel photography. They are inextricably intertwined.

- What equipment do you shoot with?

My main camera is Nikon D4s now. Camera for taking pictures out of water or for working with landscapes - Nikon D800. In the first camera, I value speed, while the second is the quality leader in digital photography.

- What are your three favorite photos (someone else's or your own)?

I would name three photographers whose pictures, philosophy of life, I really like. From the classics - this is Robert Capa or Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Clark Little and Tim McKenna are excellent contemporary photographers.

- Who or what inspires you?

More often than not, I look for inspiration when traveling, in different places, in cities or people. In sports photography, inspiration often comes from an athlete when you want to take a shot with him and he understands you. And the result is excellent.

- What is your favorite piece of art? How does it attract you?

As such, I do not have a specific favorite work, but I really like the work of the impressionists: Claude Monet, Van Gogh and others. First of all, I like the saturation and abundance of colors and shapes. They are often very ordinary everyday subjects, which are vividly and expressively embodied in their paintings.

- What is a good photo for you?

First of all, this is a shot that I like. This is usually a combination of a good moment with an interesting shot composition. I have now launched a project to raise money for the publication of a book with my the best shots, where everyone can participate in its release by ordering a copy.

- What is your favorite travel destination? Why? What's the story behind this?

In addition to traveling to the seas and oceans, I really like to travel to different cities. Paris is one of my favorites. One day in December I decided to go there to celebrate my birthday. A day earlier, a heavy snowfall began in the city. In general, it is very rare there. The city was simply covered with snow and a very interesting series of pictures of fabulous Paris came out.

- The most memorable shooting. What exactly is she remembered for? What interesting moments were there?

The most memorable one was a couple of years ago when I flew to shoot windsurfing in Mauritius. At the end of the trip, a violent storm came. I even had to change tickets to catch him. Waves more than 10-12 meters high came to the shores of the island. We rented a helicopter to shoot the skating on them, and several of my friends (Olya Raskina, Seva Shulgin and Sasha Zlobinsky) went out to ride them. It was unforgettable.

- Where and at what time in the past would you like to be and take pictures?

I believe that any place and time is good if you have a camera and a desire to photograph. You just need to be able to look for beauty and love the world around you. Well, if you fantasize, then I would like to be at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and capture Tsarist Russia, like Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorsky.

What to hide, journalists are often invited to press tours. For us, this is not just an opportunity to completely plunge into the atmosphere of the event, but also to get acquainted and communicate with unique people... During my trip to Krasnoyarsk I became a listener of a lecture Boardspeskers, as part of Toyota's Extreme Weekend. One of the speakers at the lecture hall was a photographer Kirill Umrikhin.

He talked a lot about his travels in pursuit of stunning shots. He told me how these trips radically changed his life, taught him to think bigger and not be afraid to get involved in adventures. After that we managed to communicate in person. For me, this is not just an interview, but a great opportunity to show readers that when you truly love what you do and are not afraid to put everything on the line at one point, you can hit the jackpot and go on an incredible and exciting journey of a lifetime.

Story 1. Raise the sails of the legendary "Kruzenshtern"

Location: the world's oldest sailing ship "Kruzenshtern". The history of the ship is unique - it went through the Second World War, it was not destroyed, it was not damaged during the war. It went to Russia as a payment to the winning side. If he had stayed in Germany, he would have been cut into scrap metal. And in some incredible way, he went through the 90s. It was built as a cargo ship, but has long been helping naval college students master the profession. When I was offered to go there and shoot, I agreed without thinking.

Travel time: 8 days on the high seas.

Route: Amsterdam - Copenhagen.

- Kirill, tell us how you got on the sailing ship?
- I have been invited there for two years. The bottom line is that anyone can get on this ship. Moreover, Mikhail Kozhukhov, the founder of the Travel Club, made it so that everyone could get on it, made an agreement with the shipowners, and this is very difficult ... They wrote to me, told me not to plan anything for July, and I agreed. I thought I had never sailed a yacht. Therefore, before that, I went to Norway on a small yacht for a week, then trained in Moscow and only then got to the Kruzenshtern.

- Were you called to photograph life on the ship?
- I was invited there to shoot mainly a photo reportage from a drone, no one has ever done this before me. Because there are a lot of difficulties in the process, starting from the fact that the ship is metal, and this creates interference. Plus, you can't lower the boat, sail on it and start the drone from there, because it's very difficult. The boat does not catch up with the ship, nothing can be done on the move.

- You said that the sails of the Kruzenshtern were specially stuffed for you. Tell us about it.
- Oh, that's another story! Stuffing the sail takes about two and a half hours. That is, 200 people for my sake filled the sails for two and a half hours to get a beautiful shot. When we did it on the first day and I showed the footage to the captain, he was very surprised. When you see your ship from the side, from above, the frames are like from a movie. We filmed two days in a row, and on the third, at some point he calls me and asks if we filmed everything. I answered yes. Then he told me that he was asking, because if we didn't remove the sails in half an hour, we would hit the ground.

- How was it technically?
- Technically, it was perhaps the most difficult shooting in my life. It got to the point that the sailing master said: "Let him crash into the sail, we will catch him, just to return the frame." Because everyone sees a beautiful frame on the screen, which is obtained, and the drone soars in the sky at this time. As a result, I made a one-minute video, especially for the guys. The photographer, who lives on the ship, saw and said that he went around the world for 14 months. For his sake, the boat was launched four times in 14 months. That is, he had the opportunity to photograph the ship from the outside four times. I had this opportunity for two or three days in a row thanks to technology and drones. Then he asked to send these photographs in order to publish them in the book.

- What was the most difficult - starting the copter or landing?
- Of course landing. During the start we almost crashed into the flagpole. You start in the shade of the wind, near the sail, and then you fly out, and the drone immediately blows away. The ship is sailing at full speed, and it is technically very difficult to catch up with it. The ship also rocks a lot. Therefore, it is very difficult to synchronize the drone so that it does not crash into anyone.

- How long were you on the ship?
- About 8-9 days. We came from Amsterdam, from Den Helder. The large ships festival was held there. We left the festival on the Kruzenshtern in a parade. I had to shoot the parade myself, but due to the fact that it was a NATO military base, we were forbidden to raise the drone, and the weather was not very good. We left Den Helder, circled the entire North Sea and entered Copenhagen. The North Sea is very difficult to navigate. We were running from the storm all the time.

- How did you plan the shooting?
- I had two drones. If one fell, then I had the second - that's all ( laughs). Every time I landed, I changed flash drives and took off again, so that there was already some material. When we saw all this on the computer, it was incredible. This year they offer me to rent the rest of the sailboats. There are also "Sedov", there are ships that sail in the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps I'm still going there.

History 2. Conquest of Antarctica

- Tell us about your experience of a trip to Antarctica. How did it happen? It's insanely expensive!
- I believe that the most correct thing in life is to do what you love. Because in this case, you get to do your job cool. When you do your job cool, people notice you, and after that they want to invite you to such unique projects. In another way, you can get to them only by being an oligarch. Because a trip to Antarctica costs at least 50 thousand dollars, and this is without tickets. I'm not ready to pay that kind of money to go there. I went to Antarctica with the Mamont Cup. Mammoth is a foundation that develops unusual adventures. After Antarctica, I realized that there are real travelers and discoverers on earth. It would seem that everything is already open, but there are things that no one has ever done. And such funds help budgets to make a new discovery.

Mammoth organizes a trip to somewhere every year. Two years ago, I ended up with them as a drone operator. I am usually taken as a person who will take off with a drone where others say that you cannot fly here. When conditions are very difficult: wind, sea, ocean, mountains. They called me there two years ago, there was a place on the research vessel. Then I said that everything is fine, but this is December 22-26, I have New Year's plans, and January was scheduled. I could not agree to a two month expedition. Therefore, when they called me for the second time this year, I thought that it would be impossible to refuse Antarctica the second time.

And he made the right decision. It is impossible to realize where you were, it was more like space: both in feelings, and in sensations, and in distance. There are only a thousand people around you on a 6,000-kilometer circle.

- Do you often go on such trips?
- There are trips where my name is a photographer, somewhere like a drone operator. And other projects have to be organized by myself. This is much more interesting, but more difficult. First you get an idea of \u200b\u200bwhere you want to go, then you put together a team, you find a whole team, sponsors, media support. It's a lot of stress, but when you see that people are happy, companies are happy, and you yourself are happy with your photos. And when you show it at exhibitions or in magazines, you see the result.

Story 3. Story with continuation

- Which of the latest projects are you proud of?
- I've just started filming in Krasnaya Polyana. I really want to show this region as a diamond of Russia. A place where there is nature, surfing, snowboarding. But this story is not over yet. Now I am organizing next project... There are very distant islands where I am going to go on a yacht, having gathered a team. There, 9 out of 10 people do not even know that this is Russia. This is the Far East, the Pacific Ocean. I want to try working there. We have assembled a team, it remains to understand how and when we are going, because it is unsafe and difficult, we need to take everything into account. This is the season of storms, and for the shot we need a storm, but we also need to sail on a yacht for two days on the ocean to the shooting location and return from there.

And a small project that I did in October with Pasha Vishnev. There is an amazing place, almost no one knew about it - the village of Konduki. In the middle of the twentieth century, there was a quarry, which was abandoned after the revolution, because coal is not profitable to mine. They dug huge pits, which are now filled with blue water. It's very beautiful there. What the locals dug up, they put in the mountains. The result is sandy mountains of solid ground, blue lakes and golden autumn trees in the background. Not a single person around. When we met with the operator, we simultaneously told each other that it was so beautiful there that it was not clear how to shoot it. Blue water, yellow trees and blue sky are just perfect. I hope I will come back there, because the prospects for this place, in terms of filming, are colossal.

It's important to learn to dream

- When you started working as a photographer, did you initially think that everything would develop like this?
- As a child, I read several motivating books at school. It said that it is important to dream. And my mother also told me that it is important to do what you like and it is important to dream. When you find a dream, you reluctantly mentally go to it. Apparently, I wrote and drew some of my dreams somewhere.

Recently my mother found this at home and wanted to show it to me. And my drawings matched one hundred percent.

Basically, I wanted to become a sports photographer from the 10th grade. I loved snowboarding and wanted to shoot it accordingly. I wanted to travel. Previously, these were business trips from magazines, then from brands, now there are some own projects. This is developing and it is important for me to look for new ways. It is important for me to tell, to engage people in sports and photography. I feel that by teaching people or developing, I get the opportunity to move on and not stop. What this will result in, I do not know. What has happened now? In beautiful photography, wonderful emotions and in the fulfillment of my goal - for people to get up from sofas and go traveling, looking for adventure, playing sports, healthy way life, traveled to Russia.

The crisis gave motivation to study Russia, not to go to the Alps, to the States, but to find new places with us.

The best camera is the one you have with you.

I am often asked what to shoot. It doesn't matter if it's a super expensive camera or not. It is important to take pictures, to get emotions and pleasure. Some of the most important values \u200b\u200bin life that we can get here and now are adventure and travel.

And during adventures it is difficult not to take pictures, so you have to get up and do it. Get up and look for adventure, no matter where, in the city or at work. If they are not there, then there is a kind of wilting. It is important to constantly strive somewhere. You need to look for what you want to do and do it.

Kirill Umrikhin is the most famous extreme blogger and photographer in Russia. At the same time, Cyril perfectly captures nature. And you will be convinced of this right now!

Double rainbow over Mauritius island.

The famous cliffs of Los gigantos in the south of Tenerife.

Fuerteventura volcanic sand. I really like using a ND filter and shooting water with a long exposure. There are always interesting effects.

Supermoon in August, when the moon looked 20-30% larger than usual. I decided to go to Teide National Park to photograph this phenomenon.

Since last year I started to shoot surfing from the water with an underwater box. During these filming, you can find many interesting moments outside of the sport itself.

Dolphins of the island of Mauritius. This frame has been on the cover of my iPhone for a year now. These animals are simply amazing, they are directly charged with positive energy. It is not so easy to remove them, they are very fast and do not like to pose for a long time.

The famous "cover" view of the island of Mauritius. Filmed from a helicopter.

Rare vegetation of Fuerteventura Island.

Crocodiles from Fuerteventura Zoo.

Ideal location for a wedding ceremony in Barbados, Caribbean.

Panorama of the famous bay in the French city of Etretat in Normandy. These sheer cliffs were painted by Van Gogh, Claude Monet and other artists.

Small private house in the north of France in the city of Amiens.

Coast of Normandy after a storm. I was there twice, in July and December, and the weather was always the same: rain and 15-18 degrees.

The mouth of the Seine near the town of Le Hawre in Normandy.

The Nile River from the airplane window.

Dawn in the Swiss Alps, Laax resort.

A shot that won The Best of Russia last year. The circulation of stars in Krasnaya Polyana.

One of the most beautiful places on earth is the Basque Beach near Biarritz on the Atlantic coast of France.

Bavaria, early morning on the way to the airport.

A huge banyan tree, which can take up a huge area due to its branches, vines, which turn into roots when they reach the ground.

Fisherman's boat, about. Mauritius.

First flowers, March 2014, Switzerland.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Night road around the island, Mauritius.

This shot was featured on the screensaver of the Sochi Olympic Games. I found out about this already on the spot, but I could not do anything. Also, this shot was taken on the screensaver of ESPN - the world's largest sports channel. View of the mountain Stone pillar, Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi.

Summer view of the rocks in the city of Etretat, Normandy, France.

Wheat fields at dawn in Brittany, France. The sun appeared only for 10 minutes when I managed to take this picture.

Lighthouse hotel in the Norwegian town of Alesund.

California desert near the Mammut ski resort.

Sunset view of Mauritius.

An inverted month in the Southern Hemisphere.

The most beautiful time for filming is late sunset or Blue hour. It is still light, but there are already city lights and a faint reflection of the sunset.

A new photo project by Kirill Umrikhin, Nikon Ambassador in Russia, takes viewers to a sparsely populated and almost unexplored corner of the world - to the Commander Islands with their volcanic landscapes, rare species of animals and endless water surface.

Yacht Liberty, Lisinskaya Bay, about. Bering

Nikon Z 7 | 1/640 p. | f / 4 29mm | ISO 250 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f / 4 S

Armed with Nikon D850 and Nikon D5 cameras, as well as the new Nikon Z 7, Kirill set off on a truly unusual journey. Only few travel photographers and those who shoot wildlife and extreme sports get to the Commander Islands. On a yacht trip along the Aleutian and Kuril-Kamchatka troughs, which stretched for 6,000 km, Kirill's team survived several storms. However, she was able to reach the islands and became the first group of athletes to go kitesurfing at this point on the Bering Sea. Opening up new opportunities

Kirill is known as a travel and sports photographer, so he wanted to show the spirit of the Commander Islands through surfing and sailing. However, the unique wildlife of the islands and the locals allowed Kirill to reveal his talent from a new angle and prove himself as a naturalist and documentary photographer.

Lisinskaya Bay, about. Bering

Nikon D850 | 1/1600 p. | f / 8 15mm | ISO 400 | AF-S FISHEYE NIKKOR 8-15mm f / 3.5-4.5E ED

“It is difficult to find information about the Commander Islands, therefore, while planning my trip, I turned to the Komandorsky Reserve for help,” Kirill recalls. “However, when we arrived at the site, the reality surpassed all our expectations. The wildlife of these places is incredible. It is home to beaked whales, killer whales, rare species seabirds and over a quarter of a million fur seals make up a fifth of their population. "

In his project, Kirill also spoke about the inhabitants of the islands. About 700 people live in Nikolskoye, the only village in the Aleutian region of Russia. There is a school, a hospital and even a stage for celebrations. On the crest of the elements

In addition to stormy weather on the way to the Commander Islands, other adventures awaited Kirill. He was able to join the wildlife and water elements of these unique places: Kirill and his team went kitesurfing in the Bering Sea, which no one had done here before. “During this trip, I wanted to tell you about the unique connection between man and nature - the simple life of the islands and the elements that reign here. Surfing in waters where no one has done it before has revealed to me the truth: the world is not getting smaller. It still has mysterious and enticing passages that are waiting to be told about them. "

The village of Nikolskoye, about. Bering

Nikon D850 | 1/4000 s. | f / 1.8 35mm | ISO 200 | AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f / 1.8G

The main thing is to be ready

Choosing equipment for travel, Kirill decided to take a reliable Nikon D5 camera. It has 153 focus points and 99 cross-type sensors, perfect for high-speed extreme sports shooting. The Nikon D850 camera with an unprecedented resolution of 45.4 million pixels, complete with Kirill's favorite AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f / 2.8E FL ED VR lens, allowed him to capture wildlife above and below the water, without missing a beat. Kirill also had the chance to try out the new Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera paired with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f / 4 S zoom lens. Using these, he was able to capture stunning landscapes and take emotional portraits of local people.

“The set of these three cameras and lenses ensured the readiness for any shooting condition, whether it was swimming in harsh waters, climbing Steller's Peak or surfing with whales and seals.”

Sunset from the Liberty

Nikon D850 | 1/1000 p. | f / 4.5 15mm | ISO 640 | AF-S FISHEYE NIKKOR 8-15mm f / 3.5-4.5E ED

Equipment set

On the project, Kirill used the following equipment.

Cameras

Lenses

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f / 4 S, AF FISHEYE NIKKOR 16mm f / 2.8D, AF-S FISHEYE NIKKOR 8-15mm f / 3.5-4.5E ED, AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f / 2.8G ED, AF- S DX NIKKOR 35mm f / 1.8G, PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f / 2.8D ED, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f / 2.8E FL ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f / 2.8E FL ED VR, Tele-converter AF-S TC-14E \u200b\u200bIII

About Kirill

Nikon Ambassador to Russia Kirill Umrikhin is one of the most famous Russian professional photographers. In recent years, several of his personal exhibitions and master classes have taken place. In 2013 and 2014 Kirill became one of the winners all-Russian Photo Contest Best of Russia. In addition, the jury included his picture of the avalanche station ("In the Maelstrom of Stars") in the top ten best photos competition

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