Introducing Alexander Shumskikh, the photographer behind the formation of the Noga Creative Union. Being a successful top manager and head of the IT department in a large company, passionate about photography since early childhood, Alexander sets off on a long journey across the Russian North. With a small group of enthusiasts, he finds a fertile place to establish an Orthodox community, build a wooden church and establish a new life in a remote Karelian village. On his initiative, dozens of famous photographers visit Kolodozero, shoot their projects, publish books and thus draw the world’s attention to traditional forms of existence in the far north, different from modern life in metropolises.

Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Kolodozero

Alexander’s first series on the NCU is called Kolodozero. It is a lake, around which flows unhurried and very modest village life. However, thanks to many years of effort and the endeavours of Alexander, who regularly visits Karelia from the capital, the village of Kolodozero is being revived, and for many it has become a starting point for rethinking their own lives.

Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

events

Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Misha Maslennikov

Head of NCU. Misha Maslennikov was born in 1964 in Dobroe settlement close to Moscow, USSR. Based in Odessa, Ukraine.
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Declaration 2024

NCU has joined the movement for fair author portrayal in journalism and documentary photography on the Writing With...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Tatiana Plotnikova

Please welcome our new NCU member. Tatiana Plotnikova was born in Leningrad, USSR (now St Petersburg, Russia). She...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Kristof Huf

Please welcome our new NCU member. Kristof Huf was born in 1971 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Based in Munich, Germany.
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Pavlos Kozalidis

Please welcome our new NCU member. Pavlos Kozalidis was born in 1961 in the port city of Piraeus in Attica. Based...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Manuel Almenares

Please welcome our new NCU member. Manuel Almenares Estrada was born in 1992 in Havana, the capital of Cuba. Based...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Paulo Nunes

Please welcome our new NCU member. Paulo Nunes was born in 1977 in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Based in Lisbon,...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Ragnar Axelsson

Please welcome our new NCU member. Ragnar Guðni Axelsson, also known as RAX was born in 1958 in Reykjavík, the...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Raúl Cañibano

Please welcome our new NCU member. Raúl Cañibano Ercilla was born in 1961 in Havana, the capital of Cuba. Based...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Dmitriy Cherba

Please welcome our new NCU member. Dmitriy Cherba was born in 1987, in the railway town of Uzlovaya, in the east...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Bielsko-Biała 2021

'The Don Steppe' 8 — 24 October, 2021 The Centre for Photography Foundation, within the framework of the 9. Foto Art...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Vitebsk 2021

'NCU is 15 years old' 23 — 27 June, 2021 Noga Creative Union presents an anniversary exhibition of documentary...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Odessa 2020

'The Thin Line' 21 August — 4 September, 2020 Noga Creative Union, within the framework of the Thin Line Photo...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Vitebsk 2020

'Odessa: Photos 1985' / 'New York before and after' 25 June — 5 July, 2020 Noga Creative Union, during the Covid-19...
Alexander Shumskikh / New member 2006. Noga Creative Union

Oleg Videnin

Please welcome our new NCU member. Oleg Videnin was born in 1963 in Bryansk, USSR. Based in Bryansk, Russia.