Once upon a time, rural life in our country was a priority, it was there that life was in full swing and things were done. And despite the fact that rural areas make up a significant part of the territory of Russia, over time, the state turned its attention to big cities, virtually leaving the villages without funding and infrastructure. Thus, people leave the villages for small towns, and the population of small towns moves to larger ones. This trend is especially observed among men who leave for the cities to work, which is why matriarchy is growing in the villages. Thus the villages become empty, but the life in them ceases, and the best the proof is the wonderful pictures of the photographer Olya Ivanova. In 2009, Olga went on a tour of Russian villages while working as a magazine photographer. She was fascinated by village life, which is probably why she managed to make such a personal series of soulful photographs of women from Russian villages, which Umkra invites you to enjoy further.
“There is a special feeling of freedom, mainly due to communication, completely different from the city,” said Olya Ivanova
"There are no strangers, everyone knows each other"
"Relationships can be formal, unpleasant and cold"
"Sometimes there is real drama and intrigue, but everyone cares about each other"
"I discovered a closed community of people living a life completely different from mine, so it was interesting for me to look at it from the inside"
"In 2013, I was invited on an expedition to the Vologda region, to a small village on the river bank"
"This is a very beautiful place with dense forests, fast northern rivers and harsh people"
"It took about six hours to drive from the nearby city of Vologda"
"If you don't know the area, it's extremely unlikely that you will find it"
"I was lucky to live with the locals, mow with them, make pancakes, and take care of children"
"A year later, I returned there to take photos already on my behalf"
"I didn't have to look for a topic for a long time: I was lucky enough to capture the Day of the Village, a holiday celebrated in villages throughout Russia on different days of the summer"
"It turned out to be a great opportunity to capture village life with all its social aspects"
"On this day, all young people, children and grandchildren who work in cities return to the countryside"
"This is a celebration of your native place, your roots, family and home"
"Everyone prepares in advance and worries about what they will wear, drink and do"
During the shooting, Olga noted that almost all the work was done by women.
"Men refuse to participate in the Village Day, dance, cook or help organize the holiday"
"It's seen as a weakness"
"The women show up to the celebrations in beautiful leopard print dresses and high heels, while the men show up in shapeless tights with a bottle of beer in their pocket."
"The village woman is very often the head of the family, the well-being of which depends on her"
"Men try to pretend out of habit that they hold all the power, but as a rule they are completely dependent on their wives"
"I haven't studied the statistics, but it seems that there are indeed more women in the villages"
"Men often leave to earn some money in construction, leaving for long distances"
"Often men die before 50 due to alcohol abuse"
"There is a theory that after the Second World War, when many people died in battle, the attitude of single mothers towards their sons became especially tender, so they grew up infantile and weak"
"Cheap alcohol, a corrupt and brutal army, high levels of aggression, driving without a seatbelt - all these factors do not contribute to the life expectancy of men."
"The village woman is strong, she can do almost everything herself, she does not need a man for housework or raising children"
"She does everything that is supposedly a man's job: mows, carries heavy logs, chop wood"
Looking at these photos, you may get the feeling that rural girls are all clever and beautiful. It should be noted right away that in the selection of photos with village girls there are not only real photos, but also pictures from thematic photo shoots. However, this does not change the essence, since even professional models, trying on the image of an ordinary village girl, literally transform, become incredibly charming and magically attractive.
In the countryside and in the countryside, there is still a certain flavor of antiquity, which has not yet been destroyed by the modern world. Features of culture and traditions here have not yet been completely erased, and in some places you can see something beautiful, which is almost lost and is becoming less and less noticeable. The spirit of the village with its wooden houses, stoves, bathhouses, a special way of life, clothes and the nature of the conversation of rural residents can surprise and fall in love with them from the first second.
The photos that are presented below can please not only the beauty of the incredibly charming girls, but also their atmosphere, color and originality of the village. Village girls seem unspoiled by the bustle of the city and the constant race for money and success, moreover, by any available means and methods. From this, rural beauties seem much cleaner in soul and body, which cannot but touch the most alive in the soul. In the end, all the girls presented are simply unrealistic beauties. From one of their views, a fleeting glance, the heart stops. Russian beauties against the backdrop of beautiful views, blooming nature look simply irresistible. If you are a city dweller, then do not be surprised if, after viewing these photos, you feel an unbearable desire to go to the village, the rural hinterland to spend a weekend or a whole vacation there.
Beautiful photos of rural or village girls
More and more Russian men are leaving the villages in search of work. Meanwhile, the women raise their children and resurrect the matriarchy. Photographer Olya Ivanova is one of the few who decided to capture the life of ordinary village women. “There are no strangers here. From time to time there are dramas and scandals, but the locals still treat each other warmly. I have never encountered this. In 2013, I went to the Vologda region to a small village on the river bank. To get here, you need 6 hours of off-road driving. The village itself cannot be found without a guide. I discovered a closed community of people living a life completely different from mine, so my main interest was to show it from the inside.
On weekends, the whole village sits down at the same table to eat, drink and dance. The holiday is held near the local House of Culture, which serves as a bar, nightclub and theater. Residents submit their numbers. 
Observing the life of the village, Ivanova realized that most of the work is done by women. The men were mostly absent, and the few she encountered didn't want to be photographed. “Men refuse to perform on a village day, dance, cook or help organize the holiday. This is perceived as a weakness. Women come to the celebration in leopard print dresses and high heels, while men show up in shapeless trousers with a bottle of beer in their pocket, but there are still five single girls for one man, so even the worst “goods” do not stale. 
“The village woman is very often the head of the family. The well-being of everyone in the family depends on her: she makes sure that everyone eats well and is healthy, and she also takes care of the house. Men try to pretend out of habit that they hold all the power in their hands, but usually they are completely dependent on their wives,” says Ivanova.
The dominance of women in the community is partly determined by demographics: life expectancy for men in Russia barely reaches 65 years, and many men leave the villages to find work. All factors contribute to the fact that an invisible matriarchy underlies a society obsessed with masculinity. “I haven't looked at the statistics, but it does seem that there are more women in the villages. Often men die before reaching the age of 50 due to alcohol abuse,” explains Ivanova.
Village women remain Ivanova's favorite subject. Her heroines are of different ages and professions, but they are all part of an archetype that perfectly illustrates the role of a woman in Russian society— or at least what is expected of them. “The village woman is strong, she can do almost everything on her own, she doesn’t need a man for housework or raising children,” says Ivanova. - She does everything that is supposedly male work: she mows, carries heavy logs, chop wood. She works hard, but does not complain, she has a very big heart, she loves her own and other people's children, helps her neighbors and relatives, but she still dreams of a strong man. At the village disco, all the ladies in leopard dresses sing their favorite song: "Oh, what a man, I want a son from you." It seems to be the only function of men."
Russia has been an agrarian, rural country for so long that this part of our culture and history cannot be eradicated by any reforms and innovations. And even though today the majority of people tend to move to cities, villages live in the Russian hinterland. They got one feature- men in their mass rush to work and therefore the modern Russian village has a purely feminine face. Here's what, see below.
Olga Ivanova is a photographer who, since 2009, has been traveling around Russian villages and villages and taking pictures of the life she finds there. The difference with city life, and with advertising posters about “rest in the Russian outback” is colossal. These photographs are alive, sincere, saturated with freedom and inspiration.
Olga says that it all started simply - she was invited to a cultural expedition, to visit a small village somewhere in the Vologda region. And unexpectedly for herself, she found there a completely different, unknown community. Closed in its own way, living a completely different and incomprehensible life for a modern Russian woman. And the more curious it was to look inside it.
The place where the village was located is very beautiful. Forests and thickets, like in fairy tales, full-flowing and fast northern rivers, a minimum of civilization and harsh customs of the local inhabitants. From the nearest city, you need to get here at least six hours along what is conventionally called the road. There are very few random guests here and the influence of the “mainland” is hardly felt.
Rural society is a group of people where, by definition, there can be no strangers, strangers. Everyone knows everything about each other that it is not so easy to understand and master. Olga was lucky - she turned out to be not a visiting tourist, she was accepted into the community. And she lived in the village on an equal footing with everyone: she worked in the garden, looked after the children, fried pancakes and went mushroom picking.
Village - closed society, but not a strict community of ascetic hermits. Passions boil inside, dramas unfold, there is a place for cruel insults and true friendship. In difficult times, everyone helps each other, although at other times they may not look in your direction. It's a very interesting world... next year Olga stocked up on consumables and came to the village already purposefully, to photograph the life there in every detail.
Village day. A holiday, the existence of which many Internet users do not suspect, meanwhile, it is celebrated throughout the country. It does not have a clear date and regulations, everywhere it is an original celebration. Olga was lucky: she arrived in the village just on the eve of preparations for such a holiday.
What is especially interesting about Village Day is the unprecedented influx of people. Everyone who left for the cities or other areas makes time and returns to rest and celebrate. Great opportunity to explore social aspects villagers, to compare past and present generations. What the photographer used.