Winter fairy tale of the Perm Region: from the Usvinsky Pillars to the White Mountain
Winter on The Urals is not just a time of the year. This is another dimension where the elements play their quiet, majestic game. The air rings with frost, the snow sparkles with billions of crystals, and the ancient rocks and temples seem to freeze in thought.
On this trip to the Perm Region, I took not only a camera, but also a desire to find that very winter fairy tale — harsh, sincere and incredibly photogenic. And it opened up to me in three facets: in the power of stone giants, in the gold of domes against the background of snow-white expanses and in the silent harmony of snow-covered forests.
Chapter 1. Usvinsky pillars: giants in ice and snow
Our winter safari started from a place of power — The Usvinsky pillars. It is a monumental stone wall rising 120 meters above the frozen river Usva. Tourists and rock climbers tend to come here in summer, but in winter this place is completely transformed. The noise of the river is replaced by deathly silence, and the riot of greenery is replaced by monochrome graphics of black rocks and white snow.
Climbing to the rocks of the Devil’s Finger in winter is a separate adventure. The steep climb up, when the shoes slip, is given with effort, but what a reward awaits at the top! From the height, a breathtaking panorama opens up: the endless taiga, the winding ribbon of the river and the pillars themselves, crowned with snow caps. Photographing here is a pleasure. Contrasts, textures, and the play of light and shadow on rock reliefs create an endless field for creativity. This is a place where you feel like a grain of sand against the backdrop of eternity, and it was this emotion that I tried to convey in the frame.
Chapter 2. Belogorsky Monastery
We were transported from the world of wild nature to a place of spiritual power — the St. Belogorsky Monastery. For the strictness of the charter, this monastery was once called Uralic Mount Athos.
White Stone The Holy Cross Cathedral, towering on the White Mountain, is called the “Ural Athos”. In winter, when the roads are swept away and the hills are buried in snow, the way to it becomes like a pilgrimage.
The monastery was founded in 1891 in memory of “the miraculous deliverance of Tsesarevich Nicholas from danger in Japan”
The temple was built from 1902 to June 9, 1917. This is the largest temple in the Urals, accommodating more than 5 thousand people. The design of the cathedral was developed by the architect. E. I. Artyomov by a model of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
There are only 11 monks serving in the monastery now. It’s hard to imagine how they find time for prayer, upkeep of the cathedral, and preparing meals for pilgrims. The monastery has survived many tragedies in its past, but today it is being revived.
Chapter 3. The magic of Permian winter
“'I suppose snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently.' — Lewis Carroll, 'Through the Looking-Glass'”
Winter in the Urals is the perfect artist. It doesn’t just cover the earth with snow; it paints intricate pictures: the rugged might of cliffs is softened by airy snowcaps, while the austere beauty of architecture is lit by the low winter sun.
Traveling through its snowiest corners, like the Kizel district, I’m each time left breathless by the purity and silence. Local residents, despite all the hassle of snowdrifts, find time to admire the beauty and feed the birds. In this snow-covered fairy tale, you just want to capture a moment—a warm, family, personal one.
And what if you could create your own winter fairy tale not hundreds of kilometers away, but right here in Yekaterinburg?
Our city transforms in winter too. Parks become like crystal gardens, snow-covered fir trees turn into the perfect setting for a magical story, and the snow sparkling in the sun provides the best natural light for portraits.
Let’s create your story in a winter setting.
I live and shoot in Yekaterinburg and invite you for a family, child, or personal photoshoot in this amazing season.
We can:
- Capture the joy of children playing in fluffy snow.
- Create tender and romantic portraits against the backdrop of frost-covered lanes.
- Capture warm family hugs, with rosy cheeks and happiness in your eyes.
- Find your perfect winter look: from a cozy sweater and pom-pom hat to an elegant coat.
A winter photoshoot is not about the cold; it’s about the warmth of your emotions, which shine so brightly against the backdrop of a snow-white city. It’s an investment in memories that will warm you for years to come.
I’m ready to help you preserve the magic of this winter in photographs.
Write to me, and together we’ll choose a cozy location in Yekтеринбург and create your unique winter fairy tale.
Write to me and discuss your photoshoot →
Photo trips
Lake Seliger and the Nilov monastery
Izborsk Fortress
Gold of the Chui Tract
Mongolia
The Arctic Dream
Pushkinskiye Gory
