Thorough Portraits Highlight the Features of the Nenets in the Russian Arctic
In 2022, Natasha Yankelevich made her inaugural journey to Yamal. Located in the northwestern part of Siberia, this area is isolated, frigid, and has been “historically separated from the rest of Russia by unending swamps,” according to the Moscow-based photographer. Additionally, it serves as the home of the Nenets, a Samoyedic ethnic community indigenous to the Russian Arctic. Upon arriving in Yamal, Yankelevich promptly began a portrait series focused on the Indigenous populace, providing a lasting insight into their lives and culture.
“For the first time, I encountered contemporary individuals who actively engaged in Indigenous practices,” Yankelevich shares with My Modern Met. “It transformed my perceptions of spirituality and legend, and I was amazed by how different life feels in remote areas compared to urban environments.”
Considering Yamal’s extreme northern latitude, its seclusion is not particularly shocking—and consequently, its “almost ancient” lifestyle could arguably be expected to a certain degree. Yet, Yankelevich warns that these are preconceived notions, many of which she seemed to hold initially.
“Herders still reside in chums and move several times a year with their reindeer,” she notes. “Yet, they aren’t excluded from modernity. Education is widespread, snowmobiles are frequent, and some even share aspects of their daily lives on social media. Meanwhile, the area is rapidly evolving due to its extensive natural gas resources.”
For Yankelevich, these disparities create a unique coexistence of nomadic customs and contemporary facilities. It is this equilibrium that she aimed to portray throughout her Nenets portrait series. “I wanted to illustrate the diversity of cultural traditions while simultaneously highlighting how universal human issues persist,” she remarks.
These images are captured with extraordinary sensitivity and attention, allowing their subjects to truly express themselves. Most of the portraits are closely framed, emphasizing individual characteristics like a sprinking of freckles or a headband with beads that gently sway in the wind. Many photographs depict young children, their expressions resolute and heads adorned with cozy, fur-lined hats. Some arrangements feature older women, while others show young women posing beside or inside substantial chums.
“Yamal, no matter how distant it may appear, is part of the collective cultural tapestry of humanity,” Yankelevich concludes. “Through these photographs, I aspire to honor that contribution—and amplify their voices.”
Natasha Yankelevich’s portrait series provides a lasting insight into the lives of the Nenets, a Samoyedic ethnic group indigenous to the Russian Arctic.
The images were captured during Yankelevich’s visits to Yamal, a historically secluded area in northwestern Siberia.
Every photo is meticulously framed to accentuate unique features while allowing the subject to express themselves freely.
Natasha Yankelevich: [Website](https://natashayankelevich.com/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/natasha.yankelevich/?hl=en)
My Modern Met granted permission to showcase photographs by Natasha Yankelevich.
Related Articles:
[Intimate Portraits of Tibetan Refugees Offer a Glimpse Into Resilience, Peace, and Compassion [Interview]](https://mymodernmet.com/phil-borges-the-power-of-compassion-photography/)
[Portraits Capture the Faces of America’s Endangered Languages](https://mymodernmet.com/ba-vansise-endangered-language-america/)
[Powerful Portraits Unveil Quiet Resilience of Displaced Syrian Refugees Amid Climate Crises [Interview]](https://mymodernmet.com/nick-brandt-the-echo-of-our-voices-interview/)