It was a cool night with temperatures ranging between three and six degrees when the photo exhibit of the Russian photographers who shot the Philippines was formally presented at the Art Gallery Solianka, one of the most popular art galleries in Moscow.
The many faces of the Philippines were captured through the lenses of five leading Russian photographers who fell in love with the many islands of the country. This is one of the efforts of the Department of Tourism to create a greater awareness of the Philippines in Russia.
“They say a picture paints a thousand words,” said Undersecretary Phineas Alburo at the opening of the exhibit. “Tonight, we are happy to share with you the beauty of the Philippines through the lenses of our Russian photographer friends.”
The photos at the exhibit ranged from seascapes to festivals, from people on the streets to wonderful sunsets, each capturing a different facet of the country. Featured photographers were Boris Tarasov, Svetlana Nosova, Aleksey Stoyda, Igor Veselev and Sergey Ilin.
The exhibit ran until Sept. 29. This is a preview of a much bigger Philippine photo exhibit that will be held at the Municipal Duma of Russia during the opening of congress in November, which is expected to draw much attention from Russia’s elite and media.
The exhibit featured an extensive collection of superb underwater photos taken in the popular dive sites in the Philippines. This event intends to pay attention to Russia’s thriving dive market segment. With the Philippines in the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world, the country’s dive sites are among the best worldwide. The photo exhibit follows a strategic campaign which includes participation in Russia’s main dive event, the Golden Dolphin Dive Festival held every February. This year, familiarization trips have also been conducted for representatives of Russia’s top diving schools and dive clubs. With this campaign, the Department of Tourism hopes to attract responsible divers who are true lovers of the marine environment to come visit our shores. — Kathy Moran