Mikhal

Mikhal, 19, is in his second year of studying political science in Bratislava, having grown up in a small town in Russia. He mentioned that most Russians he’s met in Slovakia or elsewhere in Europe come from big cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, making him a bit of an exception. He’s deeply committed to his studies, with ambitions to pursue a Master’s and eventually a PhD in political science, possibly at a university in Austria or Germany. Mikhal stands out as one of the more academically driven guys I’ve photographed, and his serious, thoughtful demeanor reflects that. Unlike many of the athletic types I often work with, sports aren’t his focus, though he played the usual European team sports as a kid and made an effort to build some muscle between ages 13 and 17.

We met in the most unexpected way. After a long day scouting for new models around Bratislava, I was strolling home through the city’s main square when a striking young man with a large, antique-looking camera—taking Polaroid-style, pretend front-page news portraits for tourists—asked if I’d like to be photographed. I politely declined, and Mikhal responded with a kind smile. As I walked away, it hit me that he’d be perfect for my work, so I turned back, introduced myself as a photographer, and showed him some examples of my photography. He seemed quite open to the idea. We exchanged contacts, and the next day, we met for coffee, wandered the city, and got to know each other better. A week later, we did our first photoshoot together in a forest, where the concept was Mikhal as a nature photographer stumbling upon a “naked angel,” capturing him in a discreet, voyeuristic, documentary style. (This outdoor album will be followed by indoor ones.) It was my first outdoor shoot in early May 2025, and we lucked out with beautiful weather.

Mikhal genuinely enjoyed the experience and is eager to do more photoshoots, which I’m thrilled about. I’ve been wanting to photograph a young Russian man living in Slovakia, and Mikhal was the perfect fit.