'Yevgenia: The Girl Next Door' (Literally)

I had taken almost sight unseen quarters for staying a while and

knew nothing about the neighbors. I opened the door the second day

there and there was Yevgenia with her perambulator at noon ready

to take her child for a walk. I took her photo, many of her child and

for her movie star handsome husband (I hadn't seen him yet,but

knew he had to be special), I let her strike this pose for him and gave

this to her later.. Let me know how you like it; it's been manipulated

from an ordinary photo with a special pose, and given 'high key'

treatment that I felt it deserved. Your ratings, critiques and

observations are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly, very

critically or wish to make a remark, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your photographic knowledge to

help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

Yevgenia is trained as an economist, is a businesswoman for her husband's business, is a devoted mother who is 'stay at home' and spends all her time with her child (and works at home with her infant); is devoted to her handsome, muscular and industrious husband; is movie star beautiful -- surely the most beautiful woman in her city/town (truly), speaks excellent English and truly is very intelligent - a string of winning attributes that is rare, and also obviously very much in love with her husband (and he with her, as I have noticed). 

Later I plan to post a photo I took that should prove that point.

Ukraine is full of beautiful woman, and so is neighboring Russia and other Slavic countries, and when told 'you're beautiful', Yevgenia gives the typical Ukrainian/Russian woman's response 'Yes, I know' (end of subject). 

No phony excuses, no finding (fictitious) fault with attributes of her own that she might be overly critical of which no one else would notice as many beautiful and insecure American/North American women speak of when complimented -- just the clear-cut and typical acceptance of a compliment:  'Yes, I know.' 

End of subject.

I've written about this with regard to other beautiful Russian/Ukrainian women, and do not single out Yevgenia; she's just typical in her response.

As an American who spent most of his life in America listening to American women find phony faults with their beauty, I find the Russian/Ukrainian women's ability to take a compliment about beauty very refreshing and even endearing.

Ever compliment a truly beautiful women in America only to have her say, well, maybe, but I'd truly like my nose to be smaller, my boobs to be larger, my skin to be smoother, and basically denigrate the compliment (or fish for you to fight their denunciation of the compliment you've bestowed on them.)

Your view?

john

John (Crosley)

Very cute and waggish eyes!

My first time outside my door alone after moving into quarters, I bumped into this woman preparing her baby to a stroll; her door is inches from mine, and she's really the most beautiful woman in the city/town/village where she lives, I'm absolutely certain of that.

I asked to take photos of her baby, her baby and her (I gave her the one best, also B&W and high key as this one, and the other day gave her this one, the only such photo, taken in an instant, but it was such a good photo when I worked it up in 'high key' that I decided to post it; it was meant for her movie star handsome husband.

Great beauty is one thing (and more commonplace in Ukraine than in many countries), skin deep, disappears physically with age (sometimes), but she's educated, smart, clever, and a devoted mother and wife.

Some people have very good advantages in life and do well to follow them up as she seems to be doing; some people (The Lindsay Lohans of this world) seem intent on destroying the gifts God has given them; not this woman.

Sometimes you meet someone you know will be a future leader, and I feel this woman is one.  If I live long enough, I'll be able to say 'I knew her when she was younger, and just had a small chlld'.

Thanks Svetlana, for the kind comment.

;~))

john

John (Crosley)