I'm dedicating this post to the magic of Russia and it's photographers! If you wade through the hundreds of documentary photographers surrounding the Soviet Union and its states, you will find a magical group of artists working to convey the mystery and beauty of their country's struggles, without the crutch of depraved imagery. Here are a few:

My favorite (and one of my favorite photographers in general) Alexi Titarenko:















I love his long exposures where people appear in waves, identity-less .

This next artist is Finnish, but he dedicated much of his career to photographing Russia. Pentti Sammallahti:






Igor Savchenko:







Remigijus Treigys (from Lithuania, previously occupied by the Soviet Union):