Bumazhnyy Zmey (Paper Kite) at Balagan Art-Restaurant, Voronezh

For me, every concert I shoot feels like the first one. There are always unique details, and this night was no exception. Bumazhnyy Zmey (Paper Kite) and Balagan art-restaurant are old friends, and on March 8 they decided to give the guests a gift in the form of a fiery cover show.

From the very first chords, it was clear: boring wasn’t an option. The room was loud and full of energy. The musicians lived every song, moved around, and became one with the crowd, who happily sang along and danced. The dance floor was so packed that some guests had to dance and sing right next to their tables.

Shooting in these conditions was both a pleasure and a challenge. The lighting at Balagan consists only of moving stage spotlights in the dark. But no challenge means no thrill. The best part is when you manage to catch a frame despite all the difficulties.

The highlight of the night was the bow. Mikhail, Egor, Alexander, and Artem stepped to the edge of the stage, stood in a row, and from the hall came shouts: “Bravo!”, “Well done!”, “Thank you!” The applause was so long and sincere that for a second I felt like I wasn’t in a cozy Voronezh restaurant, but on a huge stadium. In those moments, I slightly envied the guests who could just dance and not worry about missing a shot. But I never regretted being on the other side of the lens.

Thank you to Bumazhnyy Zmey (Paper Kite) and personally to Mikhail Shmelev for the invitation and trust. I’m glad the photos resonated with you and are already living their own lives.