Gentle Punks Young people from all over the country hike an hour and a half to the “United Help Fest,” campsite in the woods outside of St. Petersburg, Russia on July 18, 2013. United Help Fest is a three day d.i.y. punk festival in the woods outside of St. Petersburg meant to raise money for friends currently in jail for their activism. The following photo series title “The Gentle Punks,” was developed in the summer of 2013 when I traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia and immersed myself in the world of dissident punk youth combatting Putin politics. Alex “Sasha” Averianov, 23, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 15, 2013. Alex is an engineer by day who can’t wait for the work day to end so that he can just drink with his friends. A group of punks relieve themselves after a two-hour train ride on their way to “United Help Fest,” a three day d.i.y. punk festival in the woods outside of St. Petersburg on July 18, 2013. The festival was created to raise money for friends currently in jail for their activism. A decorated wall in “Girl Sasha’s” room. “Girl Sasha” smokes a cigarette in the apartment she squats in on Kanonersky Island in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sasha “Lumpen,” wanders around the beach on Kanonersky Island in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 17, 2013. Six punks share a small communal apartment with their pets on Kanonersky Island in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 17, 2013. Alex “Sasha” Averianov, 23, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 15, 2013. Alex is an engineer by day who can’t wait for the work day to end so that he can just drink with his friends. Sasha “Lumpen” draws on the balcony of the apartment he squats in with his roommate, right, in St. Petersburg, Russia. A group of punks exit the train after a two-hour train ride on their way to “United Help Fest,” a three day d.i.y. punk festival in the woods outside of St. Petersburg on July 18, 2013. The festival was created to raise money for friends currently in jail for their activism.
