Elena Zhukova

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Collaboration project with my wonderful make up artist Inna Mathews.

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Shot for UC Berkeley Optometry.

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Mushrooming in Oregon. It is a Russian tradition to pick wild mushrooms and fry them. Oregon is pretty nice for this event, but I can't share the location since shroomers never tell anyone the secret where they pick. Today, we found edible mushrooms: chanterelles, hedgehogs and yellowfoot (winter chanterelles). 

Here is a traditional recipe for cooking these mushrooms: 

- mushrooms are cleaned with a knife but not washed, so they don't absorb water

-cut mushrooms are placed on a hot frying pan with no oil. Add salt.

-wait till the juice from the mushrooms is evaporated, then add olive oil or butter and fry to desired consistency 

-add caramelized onions

-optional: add sour cream and warm through till just combined 

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Snegurochka. My interpretation of a Russian folk story about snow girl.

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I am excited about my winter outfit. Shepard's hat is from Georgia's mountains and coat is from urban Russia. Model is from Look Agency and make up / hair is Inna Mathews.

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Last week, I ran into a street photographer in Jaipur, India, who used 150 year old camera. He photographed, developed the pictures all within 5 minutes and it all happened in his camera, right there on a busy street. He got his camera from his father, who got this camera from his father. I love how the camera is held together with bits of string you get at hindu temples for good luck and safety. I was fascinated with his fast ritual of taking a portrait using a black umbrella to block sunlight. His face expression was magical when he exposed paper by opening my favorite lens, tessar, for a second or two feeling time in his mind. Than he mixed chemicals using water from a bucket on the street and some colorful bottles from his pocket, developed the paper negative, re-photographed it to get a positive image. It took five minutes, it cost $5, it was magical. It reminded me why I felt in love with photography.

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I had a wonderful project over the summer working with Stanford Graduate School of Business, Executive Education. Here are just a few examples of the shoots we did. My team and art director made thousands of images for their photo library. I got to attend some classes! It is such an inspirational environment and I can't wait to shoot more for Stanford this week. 

It was fun to see images in print last week...

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I felt honored to work with The D4D and Simpson Scarborough photographing several of The Campaign for Stony Brook co-chairs gathered with President Stanley to discuss why Stony Brook, why now?

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Behind the scene video of our collaboration project.

Three photographers, same tools, same location, same time. THREE DIFFERENT RESULTS.

We just love to challenge ourselves and play together. Self portraiture is done by me, Daryn LaBier, and Anastasiiia Sapon

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Collaboration Project with my two awesome friends.

Three photographers, same tools, same location, same time. THREE DIFFERENT RESULTS.

We just love to challenge ourselves. Self portraiture is done by me, Daryn LaBier, and Anastasiiia Sapon

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Test with Ashleigh Reddy. I need more head shots of regular people in my portfolio. Interesting looking people with all kinds of professions?

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I am hanging out with friends on a background with lots of statues in Florida and making my friends into statues. Fun fun fun! I need more vacations to play around.

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Portrait of architect Craig Hodgetts who's been working with his students on Hyperloop concept, a high-speed tube transit system that will bring passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in about 30 minutes. I photographed Craig at UCLA's SUPRASTUDIO for UCLA Magazine about a year ago. Art director: Charlie Hess

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Sick baby horse with his mom recovering under supervision of Current News Dr. Monica Aleman at UC Davis Veterinary School. Shot for University of California yesterday. Art direction Vanessa Kanan Corrêa

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A black swan in Germany

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Kids kids kids

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Driving to shoots in California means lots of stops for fruit & vegetable stands.  Love California’s Agriculture!

7 avocados for $1! and strawberries are amazing!