In honor of the upcoming Victory Day holiday on May 9, acclaimed British photographer James Hill has given us access to some photographs from his new book, entitled "Victory Day."
In his own words: "Victory Day in Russia is a proud celebration of victory and liberation but, more poignantly, it is an outpouring of gratitude to the generation of the Soviet Union that fought facism. A generation to which, 65 years after the war, Russians still feel deeply indebted. This emotion, symbolized by the gesture of ordinary people taking to the streets to hand out flowers to veterans, touched me from the first time I saw these men and women, garlanded with medals and bouquets.
In 2006, aware that their voices were fading, I took my cameras to Gorky Park.
Over the course of 4 years, more than 500 veterans posed in my little field studio by the gates of the park and I gave every one a Polaroid portrait of themselves to take home. It was their extraordinary spirit, generosity and kindness that made this project possible.
To every veteran, who stood in front of me and let me take picture, I owe my heartfelt thanks."
An exhibit of Hill's Victory Day photos are currently on show at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art until May 23.