Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

A crazy situation that everybody was afraid of, but I hope, or at least it seems, it didn’t turn out to be as bad as everybody thought in the beginning, at least in Estonia.

To be honest, I couldn’t have been prepared any better. It was weird that, in a way, not much changed for me. A week or a month into this epidemic, I was talking with my friends and thought: “Nothing really changed for me: that’s how I lived before”. I don’t know if it’s good or sad. I was already spending a lot of time alone, working at home, basically only going out with the dog, doing the shopping, getting the groceries.

Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

So, I was way in the f-ing lockdown before it happened. So I don’t know what you are talking about here. [laughing]. I thought it was fine. But then, when they started to open everything, I think they opened the playgrounds last. I was going by and saw it and was so surprised. “Like, already? Is it reasonable? I don’t know.” But then I put it together — they must have opened skate parks as well. And then I felt this freedom like they finally opened things. And it was closed, how long, maybe two months?

I thought I didn’t miss anything, but when they opened them, it felt like it was some kind of release: “YEAH!”. The weight was lifted.

During this epidemic, stuff happened. It was all really hectic. No one knew what it was, how to act: they were just making up the rules. They did one thing, and the next week, they completely changed everything because they were just like trying out what would work. And I don’t know if I trust them, why should I trust them? No one knew what it was, so it was a bit scary.

Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

I feel weird telling about this, but picking up stuff like meditating, doing breathing exercises — that’s what I found super-useful.

I wonder if we’re now living like this, that every autumn and spring we’re going to have this: everybody locked down, wearing masks, is it going to be an annual thing? We will see.

Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

“Tell me your story”, virtual exhibition

Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Anett

28, program manager
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Andrey

38, IT-specialist
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Arvo

41, engineer
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Pjotr

34, sound engineer
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Maria

31, choreographer, teacher, performer, research fellow
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Vasilina

31, mother of two
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Marina

37, scientist, geneticist
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Dmitry

32, engineer
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Roman

31, software engineer
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Nastya

28, actress
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Tanya

23
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Kate

29, food photographer, podcaster
Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Organizers

Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

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Raimi. Polina Soyref, portrait photographer

Teet

50, engineer, Master of Science
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