M+T

This intimate story is about the love between an old couple with Down Syndrome in Russian unique village called "Svetlana". Most residents of this village a people with special needs. This special village built in 1994 and try to be a place non-stereotyped, give opportunities for all people, and believe in the potential of every person.

Minya and Tatyana met each other in this village and fell in love in 2015. They are more than 50 years old. I saw how this couple has developed and how they happy to be with each other. They care and support, spend free time together, worry about feelings and health. They value every minute with each other. They wake up and fall asleep together, drink tea, hugs, and call each other as a wife and husband. It is a great happiness for them.

Love for them is not just something ordinary in life, it is a real event and luck. Minya works as a baker with Tatyana, they help other people with cooking and cleaning. They participate in different performances, draw, and so on.

Many people think that people with Down syndrome can't love and they don't understand what is it. But that's not true, love has no limitations.

This story consists of two parts. The first part is my images, and the second part is Tatiana's images. I taught her to take pictures in Polaroid. Tatiana took pictures what is surround her and what she is interested in. Sometimes Minya also took photos. I didn't interfere in the process and didn't control them. We are here as a team, where everyone has own voice.