"Weightless": Maldives girls in the ocean, which will soon swallow their country

EVERY DAY PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND THE WORLD looking for new ways to tell stories or to capture what we previously did not notice. We choose interesting photo projects and ask their authors what they wanted to say. This week, the focus is on the project of Anastasia Korosteleva, who observed the relationship of the Maldivian girls and the ocean, which will soon swallow their country.

Traveling has always been my main inspiration. The Maldives attracted not only stunning nature, but also open and surprisingly beautiful people. The project "Weightless" I took off on the bulk of the island Hulhumale. It is located near the capital and is popular among Maldivians because of the good beaches. On the coast, I immediately noticed that the island was very low above sea level. As it turned out, 80% of all the Maldives are less than a meter above the Indian Ocean. Due to global warming, water always rises: according to research, by the end of the century the Maldives will be under water.

The "Weightless" project is a series of portraits of Maldivian girls swimming in the ocean that will swallow their country relatively soon. This is a study of the identity of a nation that is on the verge of extinction. I took photos during school holidays, when a lot of guys could be met in the water. The girls caught my attention with bright outfits. In the Maldives, 100% of the local population preach Islam, so almost all girls bathe in closed costumes. Among other things, I was struck by their genuine love for the ocean. Despite the fact that they see him every day, he does not become commonplace for them, they like to spend time in warm salty water. Despite the fact that the water arrives, they do not hold evil on the ocean - this is their home in which they feel completely safe.