The Kirov region will become the "Capital of Dawns": a large photo project is starting in the region.

      Every city, town, and even the smallest village in the Kirov region has its own dawn. Somewhere the sun rises over the Vyatka River, somewhere else — over the roofs of old houses, fields, forests, or a village road. Sometimes, for an incredible shot, you don't even need a famous tourist route — just being in the right place at the right morning is enough.

      From such dawns, we decided to create a large photographic map of the region.

      Newsler.ru is launching a regional photo contest "Capital of Dawns." Its main idea is to show the Kirov region through the eyes of the people who live here, travel, photograph, and one morning saw a sky they wanted to share with others.

      The slogan of the project became the words: "Kirov region — the territory of beautiful skies." "To show the region through the eyes of people who love this land."

      The project is not conceived as a one-time photo contest. "Capital of Dawns" should become an annual story: collecting new photographs every year, discovering new places, and gradually creating a visual chronicle of the dawns of the Kirov region.

      Oleg Shvetsov became the chairman of the project council "Capital of Dawns."

      "Pride for our small homeland begins with something very simple — the ability to see and appreciate what surrounds us. There are many places in the Kirov region that have special significance for each of us: our hometown or village, a familiar riverbank from childhood, a favorite landscape. 'Capital of Dawns' can gather these personal stories into one big picture of our region and show the Kirov region through the eyes of people who live here and love this land. I believe this is the main value of the project," says Oleg Shvetsov, chairman of the project council "Capital of Dawns."

      One of the project's tasks will also be to find places that can interest travelers. After all, a photograph of a dawn taken in a small settlement or on the bank of a river unknown to a wide audience sometimes tells more about the territory than a tourist brochure.

      Shirokov: "It's practically impossible to beautifully capture a dawn."

      The chairman of the professional jury of the contest is the famous star photographer, native of Kirovo-Chepetsk, Vladimir Shirokov. And he has perhaps the most unexpected advice for the contest participants: do not try to make the photograph more beautiful than the dawn itself.

      "Any place can become the capital of dawns — a big city, a small settlement, or a village. Dawn does not belong to any one point on the map. And perhaps the most interesting thing about this project is to see how people in different corners of the Kirov region perceive it.

      It's practically impossible to beautifully capture a dawn. What we see with our own eyes is so impressive that no camera and no technique can fully reproduce it. Therefore, my advice is simple: shoot boldly. It will still turn out worse than in real life. And the photographer's task is to try to convey not only what he saw but also what he felt at that moment," says the chairman of the jury, photographer Vladimir Shirokov.

      Therefore, a professional camera is not needed to participate. The contest accepts photographs taken with both a camera and a regular smartphone. The place, moment, and author's perspective are more important.

      The main condition is one: the dawn must be captured in the Kirov region.

      From dawn to dusk

      The "Capital of Dawns" already has a continuation beyond the region. The best photographs of the project are planned to be presented in Nizhny Novgorod as part of the collaboration with the "Capital of Sunsets." Thus, another idea of the project emerged: "From Dawn to Dusk: Kirov — Nizhny Novgorod."

      The Kirov region will show Nizhny its dawns — a city that has long turned sunsets into one of its recognizable cultural images will share its story.

      It becomes a kind of exchange of skies.

      Camera, GoPro, and other prizes

      The project partners have prepared a serious prize fund for the winners.

      The company "Fankom" provided a Canon EOS 2000D Kit 18–55mm IS II digital SLR camera.

      The company "I Service" — an action camera GoPro.

      From Newsler.ru, the winners will receive a "Yandex Station Duo Max" and 10 external batteries.

      In addition, project partners will be able to establish their own special nominations and gifts. Winners will be determined by a professional jury. A separate "Readers' Choice of Newsler.ru" is also planned.

      How to participate

      The acceptance of photographs is already open and will last until October 31, 2026, inclusive.

      One author can submit up to five works. Along with the photograph, it is necessary to indicate the author's name and surname, the title of the work, the place and date of shooting, as well as contact details. If desired, a short story about where and how the shot was taken can be added.

      Works are accepted via email at reporter@newsler.ru or through messages to the Newsler.ru community on "VKontakte."

      Ordinary photo processing is allowed — light, color, contrast correction, cropping. Photomontage and significant alteration of the content of the shot are not allowed. Images completely created by generative artificial intelligence do not participate in the contest.

      The best works will be included in the final exhibition "Capital of Dawns."

      And then we really want to see where the capital of dawns in the Kirov region is actually located.

      Perhaps in Kirov. Or perhaps in Urzhum, Sovetsk, Omutninsk, a small village on the bank of the Vyatka, or in a place whose name thousands of people will learn for the first time thanks to one photograph.

      Because the capital of dawns is not a point on the map. Every morning it can be in a new place.