The real stories of the silk Rail road

Often, photographers capture beauty of landscapes, of faces, of artistic expression, but more often than not, the stories behind the photos are not told. Randy Lin and Dimitry Levdanski are setting out to go beyond the two dimensions of photography.  Their project titled “Silk Rail Road” is setting out to capture the incredible beauty and landscapes of the rail road that runs from Astana, Kazakhstan to Bejing, China that runs along the old Silk Road.  Covering 2,500 miles, this journey will go well beyond the natural beauty of this incredible region.

See their Kickstarter here.

Levdanski and Lin are producing a multimedia photography book that will showcase the lives of the diverse and enchanting people of Central Asia.  Their motivation is pure considering the lives New Yorker’s lead.  They questioned the idea that everyday people crowd on trains together in the city but don’t really talk with each other. On the other hand in Central Asia, the people they met on trains were happy to share their lives and stories.

In a world where we are often too busy to walk down the street and get to know our own neighbors, this project goes deeper than just documenting life in a far away region.  This project comes from a motivation that everyone has a story that is worth the time to listen and a ride on a train is a perfect way to set yourself up to hear those stories.  The 2,500 miles they will travel will not be simply time passed looking out the window, instead it will be time spent learning about the human condition. As a person who has spent considerable time in the region, I realize the power of what they are trying to accomplish and just how much this region can have an effect on a visitor. Their Kickstarter video states in the conclusion, “We will be sending you the most beautiful book that will capture your heart.”

I for one have already made a pledge to help them make this dream a reality. Their photography will be beautiful, the stories will be touching, and their journey will be one to capture a region rich in history and culture that is increasingly being forgotten with progress. You can find the Kickstarter here, their video is below.