#12 Nick Bondarev: 'I travelled non-stop for 8 years'

The Sixth Power is a new column dedicated to emerging or established influencers. Each week we give you a new interview with an influencer. This twelfth post is dedicated to Nick Bondarev.

Hostelsclub's blog is hosting a new column dedicated to influencers, entitled 'The Sixth Power'. We are going to hear what they have to say, listen to their stories and discover their way of life. Many people would love to be like them, and influencers are one of the latest and most coveted professions. Their following, in some cases, exceeds the influence of the Heads of State. The Californian Kourtney Kardashian with 72.6 million followers, has more followers than the number of votes that led Donald Trump to the post of President of the United States of America in 2016. The Italian Chiara Ferragni, before having 16.9 million followers on Instagram and worldwide fame, was just a beautiful blonde girl. They're millionaires, but what exactly do they do? We'll find out, giving a voice to travel bloggers in particular. It is certain that their ability to influence is such that international brands rely on them by showering them with gold. Ten years ago, brands turned to televisions and newspapers, columns of modern media power. Now they rely on influencers. Television was called the fifth power, but is the sixth power influencers? From this question, the title of this column was born. There will be many good tips for those with attentive ears. On the other hand, it seems that it doesn't take much to become an influencer: a social profile, a little work and lots of imagination.

#12 Nick Bondarev: 'I travelled non-stop for 8 years'

Nick Bondarev is one of the most talented travel photographers of the contemporary Russian scene. Few people managed to show Mongolia as he did. A hawk in the hands of a frowning warrior, a horse, the frozen snow and the desert in the incredible light. The island lost in the icy north in Bondarev's work appears to be inhabited by a secret, a remote, yet vital life. The photos of this young Russian capture the hidden beauty of the place, all with the precision of a great photographer and the talent of the artist. Nine years ago he decided to become a photographer, and so far his journey has lasted eight. His Instagram profile is well-followed but he has been concentrating his energy on creating photo books for a while now. "Real things - he tells us - happen off the Internet. I believe in the need to act responsibly in the wildlife that surrounds us".

@nickbondarev

A strong and singular point of view emerges from your profile.

It's what I try to convey: developing one's style and one's vision is a necessity for all creative people. But there is also a second message I want to emit.

Which is?

The importance of acting responsibly in the wildlife that surrounds us.

Is Instagram a useful tool for this?

Instagram is basically a business page that allows me to find resources to make my life interesting. Instagram doesn't say much about my work and it says even less than me. After all, any image on social networks is just an image, and people perceive it in their own way.

@nickbondarev

There is then something that remains, so to speak, a secret.

I spread some information and my points of view to my followers, but it is impossible to build an opinion on a person if you do not know them personally.

How do you use social networks?

Nowadays, social networks are one of the main mechanisms for selling, and many aspects of my business depend on them.

Are they are fundamental to your travels?

Sure, and because of them, I have managed to travel non-stop for the past 8 years.

@nickbondarev

What inspires your work?

People, movies, books, art, music.

And a passion for publishing.

I always wanted to create something that was the culmination of my creativity, and my book of pictures fulfilled this feeling. I think it's the best way to tell a story because the feelings that the reader has when they read a book cannot be compared to those you have when you look at photos and text on the Internet.

Was this something you realised due to your success as an influencer?

Yes, I wanted to be more serious about what I'm doing - do much more than browse photos on Instagram.

@nickbondarev

Is this a criticism of the world of influencers?

All serious things happen off the Internet. I want to focus on my creative projects and books.

Another negative appearance?

Some influencers try to copy everything. You can't be an interesting character without an individual story. Being popular in social media is the result of successful projects and attention to detail and creativity.

In other words, a question of quality?

Of course, it is only a matter of chasing after followers with competitions and other nonsense.

What journey struck you the most?

Greenland for sure. The island drives me crazy with its mystery and the fact that it is so little-explored. Nowhere else in the world have I seen such incredible landscapes and the most important thing, of course, was the people I worked with during the expeditions.

We are a world leading portal for hostel reservations, do you never use them in your travels?

Sure. Above all for the need to communicate with new people and it often leads to some interesting acquaintances!

This section will be translated into the main languages among the 26 of our blog. If you are an influencer you want to tell us your story then write to us, we will evaluate your proposal and perhaps The Sixth Power will talk about you!