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McLaren Construction reveals £13m loss

04 Jun 2021 By David Price

McLaren Construction has “weathered the storm” after suffering a £13m loss, according to chairman Kevin Taylor.

The impact of COVID-19 on the company, combined with a problem infrastructure job, created exceptional costs of £19.4m. This dragged the construction business to a £13.1m pre-tax loss for the year ending 31 July 2020.

The company declined to reveal details of the project, citing a non-disclosure agreement it had signed. McLaren’s accounts did include a £10m provision to cover losses on an infrastructure contract in its Midlands and North division that had been cancelled.

Revenue dropped from £650.9m to £525.8m, with the fall blamed on the impact of the pandemic.

Taylor, also the co-founder, said the company was now in a good position after the challenges faced last year. “We weathered the storm,” he said. “Our customers and supply chain respect how we conducted ourselves through very difficult times.”

He told Construction News that the company had managed to keep all of its sites open through the pandemic. McLaren started planning for major disruption due to COVID-19, such as problems getting people and materials to sites, in late February 2020. This enabled the company to continue working when the first lockdown was introduced in late March. “We had board meetings, two, three weeks before the situation become really apparent in the UK,” he said, which resulted in 167 action points for McLaren’s management to consider and prepare for.

The contractor carried out cost cutting in response to pandemic, which resulted in redundancies. The company did not say how many people were let go. The company also claimed £1.2m for furloughed staff during the year. Taylor said the board was now considering returning the money: “I think it’s right that we look at ways to repay that money back over a period of time.”

Essex-based McLaren ended its last financial year with net assets of £22.5m, compared to £32.4m 12 months prior. Its cash reserves stood at £39.9m, the same as in July 2019.

Since the end of its last financial year in July 2020, the company has secured a £5m Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan facility, which Taylor said has not been used. “I think it's wise for any business to put facilities in place because nobody knows what is ahead of us,” he said.

It has also put in place a £5m early payment facility for suppliers.

Around two years ago, the company started targeting building work with the public sector and housing associations. Taylor this was yielding good results and was the largest area of growth for the company, albeit from a low starting point, with McLaren now on 15 frameworks. Public sector work will contribute around 20 per cent to McLaren’s revenue for its current financial year, up from 15 per cent last year.

There are plans to more vertically integrate McLaren’s property development business with its contracting operations. Taylor said the company was already working on one project for a housing association where it was providing development and building services.

McLaren’s major projects division has also started looking at work outside of London. Taylor said it was considering building jobs with existing and new clients. “We've got a solid base of major project delivery and a proven track record of it in London, we've looked to expand that throughout the UK,” he said.

For its current year to the end of July 2021 the construction company is forecasting turnover to be around £600m with profit to be back to "pre-COVID levels". Taylor said: “In terms of the overall market. We're as busy as we've ever been in tendering at the moment.”

Last month saw the company get a £5m cash injection from its shareholders . Taylor said the move reflected their confidence in the business.

McLaren’s property development business recently reported strong results for the year, with pre-tax profit of £12.4m on revenue of £49.9m. This let the combined construction and property group with a profit after tax of £700,000.

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Kevin Taylor

RESULTS FOR 2009 Ranking: 1,771= Worth: £30m New entry Source of wealth: Construction

Essex-based McLaren Construction specialises in design and build. Taylor, the chairman, has a 93.7% stake after buying out a co-founder in 2006. In the year to July 2007, profits were £5.4m on £133.8m sales. With a solid balance sheet, it is worth £25m. Other assets and past salaries take Taylor, 43, to £30m.

RESULTS FOR 2008 New entry

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Mclaren wins deal to build uk pavilion at dubai trade show.

McLaren Construction has won the contract to build the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

McLaren will work with event specialist Pico to create the design conceived by UK artist Es Devlin.

The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is themed “Innovating for a Shared Future” and will showcase the UK as a global hub of innovation.

The centrepiece of the UK Pavilion is a 20-metre-high, cone-shaped structure made up of rows of protruding slats that extend outwards from one central point to form a circular facade.

The building will feature cross-laminated timber on a concrete structure, with much of the Pavilion manufactured and assembled off site in order to maximise quality and safety standards.

Kevin Taylor, McLaren Chairman, said, “McLaren has built its reputation in the region on successful delivery of complex, high-profile projects for discerning customers.

“Being asked to build the UK Pavilion is testament to our ability to bring to life some exceptional buildings. We are proud to represent both the UK and UAE with this exciting project.”

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: “As the first major international moment after we leave the EU, Expo 2020 Dubai will mark the UK becoming a truly independent trading nation.

“The Expo provides a global platform to showcase our ambition for the future, and our participation provides excellent opportunities for UK businesses that have already won major contracts.

“I am delighted that our newly appointed construction partners Pico and McLaren will be working with our design team to bring the best of British creativity, innovation and expertise to the world.”

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NEW ON YOUTUBE: Cash for Clunkers List

McLaren’s Design Boss Just Built the World’s Most Beautiful Powerboat

Frank Stephenson penned the modern Mini Cooper, Ferrari F430 and the McLaren P1. Now check out his 31-foot, all-electric boat.

lawrenceulrich

Frank Stephenson, design director of Britain’s McLaren Automotive, is perhaps best known for his revivals of the bobber-size Mini Cooper and Fiat 500. But floating near his home on Henley-on-Thames, about 35 miles west of London, is a larger and more languid conveyance: a wood-hulled beauty of a riverboat that Stephenson designed. And unlike his previous boat, which had a Dodge Viper V-10 engine coiled inside, this new Riverbreeze is all smooth, silent sailing with its electric powertrain.

It’s Cupid’s Arrow slicing through water. A bravura exercise in beautiful hardwoods, with contrasting rosewood and mahoganies from Brazil and Africa, slathered in 15 initial coats of grain-flattering lacquer. “We’ve added five more coats every year, so now there’s 35,” says Stephenson. “It looks wet, with a shine that gets deeper and deeper.”

As such, this 31-footer blows a kiss to a romantic pre-fiberglass boating era, when lovingly varnished hulls gleamed like Tony Curtis’ pompadour. To Stephenson, fiberglass vessels are like Tupperware: useful for the household, but about as sexy as June Cleaver.

“Everyone’s got this white plastic shell, a big boat maybe, but there’s no romance,” explains the affably bearish 56-year-old. “Wooden boats get better with age, they smell nice, they feel nice, every one has its own character.”

A sort of rumble seat up front opens via flip-up portals, a bit like the dihedral doors on the Stephenson-designed McLaren 650S and 570S . And that mermaid mascot on the prow? Straight from a 1932 Cadillac, a hood ornament that Stephenson found on eBay (“I paid an arm and a leg”) and rechromed.

“Her chest is out, hair flowing back. It’s just beautiful.”

With sailors and collectors falling for wooden boats like salty Gepettos, the likes of architect Frank Gehry are creating their own designs . Timber runabouts you could barely give away 20 years ago, from American companies such as Chris-Craft and Hacker-Craft, are fetching up to six figures in restored trim.

Models from Riva , the Italian boatmaker that got its start in 1842, are especially prized. One 1966 Super Aquarama Series II, a descendant of a 1962 original first tested by the late Fiat tycoon Gianni Agnelli, fetched $775,000 at auction a few years back—a jaw-dropping sum for a pocket-size vintage boat. That’s because, in their Sixties heyday, the typically Chevy-powered Rivas glamorized every port on the French Riviera as gotta-have accessory of royals, industrialists and movie stars. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton hopped to ports from their yacht, the Odysseia , in a Riva Junior; Italian playboy Gigi Rizzi, known for swilling champagne and midnight waterskiing with Brigitte Bardot , says that she’d switch to a new Riva with every new boyfriend. Ferruccio Lamborghini had a custom Riva Aquarama built in 1968, powered by the V12 from his 350GT coupe. Rivas’ jaunty profiles made them perfect for movie roles, from James Bond features to Some Like It Hot and Ocean’s Twelve .

Stephenson says of his own sleek-lined superstar, “It’s in the vein of a Riva, but it’s stretched and more dramatic. It’s one of those labors of love, where I just wanted to make something special.”

Instead of a fuel-thirsty V8 or V12, Stephenson sources power from a torpedo-shaped, 4.2-kilowatt electric pod motor, with 14.7 kilowatt-hours of storage from eight Varta 12-volt marine batteries that take about eight hours to charge. A typical day’s cruise mates might include neighbor Dhani Harrison, son of George Harrison, who Stephenson met at a Christmas party in Maranello when Eric Clapton was being fitted for his Ferrari Enzo seat.

Stephenson and crew will spend a good 10 hours cruising the Thames, rising and falling on a series of locks, all the way to Lechlade at the edge of the Cotswolds—the river’s highest navigable point, near the bubbling source of the Thames. The electric boat depletes roughly half its battery en route, Stephenson says, but there are charge points all along the river. And, where his signature sports cars and bikes are fast, Riverbreeze is about slowing down.

“For a designer, it’s all about that balance. I’ll get up at 6 a.m. and beat myself up on a high-decibel Ducati all day. So when I get on the boat, all I want to hear is the birds and the water.

“And there’s no laws against drinking and driving on the river, so we’ll just smoke a pipe, drink some whiskey and chill.”

Designing McLarens, rocking Ducatis, boating on the Thames with Beatle posterity, in a craft of your own design: Sorry, Dos Equis, you cast the wrong guy .

Kevin Taylor -v- (1) Van Dutch Marine Holding Ltd, (2) Van Dutch Marine Ltd, (3) Hendrik R Erenstein, (4) Ruud Koekkoek & TCA Global Credit Master Fund LP [2017] EWHC 636 (Ch)

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In this case, a secured creditor applied to amend the terms of a freezing order, so that it would be free to enforce its rights against assets subject to the order. In view of the true purpose and effect of freezing orders, the court considered whether variations were generally necessary for a third party to be able to enforce their security, and whether it was appropriate in the present case.

The claimant (Mr Taylor) claimed that all four defendants were jointly and severally liable on a bridging loan for a considerable sum of money. On 2 August 2016 judgment was entered against the defendants for a sum of over US$2.5 million with subsequent judgments awarding further amounts of €1.3 million against the first defendant and US$400,000 against all four defendants jointly and severally.

The freezing order

On 21 June 2016 a freezing order was made against all four defendants and it was continued by Norris J on 7 July 2016. The order, which was in typical form, restrained the defendants from dealing with certain physical assets, dealings with shares in the first defendant and also contained a further general restraint on dealing with the assets of any of the defendants.   

The freezing order gave rise to considerable satellite litigation involving complaints of non-disclosure, ultimately resulting in committal orders. In the course of the satellite litigation, the defendants asserted that certain assets which were thought to have been owned by the second defendant were in fact owned by an entity called Rhino, which was said in turn to be owned by a third party. Mr Taylor sought to establish the true position as to ownership of the assets by way of disclosure orders and committal applications.

The intervener application

The present application was made by TCA Global Credit Master Fund LP (TCA), as an intervener / third party to the proceedings.

The interest of TCA in the matter arose via a debenture given by the second defendant on 4 November 2014 in order to secure a facility of US$2.5 million or up to US$7.5 million. The debenture contained a fixed and floating charge over the second defendant’s assets. The fixed charge caught certain specified property including ‘all the intellectual property’ of the second defendant.

TCA made various arrangements to enforce its security against the second defendant pursuant to the debenture to recover amounts owed to it.  However, to avoid any potential problems, TCA asked Mr Taylor (being the person with the benefit of the freezing order) to consent to it being able to enforce the debenture, notwithstanding the freezing order. Mr Taylor did not consent and therefore, in order to clear its path, TCA made the present application for an amendment to the freezing order to the effect that nothing in the order should restrict it from enforcing its rights as a secured creditor pursuant to the debenture.

Legal issues

Mr Taylor submitted that the circumstances surrounding the ownership of the assets in question (the intellectual property) mean that a variation should not be granted until that uncertainty is sorted out. Mr Taylor made the following arguments:

• The intellectual property (trademarks) may not be owned by the second defendant, but could be owned by Rhino. Until the ownership of the trademarks and indeed, the ownership of Rhino itself, had been determined TCA should not have its variation. If the second defendant did not own the assets, then TCA would have no right over the assets.
• The court should, as a matter of discretion, let the freezing order ‘hold the ring’ until ownership of the trademarks is determined.
• There was a danger that a court-permitted variation of the order would be seen as validation of TCA’s title.

Relevant legal principles

Mann J stated that, in the absence of authority, principle does not stand in the way of a secured creditor enforcing its security over charged assets caught by a freezing order. The whole point of a freezing order, as is well-established, is to prevent a defendant from dissipating its assets improperly in the face of a claim by the claimant. Freezing orders do not operate so as to give security to the creditor; and it does not operate so as to affect the genuine right of third parties over those assets.

The freezing order operates to prevent the defendants from dissipating or disposing of their respective assets. It does not in terms bar anyone else, who might have their own rights over the assets, from disposing of them. However, if a third party’s acts fell to be treated as acts of the defendants then the third party may be caught by the order. Accordingly, in Mann J’s view, a third party (for example, a mortgagee) with security over property which is frozen by the freezing order would not need to obtain permission in order to exercise that security because the exercise of disposal rights under that security would not be an act prohibited by the order. It follows that strictly speaking a chargee or mortgagee, in a normal case, would not need to obtain a release or variation of the freezing order.

Following an analysis of the case law, Mann J drew a distinction between a creditor taking steps to enforce their own rights on the one hand, and a party who does something which falls to be viewed as a disposal by the defendant on the other. The latter is prohibited by the freezing order.

Mann J concluded that he preferred the principled approach which determines that, in a normal security enforcement situation which does not involve anything which could properly be classed as a disposal by the defendant, which is not collusive and which does not amount to aiding and abetting a breach of the order, a secured creditor does not need a variation of a freezing order. It may be that in some complex cases, a creditor may wish to take a safety-first approach of seeking a variation, but Mann J did not consider this to be generally necessary in a standard case.

Application to the present case

In response to Mr Taylor’s arguments, Mann J concluded:

• There is no reason that a dispute as to ownership of the frozen assets should mean that TCA is prohibited by the order from enforcing its rights. If it turns out that the second defendant has no title to the assets, then TCA commits a wrong as against the second defendant. That is TCA’s risk to bear and it is not the purpose of the freezing order to protect the second defendant from that.
• Freezing orders are capable of ‘holding the ring’ as between the relevant parties but there is no ring to be held so far as the secured creditors are concerned. 
• The fear of a perception of some form of court approval or sanction resulting from a variation is easily dealt with. If there is a risk then it can be dealt with by a ‘for the avoidance of doubt’ provision in the variation order.    

Mann J concluded that TCA was entitled to the relief it sought. He noted that TCA may not need the variation, but the court should be sympathetic to a third party that wishes to have clarity.

In a normal security enforcement situation, a secured creditor does not need a variation of a freezing order if the enforcement does not involve anything which could properly be classed as a disposal by the defendant, is not collusive and does not amount to aiding and abetting a breach of the order. The judgment is a reminder that the purpose of a freezing order is to prevent a defendant from dissipating its assets improperly, not something which should operate to affect the genuine rights of third parties over those assets.

This article originally appeared in the April 2017 edition of  shipping case digest . Other articles include:

Kyokuyo Co Ltd -v- A.P Moller – Maersk A/S [2017] EWHC 654 (Comm)

Nautical Challenge Ltd -v- Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd [2017] EWHC 453 (Admlty)

OMV Petrom SA -v- Glencore International AG [2017] EWCA Civ 195 (27 March 2017)

• Freezing order

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McLaren brings in former McAlpine London boss to head up construction business

By Dave Rogers 2022-03-15T11:34:00+00:00

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Paul Heather joined £650m turnover firm this week

McLaren has appointed former Sir Robert McAlpine London boss Paul Heather into a new role at the £650m turnover business as it looks to challenge the premier league of Tier 1 firms for work.

Heather, who started this week, left McAlpine last September after four years at the firm, having joined it from Skanska where he spent 17 years.

His new role at McLaren is group managing director of its construction business where he will report into the firm’s owners Kevin Taylor and Phil Pringle. “We’ve been talking to Paul since before Christmas,” Taylor, who is the firm’s chairman, said.

McLaren chairman Kevin Taylor (left) with new UK construction boss Paul Heather

Taylor added the firm’s construction arm was eyeing revenue of £750m in its next financial year, which ends in July 2023, and is looking at recruiting a further 100 people to the payroll to bring the number up to 750.

He said McLaren was eventually looking at picking up some jobs currently the preserve of a handful of major contractors.

Its major clients include British Land and Taylor added: “It will take time but other developers of that ilk have asked us to discuss projects with them that haven’t in the past. It’s a growing market and there is space for new entrants.”

McLaren recently beat Sir Robert McAlpine to an £80m scheme to turn the former House of Fraser flagship on London’s Oxford Street into a mixed-use scheme.

“Paul will help us grow London and major projects,” Taylor said, adding the firm was also looking at carrying out some construction management work.

One industry source said: “Paul Heather is a highly regarded guy in the London scene. I think a number of the premier league Tier 1s have lost their way and the clients are disillusioned with what value they are bringing. He will give McLaren more kudos in the eyes of both developers and the key design and cost consultant houses.”

And one major London consultant added: “I think it will take more than [Paul Heather] to rival the Tier 1s at the moment but it’s a step in the right direction.”

At McAlpine, Heather worked on a number of high-profile schemes include the Stirling Prize-winning Bloomberg building, 100 Liverpool Street for British Land and the redevelopment of Wimbledon No 1 Court.

McLaren to offer Ukraine refugees work

McLaren chairman Kevin Taylor has said the firm has written to the government telling it that it is ready to help offer jobs to Ukrainian refugees.

“It’s terrible what is happening,” said Taylor. “We would like to help. We are keen to give people from Ukraine employment.” Taylor said it would work with labour firm Shore Group to get the initiative up and running

Redrow founder Steve Morgan has pledged to pay for 1,000 Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK.

And over the weekend, it emerged that a group of more than 45 large businesses is pressing the government to make it easier for those driven out by Russia’s invasion to come to the UK.

Marks & Spencer, Asos, Lush and recruitment giant Robert Walters are some of the firms involved.

The government has been criticised over the speed and scale of its response to the Ukraine refugee crisis, with Morgan saying it was moving too slowly to help people fleeing the war which is now in its third week.

• Sir Robert McAlpine

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Welcome to the centre of the celebrity universe! Paradise island of St Barths is surrounded by billionaires' superyachts and filled with stars as it becomes THE place to be this winter

• St Barths, a tiny island in the Caribbean, has become the go-to destination for the rich and the famous 
• Moored off shore are dozens of boats belonging to billionaires such as Roman Abramovich and David Geffen 
• Jeff Bezos, world's second-richest man, was also spotted playing in the ocean with partner Lauren Sanchez 
• Meanwhile the beaches are populated by famous faces including Dua Lipa, Kimberley Garner, Izabel Goulart, Victoria Silvstedt, Scott Disick, Mike Tyson and Cuba Gooding Jr  

By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 02:47 EDT, 30 December 2021 | Updated: 06:46 EDT, 31 December 2021

View comments

It's a tiny Caribbean island about twice as large as Heathrow airport, but with billionaire yachts packing the harbour and celebrities strolling the sands, you'd be forgiven for thinking St Barths is in fact the centre of the universe.

The island - which is French territory - has become the go-to destination for the rich and famous to soak up some sun this winter, with yachts owned by the likes of Roman Abramovich, WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and shipping billionaire Eyal Ofer anchored just off shore. David Geffen's huge yacht was also pictured there in recent days. 

Meanwhile the likes of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have been pictured frolicking in the waters, while famous faces from Mike Tyson to Scott Disick, and Dua Lipa to Victoria Silvstedt have been spotted on the beaches. 

Here, MailOnline gives you a rundown of anyone who's anyone on or around St Barths this winter... 

The billionaire boat club  

Hugging close to the shoreline near the capital and main port of Gustavia, the creme de la creme of the world's superyachts form an ultra-exclusive club - and billionaires need not apply.

Dominating the horizon is Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $700million Eclipse yacht, complete with nine decks, 18 cabins for guests, 100 crew, a 50ft swimming pool that can be converted into a dancefloor and space  to store three helicopters. Moored just alongside is Le Grand Bleu, a $150million vessel that Abramovich used to own before it was sold to his best friend and business partner Eugene Shvidler in 2006.

Jan Koum, founder of WhatsApp, owns two boats currently moored off shore - the $220million Moonrise and the $20million sister ship, Power Play. Other notable owners include Ann Walton Kroenke, heiress to the Walmart fortune, and John Caudwell, British billionaire owner of Phones4U.

Gustavia, the capital and main port of St Barths, is currently packed with superyachts belonging to some of the world's richest people - from Roman Abramovich, to Walmart heiress Ann Walton Kroenke, and shipping magnate Eyal Ofer

A close-up of the boats taken on December 28 shows David Geffen's superyacht Rising Sun at anchor alongside Abramovich, as well as two boats owned by WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and fellow billionaires Eugene Shvidler and Patrick Dovigi 

The celeb sun-seekers

While a bevvy of big names have been spotted on the beaches of St Barths in recent days, perhaps the biggest of them all was Jeff Bezos - Amazon founder and world's second-richest man with a fortune of around $195billion.

The 57-year-old was spotted lounging in the sunshine with Sanchez as the pair spent the day on a tender vessel - a much smaller pleasure boat usually attached to a larger ship.

On December 26, the couple took a boat out with a group of friends, and spent some time laying out on a raft, where a bikini-clad Sanchez cuddled up to her shirtless beau who matched her in a pair of black swim trunks. 

Vibrant! Dua Lipa, 26, put on a stunning display in a glitzy sheer lime dress with cutout detailing at LuisaViaRoma's benefit for UNICEF in St. Barts on Wednesday

Wow: Dua Lipa showed off her sizzling physique in a neon green bikini as she shared snaps from an exotic getaway on Wednesday... after her 'split' from Anwar Hadid

Wow: Izabel Goulart certainly set pulses racing as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure while packing on the PDA with fiancé Kevin Trapp during a Christmas Day trip to the beach during their St. Barts holiday

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Happy holidays! Izabel Goulart got into the Christmas spirit early wearing a tiny red bikini as she celebrated along the shores of St. Barts on Friday afternoon

Stunner: Izabel Goulart, 37, also looked effortlessly elegant in a sparkling silver dress as she hit the red carpet for the winter benefit Wednesday

Days later, a star-studded gala thrown by Milanese fashion house LuisaViaRoma in aid of charity Unicef took place on the island, pulling in a plethora of celebrity guests who struck poses for the camera.

Leading the pack was English singer Dua Lipa who had been holidaying on the island following her rumoured split from Anwar Hadid, model and brother of Gigi and Bella, before attending the event on Wednesday evening.

The 26-year-old arrived wearing a sheer, green, sequined dress that revealed a cut-away bodysuit underneath. She had previously posted pictures of herself in a barely-there green bikini while sunbathing on the island.

She was joined by supermodel Izabel Goulart, 37, who arrived at the event in a floor-length silver number - having spent her Christmas holidays in a bikini on the beach with fiance Kevin Trapp.

Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sanchez were pictured in St Barts last week on board a smaller tender vessel. It is unclear what yacht he was staying on at the time 

Bezos (pictured with Sanchez in St Barts on December 26) has been linked with a number of yachts, though his main vessel - a 417ft sailing yacht known only as Y721 - is current under construction in the Netherlands 

Bezos and Sanchez were photographed kissing and wrapping their arms around one another on the boat

Goulart, who hails from São Paulo in Brazil, has been on St Barths since at least December 24 when she was pictured strolling the sands wearing a Santa hat.

She was accompanied on holiday - though not at the Unicef event - by Trapp, who is a German footballer who plays in goal for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the German national team. 

Elsewhere on the island, Scott Disick - of Keeping Up With The Kardashians fame - was seen spending time again with model Bella Banos, 25, over a year after they were last seen spending time with each other.

The father of three chatted up the brunette model on the beach on Tuesday as she showcased her svelte frame in a neon green thong bikini and white sarong.

The duo were spotted the day before lounging at the beach, with Bella opting for another neon swimsuit - this time in a citrus hue. 

Wow: Kimberley Garner showcased her lithe physique in a series of stunning snaps she shared on Wednesday

Wow! Kimberley Garner was once again her own best swimwear brand advertisement as she strutted her stuff on the beach in the Carribean's St Barts during a sun-soaked post-Christmas getaway on Tuesday

Phenomenal frame: Kimberley was later seen slipping into a similar two-piece, which was instead covered in a pretty pink floral pattern rather than the neutral tone she was seen sporting earlier in the day

For their Monday outing, Scott kept it casual in a patterned button up top, adding black shorts and loafers, wearing sunglasses on his head.

Meanwhile the model chose a neon orange triangle bikini top, adding matching thong bottoms; she rocked a lace sarong that tied on one side.

Also on the island in the past few days has been swimwear model Kimberley Garner, sported one of her brand's signature strappy bikinis and a bright orange one-piece.

She recently shared some snaps of herself in a black bikini as she posed on the white sandy beach of the Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel on the Caribbean island of Anguilla.

She could be seen wearing the dark swimwear which left her toned midriff on show.

It comes after Kimberley enjoyed the summer with her boyfriend, and is yet to reveal his identity. 

Reunited with his fling: Bella Banos is allegedly the girl Scott Disick brought on a Kardashian family vacation in 2017, sneaking her into his hotel room in Costa Rica, which led to a dramatic confrontation with him and Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian and Kris Jenner. And Scott, 38, was seen spending time again with the model, 25, while on holiday in St. Barts, over a year after they were last seen spending time with each other

Stroll: They stayed close during their walk together, with Bella opting to wear thong bikinis

Close: The father of three chatted up the brunette model on the beach on Monday as she showcased her svelte frame in an orange thong bikini and crocheted white sarong

Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt was another who combined work with pleasure, arriving on Barths ahead of Christmas and spending the holiday there before attending the gala.

The 47-year-old, who represented Sweden at Miss World in 1993 before becoming a Playboy Playmate, was spotted on the beaches of the Caribbean island several times over the festive period.

She then added some color to the proceedings at the Unicef gala with a sheer green dress, which she wore with a slim silver belt around her midriff. 

Joining the model at the benefit was former boxer Mike Tyson, who had on a midnight blue satin shirt with the sleeves partly rolled up. He contrasted it with black pants covered in silver floral designs and white alligator print shoes.

Stunning: Victoria Silvstedt donned a leggy white beach dress which flowed in the breeze for the sunny stroll, which she paired with a matching bikini

Seeing green: The Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt added some color to the proceedings with her sheer green dress.

Colors of the rainbow: Putting on a colorful display at the event was Danish model Nina Agdal. She wore a revealing pleated crop top with colorful kaleidoscopic designs and and thick yellow trim, with a cutout over her cleavage and a matching skirt

Stunners: Frida was also joined by several other models, including (L–R) Chantal Monaghan, Gabby Westbrook Patrick and Kasey Wamsher

Last week he had been spotted holidaying on the island his wife Lakiha Spicer, 44, and their daughter Milan, 13, as the trio strolled along one of the main beaches

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. also appeared at the gala looked dapper in a gray plaid blazer with black satin shawl lapels.

The actor - who is best known for portraying OJ Simpson in the first season of American Crime Story - wore his jacket with a black vest and a matching shirt, which he accented with an orange bow tie.

He completed the look with black jeans, along with laceless green sneakers and black browline sunglasses. 

Also at the Unicef event was Danish model Nina Agdal - former girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio - Norwegian beauty Frida Aasen and her Italian businessman fiancé Tommaso Chiabra, and actress and model Fiammetta Cicogna and attended with partner Carl Hirschman.

The Former undisputed heavyweight champion led they way as he and his family looked to find a spot to lay down their towels and relax on the beach

Blue mood: Joining the model at the benefit was former boxer Mike Tyson, who had on a midnight blue satin shirt, black pants covered in silver floral designs and white alligator print shoes. Cuba Gooding Jr. looked dapper in a gray plaid blazer with black satin shawl lapels

The yachts and their owners 

1. Moonrise, Jan Koum

Moonrise is owned by billionaire Whatsapp founder Jan Koum, who has reportedly been dating supermodel Evelina Mambetova for seven years (pictured together)

Founder of WhatsApp, Jan Koum became a member of the billionaire club in 2014 when Facebook bought the popular messaging app for $22billion in cash and stock.

Koum resigned as CEO of WhatsApp in 2018 and stepped down from the board of Facebook as well, and is now worth an estimated $12billion having given more than $1billion to charitable causes.

The tech billionaire has reportedly been dating 30-year-old Crimean supermodel Evelina Mambetova since 2014. 

Launched just last year, the 328ft Moonrise - worth an estimated $220million - features eight state rooms with space for 16 guests, with windows running along both sides of the vessel for sweeping sea views, along with accommodation for 32 crew.

Features include a helipad located on the front teak deck, a beach club at the rear with space for entertaining guests on the ocean, a full gym and interiors by French designer Remi Tessier. 

Moonrise, worth an estimated $220million, features eight state rooms with space for 16 guests, with windows running along both sides of the vessel for sweeping sea views

Ms Mambetova is known to be discreet about her relationship with the wealthy tech entrepreneur, Koum, despite claims that the couple have been dating since 2014. She posted this picture of her girlfriends on a yacht in Capri, Italy, in August 

Moonrise's features include a helipad located on the front teak deck, a beach club at the rear with space for entertaining guests on the ocean, a full gym and interiors by French designer Remi Tessier

2. Rising Sun, David Geffen

Record and movie producer David Geffen's yacht, the Rising Sun, is a favourite haunt of celebrities, political figures and the rich and famous - many of whom have been pictured holidaying on its expansive decks. 

Built in 2004 and worth an estimated $400million, the 454ft boat was originally built for Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Geffen acquired half a stake in the yacht in 2007, and took full ownership in 2010.

Rising Sun has 82 rooms including room for 18 guests in nine suites, and accommodation for 45 crew.

In the past has played host to: The Obamas, Ivanka Trump and husband Jared, Katy Perry and Janet Zuccarini, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Sir Paul McCartney.

A full-sized basketball court, gym, and private cinema on the owner's deck at the top of the vessel are some of the stand-out features. 

Katy Perry is pictured cosying up to yacht owner David Geffen, a music producer and owner of Dreamworks film studio, on her way to the Google Camp summit in Mallorca in 2019

Ivanka Trump is pictured riding a jet ski while holidaying on David Geffen's superyacht, Rising Sun, in 2016. Rising Sun has also been spotted in the Caribbean this week

Rising Sun was originally built for Oracle founder Larry Ellison in 2004, before Geffen acquired half a stake in the boat in 2007 and took full ownership in 2010. It has room for 18 guests and features a full-sized basketball court

Barack Obama (left) takes a snap of wife Michelle (right) as the pair holiday on board Geffen's yacht in April 2017, soon after he stood down as President following his second term in office

Leonardo DiCaprio is pictured on the rear deck of Geffen's yacht in May 2016, in a photo taken by the billionaire

3. Eclipse, Roman Abramovich

Best-known as the owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich is part of a super-exclusive club of Russian oligarchs who made a fortune when the Soviet Union's assets fell back into private hands after 1991.

Worth an estimated $14.5billion, he holds shares in steel manufacturer Evraz and mining company Norlisk Nickel, after selling considerable stakes in oil giant Sibneft and energy firm Gazprom for $15billlion back in 2005.

His yacht, the 533ft Eclipse, was the world's longest pleasure vessel when it launched in 2010 - it was overtaken in 2013 by the 593ft Azzam, thought to be owned by Dubai's royal family - and cost a reported $400million, though its current value is estimated at $700million.

The Eclipse's main features are space for three helicopters: A helipad at the front of the vessel that lowers into a storage bay, allowing a second helicopter to land on top, and another helipad on the sundeck at the rear.

Inside, there are nine decks with 18 guest cabins and space for up to 100 crew. The main feature is a 50ft indoor swimming pool with a blue granite bottom that can be raised up to floor level so it transforms into a dance floor.

There is also a full gym, spa area, massage room, beauty salon, sauna, two plunge pools and a 'beach club' area at the back, which features a full kitchen in addition to a pull-out barbecue and pizza oven.

Roman Abramovich, most famous as Chelsea FC owner but who made his billions from shares in Russian state firms, is the owner of Eclipse having paid $400million for it back in 2010

The Eclipse was the largest yacht in the world when it was completed in 2010 - it has since been overtaken by one owned by Dubai's royal family - cost $400million and features space for three helicopters and a 50ft indoor swimming pool

No expense was spared kitting out Abramovich's yacht with interior and exterior design by Terry Disdale, a London-based designer who spent four and a half years polishing the details

The boat features several indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces for dozens of guests situated in 18 cabins. This is one of the smaller lounges, located on an upper deck of the nine-deck boat

Kendall Jenner is pictured on board Roman Abramovich's superyacht Eclipse in 2016 when it was moored off the coast of Cannes, France. The yacht is currently at anchor near St Barts

Kris and Kendall Jenner are seen standing on the rear deck of the Eclipse yacht in Cannes, France, in 2016

Abramovich celebrated Christmas with his former wife Dascha Zhukova on St Barts in 2011

4. Le Grand Bleu, Eugene Shvidler 

Best friend and business partner of Roman Abramovich - whose own boat is parked nearby - Eugene (Evgeny) Shvidler is worth an estimated $2billion thanks to shares he owns in steel-maker Evraz and mining company Norlisk Nickel, where Abramovich also has shares.

His boat, Le Grand Blue, used to belong to Abramovich having first been commissioned by American businessman John McCaw in 2000. Abramovich bought the vessel some time in the early 2000s, before selling it to his friend Shvidler in 2006.

The 370ft yacht has its own helicopter pad, water purification system and two additional boats, known as tenders. It is worth an estimated $150million, according to  Superyacht Fan . 

Le Grand Bleu (pictured rear) was originally designed and built for American businessman John McCaw in 2000, before being sold to Roman Abramovich who in turn sold it to friend and business partner Eugene Shvidler in 2006

Photographs reveal the old interior of the boat, before it was refitted by Roman Abramovich - who took ownership some time in the early 2000s - and then sold to Shvidler in 2006

An image taken around the time the boat was built, in the year 2000, reveals what the interior used to look like

Mr Shvilder was born in Russia but gained American citizenship in 1994 after gaining his MA at Fordham University and while working for Deloitte in New York

Shvidler and Abramovich are close friends and long-time business partners with stakes in many of the same Russian companies (pictured together on holiday in Scotland)

5. Lady Jorgia, Patrick Dovigi

A former Canadian hockey goalkeeper, Patrick Dovigi became an entrepreneur while still playing sport - working at a company leasing construction equipment and cars, and then at an investment firm.

In 2007, he founded his own company - Green For Life Environmental Inc - an environmental waste management firm and steadily grew the business by acquiring other companies so it is today worth around $14billion.

Dovigi, who continues to be the firm's president and CEO, joined the billionaire club in 2017 following a series of major acquisitions and is thought to be worth around $1.1billion.

His yacht, the 243ft Lady Jorgia, was built the same year Dovigi became a billionaire and cost some $90million.

It features space for 12 guests in eight separate rooms, a fully equipped gym and spa, indoor and outdoor cinemas, a pool, and an entertaining area with espresso bar. 

Lady Jorgia, a $90million, 243ft pleasure yacht, is owned by former Canadian hocket goalie and entrepreneur Patrick Dovigi

The yacht features space for 12 guests to sleep as well as large entertaining rooms (pictured) and two cinemas

The yacht also features a fully equipped gym and spa, indoor and outdoor cinemas, a pool, and an entertaining area (pictured) with a fully-equipped espresso bar

Patrick Dovigi and his wife Fernanda (pictured) are worth an estimated $1.1bn, having made his fortune with an environmental waste management firm

Power Play, Jan Koum

A second yacht owned by the WhatsApp founder, the 182ft Power Play is considerably smaller than his other boat - Moonrise - and is designed as a support vessel, though it can also venture out on its own. 

Originally designed to carry a power-boat on the rear deck, Koum had the $20million ship refitted to carry a helicopter which can also land on the front section of his main vessel.

Power play can sleep up to six guests in three suites and has accommodation for 10 crew, though most of its space is devoted to activities that complement the Moonrise.

It comes equipped with a fully kitted-out dive centre including room for equipment and oxygen tanks, including special kit that allows divers to visit environmentally sensitive areas. 

The Power Play also has a large rear deck that is capable of storing a helicopter, which can also land on Koum's main vessel

The Power Play is designed as a support vessel for Koum's larger yacht, the Moonrise, though it does feature sleeping space for up to six guests and 10 crew

The Power Play is largely dedicated to ocean activities and comes complete with a fully-equipped diving centre including equipment that allows users to visit environmentally protected sites

The yacht is owned by tech billionaire Jan Koum (left) who founded WhatsApp and sold the company to Facebook in 2014, who is reportedly dating model Evelina Mambetova (right)

Olivia O, Eyal Ofer 

An Israeli shipping magnate worth an estimated $11.4billion, Eyal Ofer inherited his father's business in 2011 but has significantly expanded and diversified its holdings to include real estate, banking and investments. 

Through Global Holdings, his real estate firm, he owns 15 Central Park West, 1250 Broadway and 50 United Nations Plaza, all located in Manhattan, New York.

His highly-distinctive yacht Olivia O, completed just last year at a cost of $200million, features space for 20 guests housed in eight suites, along with 30 crew.

Other features include a swimming pool, gym, helipad, and spa - with lots of deck space at the rear for sports such as swimming, diving, fishing and the use of smaller tender boats.

Droulers of Milan designed the interior, saying Ofer and his wife requested a Japanese theme that included the extensive use of wood and resin in the bathrooms to create a spartan cement-like texture.

The Olivia O, which is owned by Israeli shipping magnate and real estate investor Eyal Ofer, features a distinctive stub nose that makes for smoother sailing with lots of space at the back for outdoor entertaining and sports

Excellence, Herb Chambers

The son of an artist and a bar owner who was once fired by his own mother for missing work, Herb Chambers got his start in business by selling copiers before switching to cars - which made him his fortune.

Now worth an estimated $1.8billion, Chambers has a taste for some of the finer things in life and is known to own a rare car collection that includes a McLaren F1, three Ferraris, three Porches, a Ford GT and Model B, a Bugatti Veyron, a Cadillac Eldorado and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

He is also the proud owner of Excellence, a 263ft, $120million superyacht that was built in Germany and launched in May 2019.

The Excellence features a triple-height glass atrium at its centre that is fitted with an elevator and tiered cinema, has a pool with a swim-up bar two Jacuzzis on the rear deck, a 'wellness spa' and a dedicated gym.

 It also has  garage for two 'limousine' tender boats which can be used to explore the surrounding ocean, while the garage itself has its own bar and entertaining space for guests.

Excellence is a $120million superyacht owned by Herb Chambers, an American businessman who was once fired by his own mother for failing to show up to work before earning his fortune dealing cars 

Halo, María Asunción Aramburuzabala 

Heiress of the Modelo beer fortune, María Asunción Aramburuzabala is Mexico's best-known businesswoman and one of the country's richest - with a fortune of $5.8billion.

Aramburuzabala cemented her place among the world's well-heeled in 2013 when Modelo was sold to Belgian beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev for $20billion.

She now serves on the board of AB InBev but has also diversified her interests via investment firm Tresalia Capital, which has pumped money into construction, telecommunications and the Internet.

Her yacht, the 189ft Halo, features accommodation for 12 guests spread across six suites and cabins for 15 crew, with the pièce de résistance being the owner's VIP cabin on the top deck.

This features a his and hers bathroom, a private office, and a sundeck. Elsewhere there is a large Jacuzzi with a carbon-fibre shade that opens electronically, located on a large communal sundeck with its own bar.

The yacht houses two smaller tender boats and has a diving centre complete with 28 oxygen tanks for excursions out on the water. A helicopter can also be landed on the bow.

Halo, a 189ft superyacht, is owned by Mexican businesswoman María Asunción Aramburuzabala - heiress of the Modelo beer fortune and a successful investor in her own right

Share or comment on this article: St Barths packed with billionaires' yachts and celebs as the winter hang-out

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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