Anatoly Iolis is more famous under the nickname of Moune. Every year, he realises a splendid album on the best Russian dogs. His last issue, realised with the partnership of Pedigree, confirms the growing importance of dog fancy in Russia.
Before becoming a photographer, Anatoli Iolis was a breeder and a trainer. His favourite breed is the Rottweiler, which is one of the most popular breed in Russia. Every year, in partnership with his sponsor, he realises a special issue of over 150 pages, which constitutes a true directory of Russian breeding.
The Best Kennels of Russia 2001 is under many respects as good as those of the previous years. The dogs and sometimes their breeders are magnified by Moune’s photographs. The company dogs (Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, English Cockers, etc.), the Molossians (Cane Corsos, Rottweilers, etc.) and the Terriers (with the American Staffodshire Terriers) are among the most sought after breeds.
“My professional activities began thanks to my love for pure breed dogs. I’ve always loved dogs, ever since I was a small boy, but unfortunately my parents couldn’t afford to have one at home.” His child’s dream became a reality when he got Alyona, a great German Shepherd Dog bitch, which he kept 13 years. “I still miss her sometimes,” he admits.When he was 14, Anatoli followed a training to become a dog trainer with a famous Russian expert, Alexander Pavlovich Mazover. The training centre was located at Tekstilshchiky, in the suburb of Moscow. One day, a photographer came to work at the centre. Anatoli carefully watched him work and that was it. A few weeks later, Anatoli entered Moscow’s main journalist school. Since that time, he became a professional photographer, and he has photographed thousands of Russian dogs. He knows all the greatest Russian breeders, and some of his photographs look like real paintings.
All year long, Moune photographs the elite of Russian dogs: “Each time I look at a dog through my camera lens, at the moment when our eyes meet, I can feel there’s something special happening.” A something special which he invites you to discover in “The Best Kennels of Russia”, whose editing work is particularly luxurious and careful.The first issue was published in 1998. The goal of this directory is to make readers discover the diversity and richness of the canine world. “In the last 10 years, Russian breeding has known exceptional successes throughout the world, with many dogs having been awarded the titles of European or World Champions. I think that we are now the best in many breeds, and not just in our own indigenous breeds.” Moune’s directory is distributed in many dog shows, but you can also order it.
Although the world of dog fancy remains the priority in his work, Moune has also turned his attention to an ignored and unknown world, that of Russian prisons, where he realised beautiful and haunting pictures, full of emotion, in colour and in black and white.
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