Hermits escape from society, find freedom in nature

Lauren Russell, CNN

Updated 0203 GMT (1003 HKT) November 19, 2014

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This man opted to withdraw from conventional society and live by himself in rural Russia. Photographer Danila Tkachenko recently photographed some people who live isolated in Russia and Ukraine.
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Living alone in the wilderness – This man opted to withdraw from conventional society and live by himself in rural Russia. Photographer Danila Tkachenko recently photographed some people who live isolated in Russia and Ukraine.
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A gun sits on a hermit's "home" in Russia.
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Living alone in the wilderness – A gun sits on a hermit's "home" in Russia.
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A hermit in Russia covers his face.
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Living alone in the wilderness – A hermit in Russia covers his face.
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The hermits live in homes made of local resources -- lumber, burrows in the ground or caves -- and eat what they hunt or gather.
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Living alone in the wilderness – The hermits live in homes made of local resources -- lumber, burrows in the ground or caves -- and eat what they hunt or gather.
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A hermit's hands show two missing fingers.
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Living alone in the wilderness – A hermit's hands show two missing fingers.
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Occasionally the men see tourists, hunters or guests, but typically they are alone.
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Living alone in the wilderness – Occasionally the men see tourists, hunters or guests, but typically they are alone.
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One hermit's hut in Russia.
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Living alone in the wilderness – One hermit's hut in Russia.
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Despite, or maybe because of their isolation, Tkachenko found that the men were open and talkative.
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Living alone in the wilderness – Despite, or maybe because of their isolation, Tkachenko found that the men were open and talkative.
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A hermit's shelter in Russia.
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Living alone in the wilderness – A hermit's shelter in Russia.
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Tkachenko chose to shoot on film because it draws less attention and because some of the religious hermits do not like digital technology, he said.
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Living alone in the wilderness – Tkachenko chose to shoot on film because it draws less attention and because some of the religious hermits do not like digital technology, he said.
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