In the vastness of Instagram, one can sometimes find something quite interesting. We discovered exciting shots straight from the streets of Mustamäe, captured by photographer Age Peterson.

We inquired about where this idea originated and took a peek behind the scenes of the process.

The Instagram page @mustamaestories was launched in February 2017. Please describe how you arrived at this idea.

The idea came while searching for the Instagram hashtag #mustamäe. I wanted to see how many pictures there were from my hometown and what people were sharing about Mustamäe. It turned out that around February 2017, I was greeted by images of apartment parties, some school events, birthdays, a couple of squirrels, and a sunset from someone’s 9th-floor window. I felt the need to somehow enrich this small selection. Mustamäe has more to offer than just squirrels and views of high-rise buildings.

What has your journey to photography been like?

Photography has always been my hobby. I received my first film camera for my 10th birthday. My father was tired of me constantly fiddling with his. I have alternated between using both analog and digital cameras. Currently, I use a digital camera (purely out of laziness).

Your project has been ongoing for nearly two years. Describe how this time has passed and whether you have discovered anything for yourself along the way. Was it easier to find moments to capture in the beginning, or the opposite? It seems to me that you have become bolder in capturing people over time. How do you feel about it, have there been changes in your photographic style?

Indeed, two years! I don’t really notice changes in the pictures myself. Avoiding people has been a conscious choice. I always ask myself, if I were photographed so unexpectedly, would I be okay with that picture being shared with the whole world? Whether waiting for a bus or strolling on the sidewalk. It’s complicated because sometimes a shot and a person are so genuine and real — perfectly characterizing that time and place. How could I leave that unshared? The people captured in the photos represent Mustamäe to me just as I see it. Then a choice must be made. It’s not about the courage to take pictures, but perhaps more about ethics. For example, those summer drunks sprawled in Männi Park and those napping on benches at bus stops have gone unphotographed, even though that is also a reality of Mustamäe and street life.

What do you use to take pictures and how does the image make it to Instagram?

Most of the pictures are taken with an iPhone, as the phone is always in my pocket. When I have time, I grab my Canon and simply walk down the street, trying to capture the day. I never look for anything specific; I let Mustamäe come to me with its stories.

Do you follow other photographers on Instagram, and which photo genre do you find the most exciting?

I do follow others; there are hundreds of different photographers from around the world. Instagram is an interesting place as a photo-sharing platform; it doesn’t just allow you to upload hundreds of pictures, but the environment somehow forces you to choose the best of the best from your image bank. I always prefer documentary photography, that immediate approach to the world, without pre-settings and posing. Its style is slightly rough, as a staged shot often comes across as forced or even sterile and emotionless. On the other hand, brutalism is an interesting genre. Those terribly massive concrete buildings, which can especially be found in the former Soviet Union’s sphere of influence, from Russia to Croatia and beyond.

Do you have a favorite photographer or photo that has influenced you the most?

The first names that come to mind are Vivian Maier, Elliot Erwitt, and Joel Meyerowitz. The authenticity of their captures is unmatched.

What are you looking for or hoping to find when you take your camera to the streets?

I never look for anything specific. Where there is movement and hustle, there is always something to capture. The absence of a person in the frame does not mean that there is no activity left behind. Although during the last snowstorm, I hoped to capture people huddled under the snowfall, battling the snowdrifts and trudging through the snow — that delightful deep winter struggle.

Do you have any interesting incidents to share about photographing in Mustamäe?

Strangely enough, there hasn’t been anything significant yet. I suppose they will start to emerge when I muster the courage to ask some interesting character who has made it into the frame for permission to share their picture and tell their story.

Please choose one picture from your work and share the story behind that image.

Here is the picture taken during the last snowstorm, which is close to what I hoped to capture.