Time and tide: photographer Igor Simkin hikes the St Petersburg Riviera

Last month photographer Igor Simkin headed to Sestroretsk, a beach resort town on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, 34km northwest of St Petersburg. From there, he walked a further 36km to Zelenogorsk, a second resort known for its clean air and pine forests. "Walking allowed me to explore things closely and not miss anything," says Simkin. "This of course takes time and effort but I always try to do it so I get to understand the area and landscape." Along the way, he snapped former sanatoriums and other Soviet relics, many of which have been transformed into luxury hotels and spas. "I come here every summer with friends as it's about an hour from St Petersburg," he says. "Plus it's got better air and is much more calm." Simkin studied PR before moving into documentary and art photography in 2010. He has since worked for a range of high-profile publications including Afisha, Nash Zenit, Russian Reporter, Neon and The Village.