Steam Venting from Alley Behind Yekaterinburg Arcade

Silver drizzle coats the wet pavement along a shuttered arcade in Yekaterinburg, reflecting the clear late-afternoon light. A heavy metal kitchen exhaust vent protrudes from the brick wall, releasing thick white steam that rises and disperses into the dry mountain air. The steam swirls against the dark, damp masonry of the alley behind the restaurants. Water droplets rest on the metal grating and drip from the eaves onto the slick ground. The shuttered windows of the arcade stand closed and grey, their glass reflecting the pale sky. The steam creates a soft, hazy contrast against the sharp, wet edges of the brickwork and the metallic sheen of the vent. One puddle near the vent's base ripples as a drop falls from the metal above.