Ekaterinburg –
This is not a photo. It’s entirely created using Adobe Illustrator in vector art using a technique called Gradient Mesh.
Gradient mesh is an extremely difficult technique to master. It requires the patience of an artist and the the vision of a 3d modeler to pull it off correctly. Ruslan Khasanov has a gift for this style as you can see here. Take a closer look at this series of wireframes and finals and pay close attention to the fabrics and hair. Amazing.
Want to learn how to do this?