Color photo gallery of Imperial Russia (1909-1915)

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2006-11-12 11:32am

Some weeks ago I found out about the Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, who helped pioneer a remarkable color photography technique in the early 1900s. He wanted to showcase the progress of the Russian Empire and was sent on a voyage by Tsar Nicholas II to document the different facets of the country in color photos.

Spending a total of six years travelling on a private train equipped with a mobile darkroom, he made thousands of photographs throughout Russia. I thought this was so cool, I decided to link it. Hope this hasn't been posted before:

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/

Here's another, bigger list, with photos processed and unprocessed:

http://www.prokudin-gorsky.ru/database.php3?first=0

TheMuffinKing · Post by **TheMuffinKing** » 2006-11-12 12:18pm

These are simply amazing! I must now go to Russia to experience this first hand.

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2006-11-12 12:49pm

So the Russians were the ones to invent color? Cool.

Oh, and nice photos.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2006-11-12 01:15pm

Not really, just a much better method than before.

LaserRifleofDoom · Post by **LaserRifleofDoom** » 2006-11-12 02:19pm

Those are beautiful. Are they on exhibition anywhere? Are there any more?

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2006-11-12 02:24pm

It seems the United States' Library of Congress bought the collection in 1948. The links on his profile might contain what you're looking for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Mik ... in-Gorskii

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2006-11-12 04:54pm

These are simply amazing! I must now go to Russia to experience this first hand.

Good luck, considering that much of what you see in those photos has been gone for decades. These photos need to be understood as a final glimpse into a world that no longer exists, with all of its beautiful mystery and majesty, and at the same time, some of its more horrific elements as well. I am blown away by those photos. I intend to print them on high quality paper with some nice typography and bind them using my equipment here, to create what could be the ultimate coffee table book.