"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Amazing photographs
These color photos were taken in Russia by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii between 1909 and 1915!
Those are stunning photographs, considering the state of color photography back then.
Add in the subject (a peek into pre-Communist Russia), and these are simply amazing. Sergei was certainly very talented, if not an outright genius.
I especially liked the examples of technology back then -- the thread mill, the form work for the locks, lumbering, the differences in construction, etc.
As John at Powerline points out, the color photos give the subjects a freshness and immediacy that is lacking in the old, grainy black and white photos.
I particularly liked the shots of the technology, too. The notion that Russia was an extremely backwards, almost exclusively agricultural society is bunk. One example I remember reading about years ago had to do with the nascent oil and gas industry, which Russian entrepreneurs were developing in leaps and bounds - until the Bolsheviks took over.
By the way, the second picture - which shows three young peasant girls - reminds me of an old photograph of my grandmother, taken around the same time, in front of a similar wooden structure (the girl in the middle bears a strong resemblance to her, although the Russian was slightly older than my grandmother when the respective photos were taken).
Like many I’ve long been puzzled by the true nature of Paco Industries but the truth appears rather sordid. I was reading a thoroughly mediocre piece of crime fiction over the weekend “Fire and Ice” when my eye caught the following paragraph –
“I’ve only been able to pull up one name, Juan Francisco Castro. His street name is Paco. He’s a drug dealer who moves back and forth between Arizona and Mexico”
Although it would explain the paucity of posts from the shelves of the Paco library. All that border crossing would no doubt cut into reading and posting time.
Those photographs are indeed stunning, especially for that time. But then again, I never understood that Ansel Adams black and white stuff anyway. I hve some postcards from relatives in that era but the color was nothing like that. One was from Berlin in late July of 1914!
Please note that Juan er, Paco has spent considerable time in Arizona. A coincidence no doubt.:)
Incidentally, readers should click that link to Powerline, and then click the link that takes you to another gallery of color photos taken in the U.S. in the late 30s and early 40s.
One example I remember reading about years ago had to do with the nascent oil and gas industry, which Russian entrepreneurs were developing in leaps and bounds - until the Bolsheviks took over.
Well, the commies managed to kill off that trait in Russians, Paco. Most of their best technological advances to date were focused on weapons.....and not all of that is great.
Late to the party as always, but thanks so much for that link, Paco. Those are truly beautiful photos, apart from their historical significance, and an in-color testimony to how communism destroys beauty and the human imagination. I found myself wondering how many of those old churches and other buildings still exist.
Note no 45 'Greek women' 'workers' harvesting tea.
ReplyDeleteAppear to be between ages 10 and 17 years, yet many probably married too.
Those are stunning photographs, considering the state of color photography back then.
ReplyDeleteAdd in the subject (a peek into pre-Communist Russia), and these are simply amazing. Sergei was certainly very talented, if not an outright genius.
I especially liked the examples of technology back then -- the thread mill, the form work for the locks, lumbering, the differences in construction, etc.
Thanks for the link, Paco!
As John at Powerline points out, the color photos give the subjects a freshness and immediacy that is lacking in the old, grainy black and white photos.
ReplyDeleteI particularly liked the shots of the technology, too. The notion that Russia was an extremely backwards, almost exclusively agricultural society is bunk. One example I remember reading about years ago had to do with the nascent oil and gas industry, which Russian entrepreneurs were developing in leaps and bounds - until the Bolsheviks took over.
By the way, the second picture - which shows three young peasant girls - reminds me of an old photograph of my grandmother, taken around the same time, in front of a similar wooden structure (the girl in the middle bears a strong resemblance to her, although the Russian was slightly older than my grandmother when the respective photos were taken).
ReplyDeleteSeriously off topic, but here goes:
ReplyDeleteLike many I’ve long been puzzled by the true nature of Paco Industries but the truth appears rather sordid. I was reading a thoroughly mediocre piece of crime fiction over the weekend “Fire and Ice” when my eye caught the following paragraph –
“I’ve only been able to pull up one name, Juan Francisco Castro. His street name is Paco. He’s a drug dealer who moves back and forth between Arizona and Mexico”
cac: Some kind of imposter, no doubt, trading on my good name.
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought too, obviously.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it would explain the paucity of posts from the shelves of the Paco library. All that border crossing would no doubt cut into reading and posting time.
Those photographs are indeed stunning, especially for that time.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, I never understood that Ansel Adams black and white stuff anyway. I hve some postcards from relatives in that era but the color was nothing like that. One was from Berlin in late July of 1914!
Please note that Juan er, Paco has spent considerable time in Arizona. A coincidence no doubt.:)
As a Russophile, I thank you for linking those, Paco. It brings Russia under the Old Regime alive.
ReplyDeleteGlad I stumbled across them, Bob.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, readers should click that link to Powerline, and then click the link that takes you to another gallery of color photos taken in the U.S. in the late 30s and early 40s.
thank you for the treat to the eyes. and the inspiration for my next canvas.
ReplyDeleteOne example I remember reading about years ago had to do with the nascent oil and gas industry, which Russian entrepreneurs were developing in leaps and bounds - until the Bolsheviks took over.
ReplyDeleteWell, the commies managed to kill off that trait in Russians, Paco. Most of their best technological advances to date were focused on weapons.....and not all of that is great.
Late to the party as always, but thanks so much for that link, Paco. Those are truly beautiful photos, apart from their historical significance, and an in-color testimony to how communism destroys beauty and the human imagination. I found myself wondering how many of those old churches and other buildings still exist.
ReplyDeleteI find it disquieting that picture 49 could have been taken in Washington state, present day. Lots of places near me very much like that.
ReplyDelete