Rare Color Photos Of The Russian Empire At The Turn Of The Century

These rare color photos by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii document the Russian empire between 1909 and 1915. With the support of Tsar Nicholas II, Prokudin-Gorskii traveled throughout the Russian empire in a specially outfitted train car conducting a photographic survey, according to the Library of Congress, which owns the original slides.

Using a special technique that captured three black and white photographs in succession, the pictures could then be combined using red, green and blue filters to create realistic color. The result is vivid photographs that look startlingly modern.

The world that Prokudin-Gorskii carefully documented was soon to be destroyed by the Russian revolution, and he would leave Russia himself in 1918 for France. However, these amazing photographs remain as a vivid reminder of Russia's diverse peoples and rich history.

Three Generations, 1910

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A.P. Kalganov with son and granddaughter. The last two work in the shops of the Zlatoust plant

Three Generations, 1910

A.P. Kalganov with son and granddaughter. The last two work in the shops of the Zlatoust plant

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Three Generations, 1910

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Comments

[Salah El Barbary]

03:41 AM on 12/17/2010

hi may freinds

[thomas meno]

04:52 AM on 12/06/2010

Here is more modern pictures with a similar feel in across Russia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_waP9WfyRI

[emncaity]

02:04 PM on 11/29/2010

Absolutely stunning. Beyond stunning. Bookmarked forever.

[AbdulScarface]

10:02 PM on 11/28/2010

Wow, it's like walking through a time tunnel. Does anyone know what process they use for those pictures back then I'm very curious. Must have been incredibly complicated.

[cgcat93]

11:40 PM on 11/27/2010

and this was an era when you actually had to be GOOD at photography in order to take photos like these.

[VKoval]

06:28 PM on 11/27/2010

these are really awesome pictures. if your interested in russian history or the region read the book the great game. real solid.

[GermanQR]

11:10 AM on 11/27/2010

Stunning, thank you HP

[Surreal2me]

01:24 AM on 11/27/2010

Beautiful and so clear. I could make out pebbles on the ground and the threads on their garments.

[mike112769]

12:57 AM on 11/25/2010

Beautiful

[nogimmicks]

04:55 PM on 11/24/2010

There are also very pictures from Artvin/Ardvin. E.g.
http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/prokc.21620/

[Talossa]

12:33 AM on 11/24/2010

Truly extraordinary -- thanks for sharing.

[lee4713]

07:18 PM on 11/23/2010

I've seen some photos from this collection at the The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis (a little jewel). I had no idea that 20 photos, enlarged, could take my attention for a long period of time as I wandered through. Seriously fascinating. And having the color in them - even seeing things like the sunburn on a farmgirl's arm - makes them so much more immediate.

[Uggg]

04:22 PM on 11/23/2010

Amazing Photograph's

[Left of Right]

11:25 AM on 11/23/2010

So glad those wonderful photographs survived.

I could use one of those Purdah's. I'm having a bad hair day.

[jones]

09:49 AM on 11/23/2010

Very beautiful and a glimpse into a time that is gone forever. Like "somewhere in Time", I feel like I'm back in that period when I look at some of the pics.