Photographer's Note
Over the course of the coming week I intend to post several images of the very familiar and oft photographed Moscow Metro stations. In order to get shots where the stations were empty I had to rise at 5 in the morning and rush to the nearest station from my hotel, which was Smolenskaya station. I had identified the stations I wanted to photograph beforehand and hoped that I would arrive before it got too busy. You literally have a window of about 30 mins before the stations start to go crazy with people as the city comes to life.
It was on 21 March 1933 that the Soviet government approved a plan for the first 10 underground railway lines with a total route length of 80 km. These first lines were built using a plan designed by Lazar Kaganovich. The Moscow Metro construction engineers consulted with their counterparts from the London Underground. However, the NKVD (the secret police) arrested numerous British engineers for espionage because they had gained an in-depth knowledge of Moscow’s physical layout. These engineers were given a show trial and deported in 1933.
This image is of Mayakovskaya station and is one of the most beautiful and most photographed stations in Moscow. It was built in 1938 and was named after a famous Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. It quite a deep station at 33 meters (100ft) below street level. It was used as a bomb shelter during WWII and in 1941 there was a meeting on the station organized by Stalin himself. His speech was broadcast on radio so that all the Soviet people could hear that Moscow was still intact and not willing to surrender.
The style of the station's interior is called Stalin neoclassic. Its unique style resulted in it receiving an award on the international exhibition in New York in 1938. Today it's still considered unique, and since 1980 the station has an architectural heritage status.
Enjoy.
papagolf21, pajaran, ikeharel, BennyV, jhm, worldcitizen, Periko, abmdsudi, macjake marcou esta nota como útil
Critiques | Translate
No_One
(4) 2016-07-11 11:49
Hi Mike
I occasionally see these stations here in te and it's always a great to see them. I think my day to day life doesn't really include public structures, to see the design on these places is amazing. This photo is really an architectural jewel and your early rising paid off handsomely.
This looks more like a palace than a subway, and is a new form if architecture to me too
Cheers
Noel
GyurMaster
(16708) 2016-07-11 12:24
Dear Michael,
Very spectacular photo thanks to the strict composition. Though I have never been there, based on the pictures I have seen the Moscow metro stations are indeed very monumental and scenic. The emptiness of the station crated a special atmosphere.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
holmertz
(83518) 2016-07-11 13:25
Hello Mike,
I would probably have chosen a time when there would have been at least a few persons there to show that this is really a metro station and not a grand hall in the Kremlin. But I admit that the emptiness has its points. Being alone in one of Stalin's creations and hearing only your own footsteps, and maybe your heavy breath, would be something rather special. It's a meticulously careful composition with perfect symmetry and perfect light.
Best regards,
Gert
emka
(139516) 2016-07-11 13:42
Hi Mike,
Mayakovskaya is really the most beautiful metro station. But I liked other ones too. I am curious which you visited. Funny thing was that the people were in the station in a big crowd and momentarily disappeared for some seconds, and than the stations were full again. Look here. . Also seems empty.
Stunning composition, perfect symmetry, great depth and sharpness. Fantastic.
have you seen Park Pobedy, the deepest?
WArm regrads Malgo
papagolf21
(145294) 2016-07-11 13:58
Bonsoir, Michael,
Superbe réalisation. Digne d'une photo professionnelle.
Merci pour la note également.
Amitiés.
Philippe
lousat
(121221) 2016-07-11 15:36
HI Michael,the metro stations of Moscow are a spectacle,i heard many times this thing and now i can see a magnificent example! What a perspective,what a simmetric capture and what a brightness,the best way to show us this interesting beauty,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
ikeharel
(98948) 2016-07-12 0:46
Hello Michael,
Those RR station in moscow are known to look as an underground museums. Bright marble floor, painted walls and excllent lighting with specially designed domes.
Depth and clarity are immaculate here.
Have a nice new day.
Ike
willperrett
(13428) 2016-07-12 1:33
Hello Mike
Five o'clock, eh? Well, it was worth it. Love the steep perspective from the wide-angle lens. Obviously a tripod was used: did you get any grief toting a tripod around the city? I certainly did in Paris, where by the Louvre Pyramid, I was told I could take photographs, but not using a tripod. Yet the place was almost empty. The officious little man went away, and I carried on... Did you colour balance in-camera, in Photoshop or not at all?
Regards
Will
BennyV
(30484) 2016-07-12 3:37
Oh, those subway crowds...
Excellent capture of this palace for the people (without the people). A bit surreal, isn't it?
Thumbs up again
Benny
jhm
(191607) 2016-07-12 4:58
Hello Michael,
Moscou has one of the most beautiful metros in the world
Thank you very much for your interesting note.
A lovely panorama view about the area.
An excellent composition, best presentation.
Very well done, TFS
Have a nice day,
John
worldcitizen
(12792) 2016-07-12 13:55
Hello Mike,
I've heard about the amazing metro stations in Moscow, and it's great to see this one in your photo. It looks like the entrance to a museum before the tourists have shown up. I like the symmetry and all the arches. You are a very devoted photographer. I must admit that I would not get up at 5:00AM to take photos. I'm too sleepy for that! :-) Your dedication paid off with this great photo, though.
Periko
(8081) 2016-07-12 21:58
Beautiful and symmetrical composition, Michael. Excellent exposure and sharpness.
TFS
jemaflor
(125895) 2016-07-13 3:30
Hi Michael,
So beautiful architecture, well presented, excellent light capture,good result with the perspective and the depth effect, tfs.
abmdsudi
(81754) 2016-07-14 7:30
Hi Mije
An impactful visualisation of perspective taken from such good viewpoint illustrating those sweeps of lines, patterns, lights and detail of the station canopy smoothly receding to infinity. Strange, this looks almost deserted without any single soul from this pov, and hats off to your keen observation and photographic skill, inevitably an impressive shot with subtle exposure control. Interesting notes too, Congrats
Best regards
gervaso
(27399) 2016-07-18 4:36
Hello, Michael!
Wonderful architecture of this station, and you captured it with excellent light management and perspective! The columns and lines on the ground give very good depth to the composition! Beautiful job!
serp2000
(47063) 2016-07-19 10:34
Hello, dear Mike,
I like your reports from Perm and Moscow. This photo reminds me my visit to Moscow, usually I don't have enough the time to wake up in the morning and come to the Metro. Excellent result, perfect exposure, fine DoF! I do remember picture of this station in very old book from my childhood.
All the best wishes from Krasnokamsk!
Serghei
npecanhuk
(79319) 2016-07-21 17:20
Hello Michael!
Wonderful interior details!
Very attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, horizontal format, dof, chosen pov and symmetric composition are all excellent photo qualities that I really enjoyed!
TFS - congrats,
Best regards and greetings from Brazil,
Neyvan
macjake
(92651) 2016-07-31 17:59
Hi Mike
another underground beauty.
I thought for sure I had already commented on this one, but obviously not.
its the ceiling that makes the shot in my opinion.
those large rounded openings are like portholes to another dimension :)
absolutely love the overall clarity, its shine and silvery tones, well done!
cheers
craig
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Michael Wright (mjw364)
(1466)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2016-06-04
- Categories: Arquitectura
- Camera: Fuji XT 1, Fuji 10-24mm
- Exposição: f/6.4, 7 segundos
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Date Submitted: 2016-07-11 11:20
Discussions
- To holmertz: People (1)
by mjw364, last updated 2016-07-11 02:16 - To emka: Stations (1)
by mjw364, last updated 2016-07-11 02:27