Ghostly Images of the Collapse of the Soviet Union

Aug. 25, 2011

Imagine living in a bleak world where it feels like time has stopped. In his eerie series City of Shadows, Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko (a member of the famous “Zerkalo” photoclub) documents the collapse of the Soviet Union as seen through the lens of St. Petersburg; by shooting on black and white film and changing his camera’s shutter speed, he was able to create extraordinary long exposure photos that seem to be populated by ghosts. “In the winter of 1991-1992, one cold and gloomy day, I strolled sadly down a street which used to be packed with people, which used to be full of joyful vibrancy and dynamism,” he explains. “I saw people on the verge of insanity, in confusion: They looked like shadows, undernourished and worn out.” Click through for a slide show of our favorite images from the series.

Photo credit: Alexy Titarenko. [Spotted via My Modern Met]

Photo credit: Alexy Titarenko