MOCKOBCKOE METPO

DEAR WS FRIEND AND VISITORS: Suffering a lamentably process of deterioration, the Moscow Metro is an unparalleled example of architecture and design. Being the most grandiose architectural phenomenon of the Stalinist era, it shows not only the huge ambitions of the Soviet State under Stalin, but records in amazing detail the ideological and artistic shifts that characterize the obscure communist period. With this album (for technical reasons full of noised pics) I am trying to show the remarkable attention paid to architecture, sculpture, painting and decorative arts in that public service. Although constructed by a tyrant for a people living in terror, this subterranean "proletarian palace" offers an ironically humane vision of public social space, both beautiful and functional. The First Line, built in the 1930's, possesses an invigorating modernism that is a high-water mark of the Soviet avant-garde. With the Second Line, built in the late 1930's, a program of monumental sculpture and art was introduced that signalled Stalin's stranglehold on the ideological goals of the Soviet state. The Third Line, built during the "Great Patriotic War" from 1939 - 1944, became a symbol of Soviet tenacity and ultimately a memorial to the people's resistance during this devastating period. The Fourth Line completed in 1954 shortly after the death of Stalin, is perhaps the most flamboyantly ideological and represents the epitome of the leader's vision for the Metro. If you can't read Cyrillic you will face many problems when travelling in this subway and more if you have in mind that each metro line gives different name to the same station... Another issue is that you only can read the name of the station where you are, once you are out of the train. So be sure leaving the train in the correct station! At the end this experience is fun and more if you can't find a free metro map because Metro-Stations don't have it. Good look guys!

said mdediego 10 months 5 days ago

Ciao Manuel! Beautiful album. Great the details and great eyes. Hugs, Renato.

said renato26 10 months 5 days ago

Mi querido Manuel, puedes sentirte orgulloso de este inmenso trabajo que has realizado. Las fotos son preciosas, realizadas con maestria y con una definicion sobresaliente para un entorno de interior. El balance de blancos notable y la belleza del lugar despampanante. Debemos agradecer tambien tu comentario sobre el lugar, pero siento la falta del mismo comentario en castellano. Somos muchos manuel, los de habla castellana que agradecerian ese esfuerzo, sobre todo para un album de esta altisima talla. Desgraciadamente no todos dominamos el ingles como tu. No creas excesivo los dos comentarios en ambos idiomas. Pocos son los que realizan esta labor y tu lo haces con la maestria de los mejores. Con admiracion y agradecimiento, te felicito de nuevo por este extraordinario trabajo. Jesus

said raijomayo100 10 months 4 days ago

Lots of work done Manuel.Thanks for sharing this beauty. Never thought this to be this beautiful creation of different kind of arts. Your collection well done. Congratulations my friend. Lovely to watch like this. Warm greetings from Portugal - Antti the Finn

said anttisarki 10 months 4 days ago

Hola Manuel,felicitaciones por este excelente viaje en el Metro de Moscu.La arquitectura y las decoraciones son hermosas.Lastima que fueran realizadas a costa del pueblo ruso hambreado en la era de Stalin.Realizas muchos albums de primera categoria, y a una velocidad increible,no te canses.Saludos desde Venezuela

said karbus412 10 months 4 days ago

Thank you for sharing this incredible album!!! Very well done ... the architectural "mania" is remarkable... At least the "communist era" left something SPECTACULAR...and probably the one good thing... Denise

said frone08 10 months 4 days ago

Hola Manuel Thanks for the invite me to view this great album of yours. Great reportage. Greetings from Italy Paolo

said Paolo_1955 10 months 4 days ago

Have you ever visited Finland? I have only visited the metro in Leningrad (not in St Petersburg:-)) Never been to Moscow. So your invite is very interesting in more ways than one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyborg

said lovejoy485 10 months 4 days ago

Thank you for your invite, I have only visited the Leningrad metro in early 1970's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyborg

said lovejoy485 10 months 4 days ago

Amigo Manuel: Gratamente sorprendido, pude apreciar y disfrutar esta grandiosa coleccón de fotos que nos traes a domicilio. Es dificil creer que en un lugar publico, como lo es el metro de Moscu, haya tal riqueza y majestuosidad de arquitectura, diseño y arte en general, digno de los mejores y mas famosos palacios del mundo. Admiro con gran respeto a esos anonimos personajes: desde los obreros, arquitectos, artistas pintores y escultores (menos a los dirigentes politicos de la epoca) que con sus manos y su talento, realizaron esta increible obra, independientemente de la ideologia que en ella esta representada. Por otra parte, no puedo apreciar en las fotos, como tu lo has hecho personalmente, el deterioro del que hablas. Me gustan mucho los detalles que has logrado captar, y en general todas las fotos. Te felicito de nuevo, cada vez que veo un album tuyo, aprendo un poco mas del mundo y su historia. Gracias.

said A66037084JFAG 10 months 4 days ago

You truly have done Moscow metro proud with your detailed and fine photography. I have seen them a few times over many years and have always wondered how well, ornate and artistic they have kept the metro station. It is a fine example for other metros to follow rather than treat them as mere subway station. Thank you, Manuel for this splendid tour through your excellent photography. Best wishes, Suresh

said suresh_krishna 10 months 3 days ago

Ciao Manuel, has hecho un trabajo increible en este album! Magnifico! Las fotos son preciosas y la falta de condiciones de luz mas conforme a las tomas fotograficas no ha cambiado la calidad de las imagenes. No quiero entrar en el merito de lo que la construcion de un metro como esto ha significado por la Russia en aquel periodo, mas lo que podemos ver es increibilmente bello. Gracias para haber compartido con todos nos la tuya experiencia y estas magnificas fotos y gracias para tus explicaciones. Un abrazo. Simonetta

said simonaman 10 months 3 days ago

Ciao Manuel, thank you for the invitation. Beautiful shots and wanderful metro: it seems a sitting-room. Only a curiosity, how many days have you lived underground?

said sergio130650 10 months 3 days ago

Felicidades, Hermosas fotografias, definitivamente se necesita tener un don para tomarlas y tu lo tienes. Saludos Patricia de Mexico

said patyst 10 months 3 days ago

Thank you very much, my friend - not only for a fabulous trip in Moscow’s Metro, not only for a wonderful set of very artistic photos but also for giving me a ride on a time machine back to my childhood when visit to Moscow was full of impressions from "Metropolitan". Thanks again! Andrei

said andrei_sky 10 months 3 days ago

Thnaks for invite me to see this very orginal and well realized album.Maurizio.Italy

said mauriziomalangone 10 months 2 days ago

Hello my friend Manuel ! Thank you so much for invitation very wonderful still shots of Moscow metro , I enjoying them . Best , Regards . Iraj

said irajj 10 months 1 days ago

qUERIDO AMIGO,HERMANO,COMPAÑERO DE FATIGAS, no soy el mas indicado para alabar este trabajo, para eso estan los Materos que, ya veo lo han hecho ya.A mi si me sacas del Yes, me matas. soy de los que aún se denominan tarugos en cuestion de idiomas.Hecho en falta un comentario en Castellano, ya que me dejas siempre con las ganas de deleitarme con tus explicaciones, que a seguro, son magnificas, como tu .En cuanto a las fotografias, que quieres que te diga, son realmente buenas, muchos detalles a otros mortales nos hubieran pasado inadvertidos.Animo a ver si me dejas disfrutar de tus comentarios, que es la única pega que te pongo. ( tus hijos te han regalado una gran maquina, disfrutala)

said almeria3a 10 months ago

Tengo el teclado de mi ordenador hecho cisco, perdona las faltas cometidas en mi comentario, ya sé que esto sobra contigo, pero el resto de los colegas pensará que mis dedos son morcillas de Burgos ( y no les falta razón).

said almeria3a 10 months ago

Apesar del reto que supone conseguir una escena general y sin obstaculos.Las vistas del metro de Moscow´s a traves de los ojos de Manuel se tornan espectaculares!...Brillan tes y perfectas obras de arte...liliana

said floresta106100100 9 months 27 days ago

This is another great album of yours. I enjoyed visiting here to look at your beautiful pictures. Regards Brian

said waterl00 9 months 25 days ago

A very interesting album!!!! I agree with you, this is an incredible and impressive example of Stalinist architecture. A very beautiful document, thanks a lot for sharing these your pictures with us. Warm regards, Peppino.

said pbonu 9 months 24 days ago

Hola Manuel, apreci mucho tu comentario !! Disfrute este album muy despacio, como se bebe algo muy raro !! Tienes aqui fotos esplendidas, como siempre, y pase un momento maravilloso !! Mi madre fue A Moscow en 90, despues de la muerte de mi padre, y habia estado muy impresionada por este metro !!! Muchissimas gracias ! Besos,

said JossoRose 9 months 24 days ago

Nice album! I see Moscow metro three or four times a year but I have no time just to stop and to take some photos! Thanks for you kind invitation! Alex.

said russpsych 9 months 23 days ago

Dear friend, thank you for this beautiful album and for the vary descriptive caption! I have enjoyed Moscow Metro in an extremely cold winter 20 years ago. I have a couple of pics in my World of Transport album dedicated to rails, but they are old ektachromes scanned with a basic scanner. You album brought me down the memory lane! Muchissimas gracias y saludos desde California, Roberto

said olditaliantree 9 months 23 days ago

Great idea to nominate the album in the russian linguage! Wonderful shot, Manuel!!! You are an artist! A big hug from Italy! Monica

said dcrrld 9 months 21 days ago

Thank you for this album! You really captured the "spirit" of the metro. I enjoyed the tour very much :-) Karin

said karin_from_zurich 9 months 21 days ago

Manuel, this album of Moscow's Metro is wonderful. I always enjoy very much visiting your albums and this is no exception. Thanks also for the added info! Wishing you all the best, Yair.

said ykarelic4 9 months 17 days ago

Hi Manuel, This album is very good and very interesting. One could wonder if it is possible to put 97 shots of a metro in an album, which remains interesting from beginning till the end, but you succeeded very well. Never a dull moment during the slideshow. I wondered if there was enough light available to make these shots, but you proved that it was possible. You wrote about noisy pics, there was noise visible indeed now and then, but it didn't disturb very much. Your camera has probably no too much problems with high iso values. It is remarkable that this metro is such an architectonic masterpiece compared to all other metros I know even the one in Paris. The metro itself is worth visiting even with no intention to travel. Your photos are great and I enjoyed it a lot! I thank you for visiting my New York album and for your friendly words. The metro of New York by the way is just build for traveling nothing more nothing less, no compare at all with Moscow as far as architecture is concerned. Saludos, Tjebbe

said oomt 9 months 17 days ago

Very nice album about the underground in Moscow! I had problems in St. Petersburg with taking photos of the trains and the stations, I became also a fine! So, how could you take photos in Moscow? Any troubles? Anyway... an interesting album, I thank you for sharing. Lorella, Italy.

said magister111 6 months 9 days ago

Hello Manuel, this is an amazing album, some beautiful shots but also very interesting with your information, the architecture is amazing, beautiful art work, thank you for sharing, take care hugs Ann (Chester England)

said annedm1 5 months 23 days ago

Thank you for the nice comment to mine featured album at the 19.januar I finds this album very successful. Many greetings from Germany Matthias

said Icepickel 22 days ago