Chandeliers, a photo from Moscow, Center

Photographer's Note

The Moscow metro is well known for the ornate design of many of it's stations. They are excellent examples of socialist realist art.

This photo was taken in Prospekt Mira station on the Koltsevaya line - the 20km long ring line which encircles central Moscow.

The 12 stations on the Koltsevaya line are the most ornate and they were built between 1950 and 1954 during the 4th stage of development of the metro system. The original development map of the Moscow metro system had only lines radiating out from the centre. Apparently Stalin placed a cup of coffee on this original map and it left a brown circle mark which is credited with being the inspiration for this ring line - and hence the Koltsevaya line (also known as line 5) is brown on the metro map.

The Moscow metro trains run so frequently (every 90seconds in peak hour) there is no timetable. They carry 2.5billion passengers per year and are second only to the Tokyo subway system as the most heavily used rapid transport system in the world.

Many visitors to Moscow make a trip around the Koltsevaya line getting off at each station to admire the different ornate designs. If they decide to venture upstairs and above at this station this is what they will see - thanks Elena

bj40, ang25, phwall, Atousa, syrus_persia, yedirenk, ilDottore, bisok has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Disabled_A (0) 2008-09-03 0:05

Hello Marlene,
this is the station at which I get off/on a few times a week, to get to my work (though I have students in various parts of Moscow). Even in 2006 this station wasn't so crowded as it is NOW!:( it seems that rush hour is eternal there.. without people, this station would look much nicer...

Anyway, about the photo itself :) You chose a very good point of view to capture the train and the passengers, together with part of the wall and its decorations. The lighting is perfect! so are the colours (I know them very well;) )
kind regards from Moscow,
Elena

bj40 (6) 2008-09-03 3:01

Hi Marlene,Such a well taken image with lots to delight the eye.The receding chandeliers do it for me plus the reflections on the marble columns,the greyness creates the right atmosphere for the metro. Thanks Tom.

phwall (6787) 2008-09-03 5:41

Hi Marlene,
Very interesting looking shot. I've always been a chandelier sort of guy.
You've captured this very well. The exposure is perfect, the movement you've got really gives the atmosphere of the statiion.
Composition is spot on, the way you have the train moving diagonally through frame gives the shot real dynamics. I also like the diminishing perspective on the train and the chandeliers. Good detail as well.
All in all an excellent shot.
Superb image.
regards
Peter

wolf38 (30) 2008-09-03 6:51

Hello Marlene. A very interesting photo. It is beautiful and worth seeing in the aesthetic sense. A good shot. The technical data are interesting. Informative text. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Kielia (24077) 2008-09-03 10:25

Hi Marlene,
you have captured the atmosphere of the Moscow Metro beautifully! The light is excellent and the colours are wonderful, I like the shadows of the chandeliers, they are adding a nice structure to this outstanding composition!
Warm regards
Harriet

Atousa (7131) 2008-09-03 18:52

Salam Marlene,
Its a beautiful shot of this beautiful place.. nice framing n good sense of depth..thanks for sharing.

Best regards, Atousa

syrus_persia (2270) 2008-09-03 23:24

salam Marlene
The good shot , The technical data are interesting.I like the shadows of the chandeliers.
TFS
cyrus

yedirenk (11244) 2008-09-04 12:39

Hello Marlene,
intresting daily life shot.Very nicely light and reflections.very good depht and details.also impressive sharpness.well done.TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

fkostas (454) 2008-09-06 19:16

Hi Marlene

I like the contrast of the blurred and moving train, with the clear detail of the columns and archways on the right, and the nice depth. Much different than the US subway system!

Farah

sigur (338) 2008-09-08 1:06

Hi Marlene,

Nice capture of these amazing metro stations. More museums than stations. I like the pov and how the chandeliers lead your eye into the frame and the movement of the train. Well done.

Regards Simon

redrash (522) 2008-09-08 15:28

Hello
Nice picture. I tried to take some pictures in Moscow metro but policeman saw me and said: NO PHOTO, NO PHOTO…
regards
Pawel

bisok (948) 2008-10-26 23:45

Hi Marlene. I remember this place (these places) very much (I lived for half a year in ZSRR ). Do you know that "In total, the Moscow Metro has 292.2 km (181.6 miles) of route length, 12 lines and 177 stations; on a normal weekday it carries over 7 million passengers. Opened in 1935, it is well known for the ornate design of many of its stations, which contain outstanding examples of socialist realist art." || Great photograph. Well done Marlene. Cheers. Mirek