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Photographer Travels 30,000km Documenting Soviet Bus Stops And Is Accused Of Spying
Photographer Travels 30,000km Documenting Soviet Bus Stops And Is Accused Of Spying
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Photographer Travels 30,000km Documenting Soviet Bus Stops And Is Accused Of Spying

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Canadian photographer Christopher Herwig spent twelve years photographing Soviet bus stops. The project unexpectedly began in 2002 when he challenged himself to take one good picture every hour on a long distance bike ride from London to St. St. Petersburg; 30,000km and 13 countries later, Herwig published “Soviet Bus Stops.” However, the project was not without its difficulties.

“Despite my efforts not to arouse suspicion I was, on several occasions, accused of being a spy and only narrowly avoided getting caught up in something rather awkward,” Herwig writes on Kickstarter. “In Abkhazia my driver accused me of being a Georgian agent and photographing sensitive material. He demanded a bribe, otherwise, it would be ‘straight to the militizia and a firing squad.'”

More info: herwigphoto.com | Facebook | AmazonInstagram | Twitter

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    Dainius

    Dainius

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Dainius

    Dainius

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    BrunoBizier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too bad they did not have the budget to maitain them is perffect condition. But, I am thrilled to see how much CREATIVITY was used in the Soviet Union, while US propaganda made us see it as only bleak. I HATE propaganda. We need HONESTY. All over the world.

    Dovas
    BoredPanda Staff
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The creativity here belongs to the people who lived under the Soviet Union, not to the Union itself. The creativity of the Soviet Union began and ended with creative ways to murder millions and erase entire cultural and social groups.

    Load More Replies...
    Luspea
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. You really can find amazing things in unexpected places

    ADVERTISEMENT
    gaz
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fantastic shapes even if poorly maintained. More amazing is no graffiti. Such desolate back grounds it's amazing people survive in areas that bleak.

    SusanBertke
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those who designed these bus stops have gone beyond the need for simple shelter from the elements and made a statement about themselves and their people.

    Maarja Põder-Ouldja
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's quite funny to find the bus stop of my dad's home village, Kootsi, in this list. This photographer did marvellous job, capturing these places 😊

    DavitTchalidze
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Abkhazia is Georgian occupied territory bu Russian ;)

    anika.P
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One correction: not Abkhazia but Georgia, Abkhazia isn't a sovereign country

    RaymondCollier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A wealth of inspiration for original and beautiful art. Love it.

    IngaPeterson
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Inspiring, he probably has more, there is a lot more to see. Believe me:)

    KenriBasar
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Woww..................just wow....

    SusannaVesna
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I applaud the photographer for showing Soviet architecture in such remote ex-Soviet areas! As every one can see, since the USSR broke down , nothing new was built!

    AlanAurmont
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did he forget about Uzbekistan?

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Want to guess where he was detained for spying?

    Load More Replies...
    AlanAurmont
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did he not go to Uzbekistan?

    RichardPetch
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like they could all do with a lick of paint.

    GlynisLailann
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These structures seem to be designed and built by frustrated artists, designers and architects who needed to 'vent' their ideas which had been supressed for so long.

    LyoneFein
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We need to put more money into public arts in the US.

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is WAY more than enough money in arts, and the majority is c**p.

    Load More Replies...
    AzAndree
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    many seem abandoned, nice architecture for such practical structures which i suspect are surrounded by pee smell.

    jen
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Why is everything so harsh and angular. And if the lines are soft the material is very hard.

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brutalist architecture is a soviet trait

    Load More Replies...
    BrunoBizier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too bad they did not have the budget to maitain them is perffect condition. But, I am thrilled to see how much CREATIVITY was used in the Soviet Union, while US propaganda made us see it as only bleak. I HATE propaganda. We need HONESTY. All over the world.

    Dovas
    BoredPanda Staff
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The creativity here belongs to the people who lived under the Soviet Union, not to the Union itself. The creativity of the Soviet Union began and ended with creative ways to murder millions and erase entire cultural and social groups.

    Load More Replies...
    Luspea
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. You really can find amazing things in unexpected places

    ADVERTISEMENT
    gaz
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fantastic shapes even if poorly maintained. More amazing is no graffiti. Such desolate back grounds it's amazing people survive in areas that bleak.

    SusanBertke
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those who designed these bus stops have gone beyond the need for simple shelter from the elements and made a statement about themselves and their people.

    Maarja Põder-Ouldja
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's quite funny to find the bus stop of my dad's home village, Kootsi, in this list. This photographer did marvellous job, capturing these places 😊

    DavitTchalidze
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Abkhazia is Georgian occupied territory bu Russian ;)

    anika.P
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One correction: not Abkhazia but Georgia, Abkhazia isn't a sovereign country

    RaymondCollier
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A wealth of inspiration for original and beautiful art. Love it.

    IngaPeterson
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Inspiring, he probably has more, there is a lot more to see. Believe me:)

    KenriBasar
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Woww..................just wow....

    SusannaVesna
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I applaud the photographer for showing Soviet architecture in such remote ex-Soviet areas! As every one can see, since the USSR broke down , nothing new was built!

    AlanAurmont
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did he forget about Uzbekistan?

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Want to guess where he was detained for spying?

    Load More Replies...
    AlanAurmont
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did he not go to Uzbekistan?

    RichardPetch
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like they could all do with a lick of paint.

    GlynisLailann
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These structures seem to be designed and built by frustrated artists, designers and architects who needed to 'vent' their ideas which had been supressed for so long.

    LyoneFein
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We need to put more money into public arts in the US.

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is WAY more than enough money in arts, and the majority is c**p.

    Load More Replies...
    AzAndree
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    many seem abandoned, nice architecture for such practical structures which i suspect are surrounded by pee smell.

    jen
    Community Member
    10 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Why is everything so harsh and angular. And if the lines are soft the material is very hard.

    Martin
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brutalist architecture is a soviet trait

    Load More Replies...
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