Atmospheric photographs of the USSR made by an American professor

It is difficult to exaggerate when talking about the difference in the lives of Soviet and American citizens. Two huge states were sworn enemies who fought the Cold War for decades. At the same time, of course, the Americans were not expected with open arms in the territory of the Soviet countries, and in the USA they were suspicious of our fellow citizens who set foot on the "promised land." However, this did not prevent both of them from “penetrating” the taboo territories and learning about the life of “opponents”.

One of those who managed to visit countries behind the Iron Curtain during the years of the most tense relations with America was Thomas Hammond. A professor at one of the leading American universities and a specialist in Russian and Soviet history has shot the lives of Soviet people more than once from the early 50s to the end of the 70s. With his family, he traveled to the largest cities of Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic states. In 1966, the legendary National Geographic published the famous material about the Soviet Union, illustrated with photographs of Hammond.

The American did not hesitate to photograph what the Soviet person would never have thought of pointing the camera at. Therefore, his pictures are so curious and eloquent.

Watch the video: Growing Up in the USSR - RAI with A. Buzgalin 112 (May 2024).