Leonid Bogdanov. New Holland, photograph, 33x23 cm, collectible condition.

Leonid Bogdanov. New Holland, photograph, 33x23 cm, collectible condition.

Leonid Bogdanov was born on February 17, 1949 in Leningrad. Died on January 1, 2003 in St. Petersburg. I became interested in photography in 1960. Since 1968, for 10 years he led a photo circle at the Pishchevikov Palace of Culture. For many years, his photo laboratory was located at the Pishchevikov House of Culture on the street. Bol. Moskovskaya (no. 5) was the center of unofficial photography. His friends - A. Sopronenkov, B. Smelov, B. Kudryakov, O. Korsunova, S. Falin and others - often published their photographs here. In addition, many photographers came here to chat, show their photographs, look at others’ photos, and listen to good music.

In 1978, L. Bogdanov received a workshop in Kolomna near the Alarchin Bridge (Griboyedov Canal Embankment, 140). Together with Leonid, the unofficial photo club moved to a new workshop. For twenty-five years it “was the place where most famous St. Petersburg photography masters visited” (O. Korsunova)

If we use primitive symbolism, we could say that L. Bogdanov’s Leningrad is a black city and it grows out of devilish darkness. However, the overall feeling of the work is different. Incredible beauty and sophistication is the line separating the city from the sky, living reflections in rivers, canals and on wet asphalt, lonely glowing windows and rare lanterns, embankments, lampposts, and sometimes house facades emerging from the darkness.

V.Valran.