ADVERTISEMENT

We at Bored Panda love to see history come alive, which is why we think you'll also like this series of colorized photos by Russian Flickr user klimbims. Historical life in Russia reads like a novel--which may be why it has been the subject of so many novels--and these vintage photos bring that forgotten way of life into the modern age.

If you like these interesting photos, be sure to also check out Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky's Russian color channel photography for another old-school way for photo restoration. But first, don't forget to vote on your favorite old photos below!

More info: flickr (h/t: designyoutrust)

#1

Family Nicholas Ii Of Russia, 1914

Family Nicholas Ii Of Russia, 1914

Report

Add photo comments
POST
kubankova-iva avatar
Ronja Rövardotter
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Russian czar's family. Very sad story. They were all brutally murdered in their basement shortly after the revolution in 1917.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Grand Duchess Maria Of Russia, 1906

Grand Duchess Maria Of Russia, 1906

Report

#3

Russian Sniper Roza Shanina

Russian Sniper Roza Shanina

Report

#4

Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Soviet Sniper During World War II. Credited With 309 Kills, She Is Regarded As The Most Successful Female Sniper In History, 1940

Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Soviet Sniper During World War II. Credited With 309 Kills, She Is Regarded As The Most Successful Female Sniper In History, 1940

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Yuri Gagarin With His Matra Bonnet Djet Vs Coupe, 1965

Yuri Gagarin With His Matra Bonnet Djet Vs Coupe, 1965

Report

#6

The First Passengers Of The Moscow Metro, 1935

The First Passengers Of The Moscow Metro, 1935

Report

#7

Gymnasium Girls, Imperial Russia, 1900-1917

Gymnasium Girls, Imperial Russia, 1900-1917

Report

#8

The Four Romanov Daughters With Their Mother Tsarina Alexandra, 1913

The Four Romanov Daughters With Their Mother Tsarina Alexandra, 1913

Report

Add photo comments
POST
muukkonen79 avatar
Miikka Ukkonen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me, but the second girl from the left looks like Sid from Ice Age :D

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Worker And Supervisor, Car Factory, Moscow, 1954

Worker And Supervisor, Car Factory, Moscow, 1954

Report

#10

Russian Family, Ekaterinburg Region, Siberia In The Late 19th Century

Russian Family, Ekaterinburg Region, Siberia In The Late 19th Century

Report

Add photo comments
POST
email_4alina avatar
Alina Purcell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like they were trying for a daughter... Reminds me of my grandparents' pictures

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Yekaterina Ryabova, Russian Military Pilot, Heroine Of The Soviet Army, 1945

Yekaterina Ryabova, Russian Military Pilot, Heroine Of The Soviet Army, 1945

Report

Add photo comments
POST
richard_petch_94 avatar
Richard Petch
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of their female pilots are better than their male counterparts even now.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Jose Raul Capablanca Vs Alexander Alekhine, 1913

Jose Raul Capablanca Vs Alexander Alekhine, 1913

Report

Add photo comments
POST
jeanmharris avatar
Jean
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

good work. especially where they brought color to the dark. Considering this was taken in 1913 they did a hell of a job.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Soldier Waves A Soviet Flag, Berlin, 1945

Soldier Waves A Soviet Flag, Berlin, 1945

Report

#14

Lydia Litvyak During The World War I, 1941

Lydia Litvyak During The World War I, 1941

Report

#15

102nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, 1943

102nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, 1943

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

Soviet Athletes In Moscow, 1937

Soviet Athletes In Moscow, 1937

Report

Add photo comments
POST
jeanmharris avatar
Jean
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The color pops in this image. However the detail on the legs and face, highlights the lack of detail in the dress and footwear.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

A Man With A Group Of Russian Children, 1940

A Man With A Group Of Russian Children, 1940

Report

#18

Nicholas II Of Russia In The Uniform Of The Life-guards 4th The Imperial Family’s Rifle Regiment, 1912

Nicholas II Of Russia In The Uniform Of The Life-guards 4th The Imperial Family’s Rifle Regiment, 1912

Report

#19

Russian Wrestler Karl Pospischil, 1912

Russian Wrestler Karl Pospischil, 1912

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

Russian Soldiers In Berlin 1945

Russian Soldiers In Berlin 1945

Report

Add photo comments
POST
geapardy avatar
Dana Erasmowitz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must have been a victorious feeling! There's even a woman in the combat squad. So ahead of the Yanks

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Anti Tank Artilery, 1940s

Anti Tank Artilery, 1940s

Report

#23

Romanov Sisters And Their Mother Tsarina Alexandra Working In A Military Hospital During Worl War I

Romanov Sisters And Their Mother Tsarina Alexandra Working In A Military Hospital During Worl War I

Report

#24

Soviet Sniper Semyon Nomokonov With His Famous Smoking Pipe, 1942

Soviet Sniper Semyon Nomokonov With His Famous Smoking Pipe, 1942

Report

Add photo comments
POST
jeanmharris avatar
Jean
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great color, great image. It may have been posed but it looks like the guy in the middle is in mid story.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Maria Dolina, Hero Pilot Of The Soviet Union, 1945

Maria Dolina, Hero Pilot Of The Soviet Union, 1945

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#27

Tank Driver Mikhail Smirnov, 1944

Tank Driver Mikhail Smirnov, 1944

Report

#28

Reaper, 1914

Reaper, 1914

Report

Add photo comments
POST
giustizia avatar
Justyna
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

isn't it amazing how they used to wear so many warm clothes in the middle of summer?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Group Of The Sisters Of Charity In The Dining Room During Lunch, Rhe Herbovets Community, 1900s

Group Of The Sisters Of Charity In The Dining Room During Lunch, Rhe Herbovets Community, 1900s

Report

Add photo comments
POST
alessarian avatar
Mario Acuña
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Old cameras took way better pictures than modern digital ones. This picture almost looks 3 dimensional.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#33

Olga And Tatiana Romanov, 1900s

Olga And Tatiana Romanov, 1900s

Report

#34

Russian Ballet Dancer Galina Ulanova In Swan Lake, Ca, 1930

Russian Ballet Dancer Galina Ulanova In Swan Lake, Ca, 1930

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#35

A Russian Man Stand By A Ford-a Made In The Ussr, 1930

A Russian Man Stand By A Ford-a Made In The Ussr, 1930

Report

#36

Air Squadron Commander Of The 124th Fighter Regiment Alexander Pronin, 1942

Air Squadron Commander Of The 124th Fighter Regiment Alexander Pronin, 1942

Report

Add photo comments
POST
iulia-bianca-b avatar
Iulia Bianca
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is this not on the top ones? Amazing photo! <3 Beautiful man

#37

Arseny Tarkovsky, 1907

Arseny Tarkovsky, 1907

Report

Add photo comments
POST
anna_popova_7758 avatar
Anna Popova
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arseny Alexandrovich Tarkovsky (25.06.1907 – 27.05.1989), russian poet This photo was taken by Gueorgui Pinkhassov in 1979

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

A Young Russian Bride, 1903

A Young Russian Bride, 1903

Report

#39

Russian Actor Nikolai Rybnikov In “Spring On Zarechnaya Street”, 1956

Russian Actor Nikolai Rybnikov In “Spring On Zarechnaya Street”, 1956

Report

#40

Anti Tank Artillery Soldiers, 1943

Anti Tank Artillery Soldiers, 1943

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

Soviet Air Force Officers Rufina Gasheva And Nataly Meklin, World War II

Soviet Air Force Officers Rufina Gasheva And Nataly Meklin, World War II

Report

Add photo comments
POST
collins_fowler avatar
Mick Fowler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those Polikarpovs Po-2s had a top speed just shy of 100 mph. They harrassed the German front lines in the night. They were known as the "Night Witches."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Nurse, 1914-1916

Nurse, 1914-1916

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#43

Traffic Controllers, Wolchow Front, 1943

Traffic Controllers, Wolchow Front, 1943

Report

#44

La Comtesse Elisabeth Moussine-Pouchkine, 1903

La Comtesse Elisabeth Moussine-Pouchkine, 1903

Report

#45

Red Cross Personnel Attending To Wounded Soldiers On A Russian Battlefield, WWI

Red Cross Personnel Attending To Wounded Soldiers On A Russian Battlefield, WWI

Report

#46

Easter At The Front, The Letter Symbolize The Fraze "Christ Is Risen", 1916

Easter At The Front, The Letter Symbolize The Fraze "Christ Is Risen", 1916

Report

#47

Grand Duchesses Olga And Tatiana Romanov In Livadia, Crimea, 1914

Grand Duchesses Olga And Tatiana Romanov In Livadia, Crimea, 1914

Report

#48

Friends, 1934

Friends, 1934

Report

#49

Russian Soldiers Pose Before The Attack, 1916

Russian Soldiers Pose Before The Attack, 1916

Report

#50

Soviet Sailors Raise The Ussr’s Naval Ensign Over Port-Artur, 1945

Soviet Sailors Raise The Ussr’s Naval Ensign Over Port-Artur, 1945

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#51

Captain Alexander G. Pronin And Major Sergei Stepanovich Bukhteyev Aboard A Plane, 1943

Captain Alexander G. Pronin And Major Sergei Stepanovich Bukhteyev Aboard A Plane, 1943

Report

Add photo comments
POST
collins_fowler avatar
Mick Fowler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The aircraft appears to be an American-made Bell Airacobra (P-39)

View more commentsArrow down menu
#52

Soviet Car In The May Day Parade In Tel Aviv, 1947

Soviet Car In The May Day Parade In Tel Aviv, 1947

Report

#53

Nikolay Felixovich Yusupov, Prince Nicholas, Eldest Son Of Princess Zenaida And Prince Feli

Nikolay Felixovich Yusupov, Prince Nicholas, Eldest Son Of Princess Zenaida And Prince Feli

Report

Add photo comments
POST
persephonia avatar
Anna Schweizer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, he is just gorgeous! He looks like a prince, jumped out a wonderfull fairytale <3javascript:void(0);

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

Soviet Sniper Lyubov Makarova (left), Hero Of The Soviet Union Dmitry Nazarenko (right)

Soviet Sniper Lyubov Makarova (left), Hero Of The Soviet Union Dmitry Nazarenko (right)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
raisinlove avatar
Steph Dumais
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

both look like the kind of people you wouldn't want to p**s off

#56

Lenin, 1900

Lenin, 1900

Report

#57

Anti Tank Artilery Man, 1940s (left), Russian Sniper Nadiezhda Kolesnikova, 1943 (right)

Anti Tank Artilery Man, 1940s (left), Russian Sniper Nadiezhda Kolesnikova, 1943 (right)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
i_yermolayeva avatar
Inna Yermolayeva
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photo is not taken in 1940. The man's medals are for winning The Great Patriotic War (World War II in the USSR); in 1940 the war hadn't had started yet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

Natalia Meklin (kravtsova), Sofia Burzaeva, Polina Gelman, 1943

Natalia Meklin (kravtsova), Sofia Burzaeva, Polina Gelman, 1943

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#59

Soviet Soldiers Are Monitoring The Movement Of German Troops Near Sevastopol, Crimea, 1941

Soviet Soldiers Are Monitoring The Movement Of German Troops Near Sevastopol, Crimea, 1941

Report

Add photo comments
POST
email_4alina avatar
Alina Purcell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like a scene from a movie... Don't remember which one though

View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

German Embassy In St. Petersburg, 1913

German Embassy In St. Petersburg, 1913

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#61

Russian Pilot During The World War I, 1918

Russian Pilot During The World War I, 1918

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#62

Pilots And Air-gunners Of The 566th Assault Aviation Regiment, 1944

Pilots And Air-gunners Of The 566th Assault Aviation Regiment, 1944

Report

#63

Anti Tank Artilery, 1940s

Anti Tank Artilery, 1940s

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#64

Captain Ivan Musienko During The World War I

Captain Ivan Musienko During The World War I

Report

#65

‘Red Corner’ At A Recruiting Station, Galich, Kostroma Region, 1931

‘Red Corner’ At A Recruiting Station, Galich, Kostroma Region, 1931

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#67

Alexander Kerensky, 1917

Alexander Kerensky, 1917

Report