Address by V. I. Yakunin

I have a special feeling about the "Russia from the Train Window" project since it took a part of our soul. People who worked on this project felt that they were a party to something very special. Maybe that's because the idea of this project is intertwined not only with the geographical grandeur and beauty of Russia, but also with its history, connecting the present with days long gone.

Back in 2006, Anton Lange, a renowned Russian photographer, shared with us his idea to transform railroads into a canvas to picture our country. We thought it was interesting, and we arranged over 30 expeditions over the next three and half years.

We traveled not only to places known all over the world, like Lake Baikal or Ural Mountains, but also to places hard to reach that very few people heard of even in Russia.

And now you have an opportunity to see the portrait of our Motherland sculpted from hundreds of images. We think that it's this very series of images, so different from cliché photographs in newspapers and magazines, that shows the true greatness of our country.

I trust that these photographs will touch everyone who sees them. I invite you to join me in this amazing journey!

Vladimir Yakunin,

President, Russian Railways

Address by A. Lange

Russian railroads have been in our lives so deep and so long that they are no longer just the most affordable mode of transport, but also a means of discovery and immersion into the life of our country. It is an adventure where a curious traveler can make great discoveries and find something unusual in what seems routine; it is a journey not only from point A to point B, but also into our country's nature, geography, history, ethnography and culture...

This exhibition does not give a unique perspective or extreme angles. These are not the photographs taken from a plane, the space or a deep-sea submersible. This is neither the jungle nor a volcano. Railroad is... one of the most common things in our lives. And this is what I think gives it its strength and beauty. Every one of us has looked out of a train window at least once.

Our unprecedented joint project with Russian Railways is a grand journey over the railroads of our country which took over 3 years. "Russia from the Train Window" is a figure of speech. The pictures that you will see at this exhibition are not necessarily shot through a train window. It is a journey based on travel by train.

I think that Russian Railways is the only company with sufficient strength, geographical diversity and deep integration in the life of our country to deliver on this idea. Besides, running this project requires joint creative spirit and understanding of common goal. Russian Railways showed a great deal of enthusiasm and interest in this project, something not often seen with enterprises so large. This project is a unique example of creative collaboration, and I am deeply thankful to and impressed by the company management and all railway workers who helped us make this happen. Thank you!

Why are we peering so intently through the train window when we travel? I think that the kaleidoscopic scenery is some kind of enabler starting up our "association engine". We see this beautiful scenery for a moment, and we want to stop for a while, hold the time and just be in this very point of space. We want to get out and stand on the ground for a while... Or go for a swim in that river... Or buy some fish at the halt... But our train moves us on, leaving us with a trail of impressions.

Ever-changing scenery, moments saved on film and an opportunity to look deeper into one's own associations-these are probably the main things behind the "Russia from the Train Window" project.

Anton Lange, photographer