Sovetskoe Foto (Soviet Photo)
was the only photo magazine available to photo professionals and amateurs in
the Soviet Union. Like any other publication, it was state-run and heavily political,
yet another outlet for Communist propaganda.
And as in any other publication,
the pictures and articles in Sovetskoe Foto were censored and had only
one purpose - to show the greatness of the Soviet Union, the Soviet government,
and the Soviet working people. State censorship had one benefit - since it was
done mostly by professionals, low quality pictures and articles never made it
to print.
These old magazines have great historical
value - one can see life in the Soviet Union at the time it was heavily guarded
under the Iron Curtain. The Soviet Photo issues are the jewels of my
collection; I value them more than many of my rare cameras. Only a few duplicate
issues are offered for sale.
The December 1964 issue is 22.5x29
cm (9x11.5") and contains 48 pages, it is in good condition.
A few feature articles:
- Official Propaganda (photos of
Soviet industrial objects)
- Interpress-Photo Exhibiting (Poland)
Report
- New cameras (FT-2, some cine cameras)
- Photo essay about Africa
- ...many more articles and photos
