An exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of photographer, war correspondent and honored journalist of Belarus Alexander Ditlov opens at the National History Museum
Alexander Ditlov loved life and knew how to live. The older generation of the Respublika’s staff can confirm that.
“It may seem strange, but until now our country has not seen a single exhibition of this famous photographer’s works. His pictures only would be displayed at numerous group exhibitions. A true intelligent, he helped his friends and young authors organize exhibitions,” says Nadezhda Savchenko, head of the National History Museum’s written and visual sources.
According to his daughter, Olga Ditlova, he was a humble man by nature, yet he had always had a clear viewpoint. Innate wit, a great sense of humor and genuine interest to everything around him were the main features of his character. He treated his wife who was always near him very gently. She mastered her husband’s profession and headed Minsk Botanical Gardens’ photo laboratory.
Alexander Ditlov’s deep lyricism and encyclopedic knowledge won people’s hearts. His harmless pranks, ideas and projects remained in the memory of friends and acquaintances for a long time.
He was born in St. Petersburg before the First World War in a noble family. From early childhood, he was fond of biology and wanted to become a geologist.
When the Great Patriotic War began, the photo camera became his main weapon. As a war correspondent of TASS Photo Chronicles, many a time had he been on the front line, in the trenches and dugouts taking pictures of the military actions and making small portraits of soldiers.
One can study history by Ditlov’s photos, historians say. Particularly impressive is his 7-meter wide photo depicting soldiers of the 2nd Yartsevo motorcycle regiment that distinguished itself in the battles near Vitebsk. The photo shows 49 holders of the Winner’s Glory Order looking triumphantly at the future and holding machine guns.
After the war Ditlov decided to work in the Maladosts magazine. He has been always thirsty for experiments – when he first tried to use color films and when he created the first in Belarus slide club Spectrum.
