Purpose of the Project
Forgotten Albania documents Albania’s visual past by pairing historical photographs with their present-day perspectives.
The project aims to preserve, contextualize, and make accessible images of cities, villages, and landscapes that have undergone significant transformation over time.
By juxtaposing past and present, the site highlights continuity, loss, and change in the built environment and cultural landscape of Albania.
Methodology
Historical photographs are matched with contemporary images taken from the closest possible original vantage point.
This process involves:
- Identifying architectural landmarks, street layouts, terrain, and horizon lines
- Reconstructing camera position, height, and orientation
- Aligning perspective rather than reproducing exact focal length
The goal is visual comparability, not aesthetic recreation. Modern photographs are adjusted only to achieve spatial alignment with the historical source.
Archives and Sources
Images used on this site originate from a combination of:
- Public and private photographic archives
- Historical publications and postcards
- Institutional collections (where credited)
- Digitized materials shared by private individuals
Whenever possible, the original source, approximate date, and location are cited.
If you are the rights holder of an image used here and wish to add information or request removal, please make contact.
Disclaimer
Dates, locations, and attributions are provided to the best of current knowledge but may be approximate.
Historical photographs are often undated, miscaptioned, or reproduced without full provenance.
Modern reconstructions represent the closest achievable perspective, not a perfect replication.
Variations in urban development, accessibility, and terrain may prevent exact alignment.
This project is intended for educational and documentary purposes.
Forgotten Albania is an ongoing project. Corrections, additional information, and contributions are welcome.