Karl Bulla (Głubczyce, 26 February 1855 – Saaremaa, 28 November 1929) was a Russian photographer, born in Germany, often referred to as the "father of Russian photo reportage".
A Russian-German photographer and entrepreneur active in St. Petersburg, he founded one of the city's first modern photography studios and a photojournalism agency; renowned for his portraits, urban scenes, and chronicles of public life between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He popularized field photography in Russia, moving from studio photography to documenting current events. He employed rapid techniques and portable equipment for events, ceremonies, and everyday life; he paid close attention to natural light and legible composition. He organized archives and image distribution, pioneering photo agency models. Key themes of his production are Views of St. Petersburg (urban perspectives, the Neva, bridges, traffic, winters), portraits of public figures and the emerging bourgeoisie, and historical events and social life of the Russian Empire at the turn of the 20th century. Historical impact. Considered a pioneer of Russian photojournalism, he helped transform photography from a portrait practice to a tool for information and collective memory. His archive (continued by his sons Viktor and Alexander) is a primary source for the visual history of St. Petersburg/Petrograd in the late Imperial and early Soviet eras.