6/29/14

TESTING the water, Part 2


More from the ladies of the lake.


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The little row boat was named Osprey. Now, did they row from the yacht to shore? Probably never know.


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But this "answers" a few questions about the situation from yesterday's post.

6/27/14

TESTING the water


This photo comes from Betty Schnabel's mother's photo album. I have no information about any of the people in this boat, nor where it was taken. The album contains a lot of photos of a lake and a large log structure next to it. I would imagine it was somewhere in Washington state because of the Bigelow (Louise Bigelow Schnabel) family history, but can't be sure.


Click on image to see it larger.

I love this shot with the women in their hats and long skirts. Not the ideal boating outfits, especially should they fall in. And I wonder if those on the other side are also testing the waters. The young girl in the plaid appears to be looking at the woman closest to her until you look at her eyes. She seems to be interested in either the photographer or someone in that direction.



This is my submission for this week's Sepia Saturday.

6/26/14

Ready for the EASTER PARADE


Well past this years Easter Parade, but definitely set for next years.


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One of these young ladies is Betty Schnabel's mother, Louise Bigelow Schnabel. I'm thinking the one on the right.

Surely makes my paper plate hat with the construction paper flowers look a little shabby.

6/25/14

SNAIL MAIL can be the best surprise


On January 11th of this year I posted this photo as an example of another Time-Traveling-Celebrity. I don't think I'm the only one who thinks this dapper gentleman looks like actor Alan Cumming. The photo was available on ebay and when it sold to someone I hoped it had gone to a good home, someone who appreciated the fact that Alan Cumming had been caught in the past while researching a role or possibly just taking an unusual vacation. I think you might figure out where this is going.


To say the least I was dumbstruck when I opened my mail several weeks ago and found Alan looking up at me. Katherine from Photobooth Journal had bought him for me. I'm still stunned by it. It was such an incredibly kind thing to do and I've told her so several times. So again, thank you Katherine, you're a very special lady.

So Alan has been added to my Time-Traveling collection. It's so much fun to find someone sneaking around in the past thinking they'll get away with it. Being a celebrity has so many perks we lowly unknown will never experience. I'm at least happy that some of them have been caught.

And visit Katherine and enjoy her 41 year Photobooth Project. She has a wonderful collection from her own life and tons of fun images of all those lovely people from the past.

6/20/14

The FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE takes a bow



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Applause, applause. They're taking their show on the road. Hope you enjoyed the show.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.



6/19/14

The final installment of the deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…and finally…


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Now you can see why I bought this photograph. Do you know why? You have to be a regular reader to know the significance of this and how it fits one of my favorite categories.

Tomorrow the photo as a whole.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.


6/18/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…only…


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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/17/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…carefully…


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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/16/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…between the smiles…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/15/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…for a moment normal once again raised its head, but then…


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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/14/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…suddenly…


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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…but the magic…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/12/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…but why…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.


6/11/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


…BUT THEN…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

The deconstruction of the FIRST COMEDY TROUPE


…of course…

Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.


6/9/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


and then…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/8/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


and…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


and…


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/7/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE


More fun. More stories.


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/6/14

The deconstruction of the FIRST CITY COMEDY TROUPE!


I have a large photo, a group photo, that deserves some attention. Not just a one-off-here-you-go look. The people in this shot are grouped. They grouped themselves through their behavior. There are 38 people in this photo, but I will only feature a few each day. Thus it will take at least 16 days, if not more, for you to see everyone up close and personal.

They are characters worthy of stories. So please, create some stories to go with them and then see if what you came up with the first day fits in with the next day.

As far as the who, what, and where of this photo…nada. Well, there is a stamping on the back which says F. W. Swift. I'm assuming it belongs to the photographer, but I have so far not found any F. W. Swift who was a photographer from long ago. Any ideas?


When you see the final grouping you will discover why I bought this photo. It fits into one of my beloved categories.

So let the deconstruction begin!


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/5/14

The WRECK OF THE UNKNOWN TRAIN


This photo is a nod to this week's Sepia Saturday with trains as the prompt.

I have no information about where or when this train wreck took place. I can say that the photo was purchased from a Pennsylvania seller which, for me, opens all sorts of questions.


Click on image to see it larger.

I've mentioned in the past that my maternal grandfather worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad his entire working life. He started out as a fireman, including working on the Flying Scotsman when it made its visit to the states. Eventually he became an engineer on steam engines with his final years on diesel engines.

I spent quite a bit of time with my grandparents when we lived outside of D.C., but once we moved to Hawaii, and eventually a return to California, I saw them infrequently. I have so many questions that will never be answered because they both died in '68.

I have memories of my grandfather coming and going in his blue and white striped engineer uniform, carrying his black metal lunchbox and thermos. My dad has told me that there was a corner on his run that he always dreaded. A lot of trains had wrecked on this corner. I'll never know where that corner was located.

This shot is alive with sounds and texture. I can hear the steam pumping from the engine in loud spurts. Feel the cold of the winter wind. Hear the voices of the people talking. The photo is very much alive.  And for all I know my grandfather could be one of the people in this shot.

UPDATE: In case folks don’t read the comments I wanted to post what blogger WJY of The New Found Photography posted. He might have identified the location of this wreck.
Near Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania along the Allegheny River. I'd lay money on it. River ice would jam at the bend and get pushed up on to the railroad tracks, shutting down the route. When I was young and foolish, I once tried to walk across the ice.
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Come back and visit during the next week to see a "deconstruction" of a rather humorous group photo. I'll be featuring a different person, or group of people, each day until I've posted the entire large image. There are some real characters in this one.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/4/14

You meet the NICEST PEOPLE ONLINE


A friend, an online friend, has been very kind to me today. He has done a post on one of his popular collector blogs, Dull Tool Dim Bulb, about my little corner of the universe. I'm not used to compliments and I blush thinking about this kindness. But I am also eternally grateful that he saw something in what I've been doing. That's all I've ever hoped for here. That people would enjoy my finds and get a good laugh or perhaps take a moment to see things with a different perspective.

So thank you Jim Linderman. You're a very kind man. I urge others to find out more about him from none other than the New York Times which ran a great piece about this amazing collector. Then you'll understand why he's such a cool fella and that it's an honor to be noticed by him.

I hope this shot makes everyone smile, no matter how bad or good your day has been. This snapshot is from my book Tattered and Lost: Vernacular Photographs, available at Amazon for $11.16.


Click on image to see it larger.
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Check out all of my Tattered and Lost books here at Amazon, featuring my latest, Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes for $14.36.

6/3/14

Little Girl with PAPER DOLL


What makes this snapshot unusual is that the little girl is holding a paper doll. It's pretty common to find photos of children with dolls, but not paper dolls. I'm sure some eagle eyed reader who collects paper dolls will be able to figure out which doll it is.


Click on image to see it larger.


Click on image to see it larger.

This photo is from the Betty Schnabel estate sale and is in her mother's photo album.