Now THIS IS A HAPPY KID with Santa

Eddy is long forgotten, replaced by this smiling kid with a full set of teeth.

I'm going out on a limb here, but I believe that this child grew up to be a weatherman in Phoenix. Each day he'd deliver the weather with the same smile:

Today it was HOT in Phoenix. Tomorrow it will be HOT in Phoenix. Next Thursday it will be HOT in Phoenix. In fact, I'm betting a month from now it's going to be HOT in Phoenix! This is Sam Lewis with the weather, back to you Janice and Jim.

And maybe it's just me, but does this Santa look like someone in witness protection?


Click on image to see it larger.
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The GOLDEN BOY

Another tiny tintype of the little boy featured in yesterday's post. Slightly older, and still a beautiful boy. I'm fascinated by the damage to the image. It wears its age well, a lot better than moi.

FRAMED in gold

For anyone familiar with my recent posts you know that a few weeks ago I purchased a gold mine of photos. I lucked out at an extremely wonderful estate sale when I scored several photo albums, thousands of slides, and a young girls scrapbook. I figured there had to be something within one of the albums to go with this weeks Sepia Saturday prompt. I went with golden frame instead of what was within the frame and a count of three that go together.

What follows are all very tiny tintypes. We are the first people to ever see these images large. All of these folks are grouped together on one page with no information given as to their relationship to each other.

This golden fellow measures 15/16” x 1.25” including the frame.



Sisters, cousins, or just friends who all had their photos taken on the same day by the same photographer? A day out together filled with flirting, giggling, and some fine pastries? We can send them wherever we imagine.

AFTER THE TREE is gone...

there's still a little bit of Christmas left behind.

Click on image to see it larger.

And for me, I'll take the Navajo rug!

BENCH or two-holer?

A couple questions about this shot.

Boy or girl?

Bench or two-holer?

Whatever is going on, I like the dappled sunlight.

WARY BOY with a gun

Kids with guns are definitely a vernacular photography category. Seeing a few that were posted at Dull Tool Dim Bulb this week made me think of one I recently purchased.


Click on image to see it larger.

This shot makes me think of the famous photograph of the boy with the toy hand grenade taken by Diane Arbus in 1962. I still remember standing in a bookstore looking at a book of work by Arbus when I was in college in the late '60s. I was with a friend and we were both enthralled by the shot. It stirred all sorts of emotions and I longed to know the story behind the image. Years ago the San Francisco Chronicle ran an article about the boy in the photo which you can read here. Make sure you click on the image at the top, the contact sheet, to see an image of the man, Colin Wood, today with his own children.

My image has nothing to do with the Arbus shot other than the boy in this shot is a complete opposite of the Arbus boy. This boy is in control, wary, but in control. At attention, but relaxed. He'll never be famous like the Arbus boy and he'll never tell his story of the moment this shot was taken.

Seriously, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

"Ben, let's get a picture of Ben, Jr. standing next to his brother...I mean the tv. Okay, Bennie stand to the side, yes...smile. Show grandma your missing teeth. No, no...don't step in front of your brother...I mean the screen. That's right. Oh you look so precious. Doesn't he look precious? Bennie pull your jacket down a little on the left, it's' riding up. Ben, would you fix Bennie's jacket? And why don't you hold Uncle Jake's picture. No, just on the corner, don't get in front of...of the...screen. Just put your arm around your brother for crying out loud...I mean the tv. Okay, that's good. Ben, how does it look in the camera?"

"Mom, my arm hurts."

"Just a minute Bennie. Ben TAKE THE PICTURE! Bennie's arm hurts. Ohhhhhhhh...that's just precious. Just precious. Grandma is going to be so happy to see the two of you together."

And so goes another day in the world of vernacular photography brought to you by "One Can Only Imagine," the reality that never existed.