Scribble

All snapshots live different lives. Some are stuck in books for decades, some are thrown in shoeboxes, and some are stuffed in wallets. These ones were in awful shape, all bent and creaked. On the back someone had used them to see if a ballpoint pen was working. And yet they have withstood the test of time. The scene they captured is what we imagine the past as. Fun outside in the backyard perimetered by a white picket fence, not a care in the world.

C.S. Lewis

A lovely group of kids, sometime near christmas, showing of their sweaters. On the back
Sue 17-Senior                                                  
Doug 16-Jr                                                            
Annie 13-8th                                                      
 Janet 10-5th                                                        
Christmas 1961-Betzalds
They could almost be the Pevensies.  Janet has a strong resemblance to Lucy, and Sue could easily pass for Susan. Perhaps behind that wooden wall, Narnia lies.

Ain't she sweet

Even though this is a minuscule photo, less than an inch, it has amazing clarity. On the back, written in fountain pen is:

Ain't she sweet. Incidentally, the spots on my face belong to the veil, not my face                                                            July 1939.

I love this caption. I wonder why she had that veil. Perhaps she was at a funeral, but I feel this was a happier occasion. The background gives us nothing else to go on, but it seems to be chosen carefully. The photographer looks to be somewhat skilled. Or, it as just a fluke. Who knows.

Scott

This is from a lot a purchased on eBay with the theme of cameras in the shot. It should be no secret that I adore vintage cameras and have over 300 in my collection. This one has a Kodak Instamatic in it. It appears to be an early model without the signature flashcubes, but instead, a flashbulb. Seeing cameras in photos like these also makes you realize that the photo didn't just appear, it was created by someone else. Who were they? Why did they take it? So many questions. Back to the shot: I love how the person at the centre of the photo (On the back it says he's Scott) poses. He looks confident, ready for anything , but also laid back. Nothing else on the back, so we have no idea who the guy holding the camera is. Or, he could be Scott. The is the mystery of found photos that is so fascinating.

It's the best I can do

This photo may look like an ordinary snap, but the back has a different story.
Magaut 1 1/2 yrs                                                                  
 Lana   2 1/2 "                                                      
  Me 21 -                                                                
+don't call me a liar                                                                    
This isn't very good but right now its the best I can do
Theres an aura of sadness around this photo, you can see it in the way she poses. The kids look as if they dont have a care in the world. They have no idea what they will face. And for the most part, neither do we.

Time for a spot of colour

We haven't had any colour for a few weeks, so lets change that. The bottom of this one was cut when I got it, presumably so it could fit in an album. I love this womans expression. She look slightly taken aback yet intrigued. On the back it says Chrieley + his great grand mother.

An Accordion for Christmas

Im sure he was just Thrilled to get this. His parents are probably behind the camera saying
"Come on, smile, We have to show aunt Gerty that you like the gift."Of course, he could be a young Weird Al, just not showing his true emotions. On the back in pink ball point pen it says "December 31, 1951". Strange that it was written on both sides in different pen.

Baby on a chair

A very creative title, I know, but the picture itself is a little better. There are lots of "leading lines" in this photo, which works really well in portrait. However, thats not the reason I bought it. That would be the back, which reads; "A view we see very often." I just love that. Aside from that, there isn't much else to this photo. It was probably taken some time in the 30s or 40s, but I have no idea of the exact date.

On a raft in lake

This is one of those photos that becomes so much better when you read the caption. They're certainly in the lake. This was originally written in pink pen, but is not visible in the scan. This look to be taken in the late 20s or 30s, just based on the swimwear. You have to wonder what happened to this family though the great depression. Did they survive? Or did they go bankrupt? We'll probably never know for sure.

James and the giant...

Peach. Or apricot, depending on your personal taste. This photo always makes me smile. On the back it says "1966", so it was taken after the release of the Roald Dahl book, which hit shelves in '61. I wonder if the photographer had read it, or if they just wanted to capture a nice day out. This was probably taken at an amusement park or tourist trap in California.

See my icicle?

Sometimes you buy photos just for the expressions on their faces. I love the look of triumph on her face. On the back it says "Barbra and Patty- see my icicle?" This is the kind of idealized winter we all think of. Not the -20 degree blizzards with ice that sticks to car windows no matter what you do. Maybe we can all get back to making snow angels and snowballs.