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Monthly Archives: February 2013

A Baby Bump – 30 January 1999

February 28, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
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photobooth30:01:1999

30 January 1999, Museum Station, Melbourne

I feel very lucky to have such a kind sister who, without even wanting to be reminded of the details of this strip of photos, was very happy to give her permission for it to be published.

This day was the day we finally found and purchased a fabulous red linen dress for me to wear as bridesmaid at Sue’s forthcoming wedding. It took us four shopping trips to find it. It was utter torture for me, apart from having had the company of my gorgeous sis to make it bearable.

When these were taken, Sue was 6 months pregnant with her first child, my gorgeous nephew, Calvin.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

Friends Found on Tumblr

February 27, 2013
Vintage Photobooth
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photoboothSameCouple

USA 1966

The wonderful smiles on the faces of this couple prompted me to buy the above strip of photos. I wonder if they were newly together at this stage or just one of those rare couples whose joy in each other’s company never wanes?

I was thrilled to find another example of their togetherness on Tumblr (see below). I’d say this photo was taken some years after the first strip and they still look so happy!

PhotoboothSameCouple I Have

Photo from Tumblr.

First Public Screening of Dick Jewell’s Photobooth Film

February 26, 2013
Photobooth News
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Just to let you know the film “Katherine Griffiths 1973 – … ” a film of my photobooth collection made by UK artist Dick Jewell, will be having its first public airing at The British Library for one of its LATE events on 1 March 2013.

There will be a photobooth in situ to document the events of the evening, which include fashion shows with a twist, demonstrations by collectors, inspiring workshops, costume drawing, pop-up stalls and talks.

Here’s a link with the full details –
http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/spring-festival-2013/events/event140206.html

They are also blowing up some of Dick’s found photobooth photos which will be exhibited on the night.

If, like me, you cannot go to see the film live, then here is a link to it on Vimeo.
DickJewellKatherineFilmGrab

Luscious Lips and Stylish Hats

February 25, 2013
Vintage Photobooth
16 Comments

photoboothJoAgain

photoboothLipstickWOw

photoboothLipstickWOw02

As you can see I have three photos in my collection of this highly changeable, style-queen, Jo. I couldn’t share them with you, without also showing you the photo (below) – the one that got away – as I think it is probably the best of the lot.

It hurts to think she has been separated from the rest of her past but considering the price that was paid for her, I am sure she will be well cared for.

Update 26 February, 2013 – (I bid on the photo below at an auction but due to the ferocious competition was unable to secure this photo to add to the other three I’d already bought.)

photoboothcoolhatlady

The one that got away.

Trying To Buy A Bridesmaid’s Dress – 14 January 1999

February 22, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
6 Comments

photobooth14:01:1999

14 January 1999, Southland, Melbourne

I took this strip of photos when I was at Southland shopping centre to look for a bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding. It was the third or fourth attempt to find something we both liked and yet it was once again unsuccessful.

I don’t much like shopping for clothes at the best of times. I think my attitude to my task is abundantly evident in these pictures.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

Modern Photobooth Token – The Magnolia Photobooth Company

February 21, 2013
Digital Photobooth Images, Photobooth News
6 Comments

photoboothMagnoliaToken02photoboothMagnoliaToken01

Tokens are an old means of operating and managing coin-in-the-slot vending machines such as automatic photobooths. Magnolia Photobooth Company (see one of their tokens, above) design and build their own photo booths, some of which are operated using this system. Unfortunately they are generally phasing out their tokens in the USA, however it is still being used in a few booths around the world, specifically in Seoul and Toronto.

One of their clients, Kiehl’s, is the only company in the USA that has committed to keeping the token system. It is an integral part of the marketing of their business. They hand out tokens to people who buy product or are about to buy product in their boutiques. They can immediately redeem it for a branded strip of booth photos or use it on their next visit.

Magnolia Photobooth Company are a tiny crew with only 9 full-time staff that runs an extensive national digital photobooth rental operation in the USA and internationally.

As a photobooth rental company Magnolia is very creative in its marketing. They have an interesting blog (click here to have a look) and a book that documents a journey they made with their booths to various events around the US. You can see some of the book here and buy it here.

To see another, older photobooth token from my collection, click here.

Peter Tower, the owner of the company is (almost) seen below holding a copy of the book.

photoboothProtraitof AmericaBook01

photoboothProtraitof AmericaBook02

February 20, 2013
Random Posts
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This is an interview I did with Akshay Bhoan for his photography blog Constellation Cafe. Akshay is a photographer based in New Delhi & Bombay who works on independent lifestyle and documentary photography projects. I feel very privileged to have been chosen to be featured on his wonderful site. He also has a professional portfolio at http://akshaybhoan.com which is well worth a long look.

Constellation Cafe

Collection comes as a natural progression to creation. This is just the case with my friend, artist and blogger, Katherine Griffiths. She has been not only creating a personal series of photo booth pictures for years now but also archives and curates vintage and discarded photo booth pictures from around the world.

What I find very interesting about collecting vernacular (photo booth) photography is that everyone in this space has absolutely no control over the camera or the light. Yet the pictures we see are astoundingly unique, like fingerprints on paper. In a way these pictures collected by Katherine are the epitome of self portraiture, isolated from the world, the chaos cleared from the world with a clean flash and devoid of any photographers influence.

Today I speak to Katherine about her work and her collection.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I collect photographic images, mainly of people, mainly photobooth…

View original post 1,075 more words

Saving Private Ryan – 3 January 1999

February 20, 2013
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
2 Comments

photobooth03:01:1999

3 January 1999, Southland, Melbourne

Another strip of me and my sister Susan, this time before seeing the movie Saving Private Ryan. Sue was pregnant in this picture. We shall see more of my sister and the manifestation of this state in a future post.

This strip is part of the series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here.

Becky Time Machine

February 19, 2013
Becky and Friends, Photobooth Time Machines
6 Comments

This is a summary of the changes we saw in Becky in the larger series of strips of Becky and Friends. Becky must have been born in 1955, as from information on one of the strips, she was 22 in 1977.  As many of the photos are undated, the sequence is a guess based on the few confirmed dates from the backs of the strips. I think I have it pretty well correct.

One of my favourite parts of collecting booth photos is seeing the changes in people over time. It is unusual to find so many over such a long period.

Please click on the first photo to see the gallery in a larger format .

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