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Tag Archives: self-portrait

A Gentleman Of Distinction

June 17, 2016
Vintage Photobooth
15 Comments

photoboothGermanGentleman02

photoboothGermanGentleman01

I do not own these two striking portraits, unfortunately. These are scans from the website where they were sold. I was taken by the gentleman’s confident and regal bearing, so put in a bid, but lost out at the last moment.

These poses are more suited to a formal studio-composed photographic portrait, than to a five minute snap in a humble photobooth. The images date from the 1930s and were taken in Germany.

My gent is wearing a very well tailored and no doubt fashionable overcoat. His felt hat looks luxurious and expensive. I can just see him flicking the brim upwards, after having positioned the hat at just the right angle, prior to heading out into a bitter winter wind. Around his neck he is wearing what my Grandfather called an opera scarf, probably made of white silk. I imagine his breast-pocket handkerchief also to be white and made of the finest linen. His scarf is covering most of his tie but one can just discern a flattened dot pattern woven into the, doubtless silk, fabric.

He looks to be a well off and important man, who knows that image and demeanour are everything. I wonder why he chose to take these photos? Was his hat or coat new? Did he want to try a photobooth for the first time? It would have been an innovation and novelty in the 30s. No doubt he was very pleased with the results as the photos have been kept in good condition for over 80 years. I am envious of the new owner and hope that they look after the photos so that they last for at least another 80 years.

London Fancy Dress – 21 June 2002

May 30, 2016
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
33 Comments

photobooth21:06:2002

21 June  2002, Leicester, UK

While living in Leicester I made the most of its proximity to London by visiting there as often as I could.

This photo strip was taken at Leicester train station when I was on my way to my cousin Rachel’s home for a fancy dress party. I hasten to add that I was not in costume for this photo strip.

The last photo in this strip is one of my favourites.  I was trying to emulate the reproductions one sees of movie stars’ high school yearbook photos – daft and self-conscious. I think I did it really well.

Many of the photos in this long series are unremarkable. They make up a photographic album of my adult life, which gives me a lot of pleasure as I add each new photo to the collection. I also love the memories they bring back, when I write about them for this blog.

This strip of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images. The project is now close to entering its 44th year.

 

 

Just What Is Going On In This Photo?

May 19, 2016
Vintage Photobooth
20 Comments

photoboothSerbianCouple

When I was living in Guatemala, my companion and I boarded with a local family who took in travellers from all over the world. We met some fabulous people and some peculiar ones. We learned to be wary of a very odd young lady, who amongst other unusual habits, would offer her hand to recent arrivals and ask them to “sniff this”. It was invariably at breakfast time, after she had just emerged from her bedroom, so the offer was usually brusquely and firmly refused.

So has the gentleman with his bodgie hairstyle, (look it up, those of you who don’t come from Oz) proffered his hand for a good sniffing, or for a strangely ardent kiss? The photo is so funny and weird. What do you make of it?

The photo was from a Serbian seller, so I hope it is from Serbia. It was taken in Hagen, Germany, in December 1964.

(Update 19 August, 2016) My thanks to Peter from Documenting the Obvious for working out where this strip was taken.

photoboothSerbianCouple 2

Touching Up My Lippy – 10 June 2002

April 28, 2016
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
12 Comments

photobooth10:06:02

10 June  2002, Nottingham, UK

While living in the UK, I worked for two different teaching agencies. The first one, Protocol, was sending me to some rough and tumble schools where I struggled to stay on top of things. However, it offered free professional development seminars, and god knows I needed them. The Agency was also run by a very nice group of people, so I stuck with them for a year.

This photo strip was taken at Nottingham train station when I was on my way home to Leicester after a Protocol seminar. I had also had a hair cut that afternoon.

Many of the photos in this long series are unremarkable. They make up a photographic album of my adult life, which gives me a lot of pleasure as I add each new photo to the collection. I also love the memories they bring back, when I write about them for this blog.

This strip of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images. The project is now close to entering its 44th year.

 

 

My Friend Ted

March 16, 2016
Vintage Photobooth
43 Comments

photoboothTedStutz1970

My friend Ted, also known as one of the larrikin lads in an earlier post, Two Drunks In A Photobooth, is now looking more composed and formal for the camera. I haven’t asked Ted about this, but was it really fashionable in the early 1970s, to wear a window-pane, checked suit with a floral shirt? My guess is that Ted was a fashion leader in this combo, and just so far ahead of the game no one else has ever caught on to this eclectic mix!

Love the face fuzz, Ted.

Not Sweet or Cute

March 4, 2016
Vintage Photobooth
27 Comments

photoboothOldCouple
I don’t much like it when elderly couples are characterised as ‘sweet’ or ‘cute’. I think it is patronising and condescending. It ignores the fact that older people are smart, experienced and tough. If they have maintained a relationship for long enough to be growing old together then they are patient, loving and tolerant as well.

This 1930s photobooth photo from the USA shows a couple that has lived well and survived. They appear to be dressed up for a special occasion or simply for a trip into town, which may have been a special occasion itself. They still have a sense of adventure and fun to have stopped, into what was a very recent invention, to have their photo taken. I like their matching granny glasses, her lace collar and beads.

They both have wonderful half smiles that make me feel that they were enjoying themselves and each others company.

 

Select Teacher’s Agency – 1 May 2002

December 9, 2015
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
12 Comments

 

photobooth01:05:2002
1 May 2002, Leicester, UK

This is the second of two photo strips taken for the purposes of teaching agency identity cards. I cannot find the card, which is unusual for someone as obsessive about photobooth photos as I am.

This strip was also used for a travel identity card (below).

While working in the UK I applied to and worked for two different teaching agencies. The first one, Protocol, was sending me to some ghastly institutions. I hoped for better with Select. As it turned out, it was mostly ghastly schools that needed emergency teachers, so nothing much changed.

This group of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images.

photoboothIDtrain

 

Protocol Teacher’s Agency – 23 April 2002

December 7, 2015
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
12 Comments

photobooth23:04:2002#2

photobooth23:04:2002#2
23 April 2002, Leicester, UK

While working in the UK I applied to and worked for two different teaching agencies. These duller than dull photos were taken for an identity card (see below) for one of the agencies, Protocol Teachers.

This group of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images. The project is now close to entering its 44th year. Could it be the world’s longest photobooth project?

photoboothIDProtocol

Benj And Rosie – 19 April 2002

November 13, 2015
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
6 Comments

photobooth19042002
19 April 2002, Leicester, UK

Back living and working in the UK, I spent as much time with old friends as I could, despite the fact I was in Leicestershire and they were mostly in London. Rosie and her then boyfriend (now husband and father of their one year old baby) came to visit and we snapped this strip of photos at Leicester Station just before a day out together. To see more photos of Rosie when she was younger, please click here.

This strip of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images.

New Arrivals In Leicester – 15 April 2002

October 30, 2015
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
4 Comments

photobooth15:04:2002
15 April 2002, 8.48 AM Leicester Station

This was taken on the first day of my husband’s new job, which was the motivation for our move to Leicester.  We were still living at a hotel, Spindle Lodge and I was on my way to a real estate agency to continue to search for a more permanent place to live.

This group of photos comes from my series Photobooth 41 Year Project. You can see all the posts that document the series by clicking here. I am still adding to this project using mostly digital booths to create the images. The project is now close to entering its 44th year. Could it be the world’s longest photobooth project?