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Archiver > VINTAGE-PHOTOS > 2006-12 > 1167575195


From: Carole Johnson <>
Subject: Re: [VINTAGE-PHOTOS] Old Photo Question
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:26:35 -0500
References: <BAY110-DAV16BE41BE294CEACBCDEAE3D0C40@phx.gbl><45975118.2040302@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <45975118.2040302@earthlink.net>


If you look closely at photographs made in the late 1800s-early 1900s
you
might notice a doily or scarf on the back of the chair of the person
posing for the photograph; This was to conceal a brace that held
the head still. Some of the photographs might take several
minutes to expose. A lot of photographers worked out of their wagons
and traveled throughout the country. Some merely placed the
chairs outside near the home. Some used backdrops to
improvise a studio. Almost all of my old photographs were
made this way. For my poor ancestors they were probably
not smiling thinking of the costs and the money lost to
the traveling photographer!

We have a great photograph of my husband's ancestor made
this way - just outside her old rickety home. She is holding
a small dog so tightly that her knuckles are white. We estimate
it was made around 1880.
Carole

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