As promised...some shots with no people (almost), not American (tho' I'm not sure) and quite odd. Well, I can definitely deliver on the odd front. Pretty, but ultimately a complete waste oftime. A table of silk flowers for some sort of competition. Whether it's a village fayre, county show or Townswomen's Guild event... I have no idea.
Another American photo today...but don't worry, I'll do some European / Landscape ones for the next few days. Seems to be a Prom Night liaison, so I'll assume that they're 'merkins. What's the betting that under that simple white dress is an impenetrable layer of girdle, corset and bra to thwart young Edgar's advances later than evening.
Fantastic painting in the background
Holy Moly. What's happening here?
Uncle Zeb, obviously. Swampy mangrove forest...probably. Caravan / trailer-home....umm. yeah. Is it supposed to be that odd shape ? WHY ? I can't imagine it's for aerodynamics, and it doesn't really add much living space, so why the heck is it that odd shape?
Help! Does anyone know ?
Hank didn't like to be photographed, but this was a picture for Grandmama, gawdammit ! So,with a shotgun pointing him (just out of picture) Hank Senior had him put on the family jacket, and pose for the camera. Beside the foil covered plant pot that served as the veranda spittoon.
I definitely think that this could be an album cover, possibly an album of Morrisey covers, done in a Country and Western style.
It gets pretty boring on patrol on a warship during the Vietnam Wars, and things were no different on the USS LaRue. But the first Sunday of each month was a bit special, as each of teh drafted crewmen had to "drag up" for the benefit of the officers.
Outfits and wigs were issued by the ship's Quartermaster, and the draftees had to spend the day "'en femme". Cameras were banned, due to the possible negative effects upon mainstream America, but sometimes a photograph was surreptitiously taken, and this is one of the few. The crewman photographer waited until no-one was looking his way, to save the blushes of his fellow ladies.
(Of course, this could all be lies...but you can decide.)
Stinking hot day over here in Slidesville, so I thought I'd mark it with another desktop sized image.
The only info I have for this one is that it was processed in Jun 1970, and it's probably American. I suspect that her fashionable dress would indicate that date to the Fashionistas, but his outfit could date anywhere from 1930 to 2008. Looks like they've just had an ice-cream, which -to be honest- sounds like a damned fine idea.
Feedback is (almost) always welcome.
Umm. Ok. It's a fungus. Growing on a tree. I have nothing more to say on that subject.
Tomorrow - another desktop image.
OK. So I don't know if they're brothers, or even "Bruthas". It might not even be Harlem. Heck, they may not even be dancing. Whatever it is, I suspect that the image would make a fine album cover for some music act / "popular beat combo". But whom ??
It could just be an innocent family picture at a popular picnic spot, but there's something in Mom's demeanor that worries me a little. The rigid pose, the "Wednesday Addams" dress, the lack of other picnickers.
I reckon that mom finally had enough of pop's drinking, and over Sunday breakfast, she lashed out with a cast iron frying pan. Of course, somethig had to be done with the body, and mom and the kids decided to dump it at Pearson's Point - the popular picnic spot - while everyone was off at church. Of course, Hank Jr (tall boy) wasn't particularly happy, but family ties won out. Hank Sr was weighed down with rocks and sunk.
So, who took the picture ? Obviously, it was set up on a rock and the self timer used. If the police came snooping around, the photo was the proof that Hank Jr was around then, before running off with some floozie.
Am I right ?
A perfect destination for an illicit weekend bit of nookie with a mistress. Remote, quiet and modern. In fact, more than just quiet...it's deserted. It looks like they built the hotel and just abandoned it.
Or maybe those aren't cactuses on the hillside...they're aliens from planet Noodlestrom 23, advancing on a secret US Military Research Establishment in Area 51. Hey, it's possible.
An excellent example of how not to take memorable pictures. This seems to be from the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasendena, California again from the mod 1950's. No doubt, the parade was a wonder to behold, but our photographer was to far from the parade, aimed too high and had too shaky a hold of the camera. He am the fail.
Uncle Milton was proud of the bird-box in the front garden. VERY proud. And you can tell, can't you. Just out of shot is the shotgun that Uncle Milton used to protect that bird-box from marauding cats and critters. "No tom-cat is gonna attack them fruit-warblers" he'd mutter to himself all through night patrol. The state found him a secure room to stay in soon after this.
NB. This was a colour Ektachrome slide from the early 1950's, but due to storage conditions, it's deteriorated and colour went a bit doo-lally. So, a monochrome version is probably the best you can expect.
Just scanned in a box of slides from someone's trip to South America. Some apparently of Bolivia, and some definitely from Brazil, so it's a 50-50 chance that the above one is from Brazil.
Another desk-top sized scan for you (1280x1024), and if I may say so, it makes a fine backdrop. It's got a Blade Runner sort of feel to it, with one huge difference...it's sunny.
Hope you like the pic. Let me know if you recognise the location.
Heavens ! Someone's shrunk Paint Creek Mine to one seventy-second of it's original size ! How did they do that ?
Another Desk-top sized image tomorrow.
Back to the Americans. What more could could a viewer want? Two kids, retro fashions and some cool shades. Marvellous. But who's the old bat on the inside of the window.
More importantly, what became of the two lads? I'm guessing one grew up to be a tough officer in the US Marines and the other became a full time drag queen in San Francisco. And I bet they don't exchange Christmas Cards any more.
After quite a few "Holiday" slides, I reckon it's time for some slides for the family, of the family. Here we meet Gladys, Hector and Tiddles, in their palatial home (Gawd. I'm beginning to sound like Hello!) Quintessentially English, utterly naff and quite likely to be as Mad as a Goose on Stilts. (Isn't Tiddles a big cat, or are G+H smaller than average.)
Greetings slide fans ! We've got a shop today ! American (as most of these slides are) and I'm guessing from the early sixties. Boring, you might think.
I disagree. This is one of those slides that I find intriguing. Apart from the obvious Where and When, I wonder whether Friedman's still exists, or is it now a Starbucks? Candy Tobacco and Cigars - so why is the window display all about razors? More importantly...what's the purpose of that odd little door on the LHS of the frontage? Might it open at the cry of "Release the hounds !"
By popular demand (Ha!) another boat shot, but this time far better exposed. A trip to Germany, a riverside cafe and a few glasses of the local Hock...and the result is this.
Sometimes, I find an image that I really like. Often, they're not the clearest, or best exposed, or prettiest...there's just something. And this is one of them.
The Slide was very under-exposed, so it's not technically the best picture. Someone's written in the mount "Two Harbors, Minn, Largest Ore Boat on Lakes." No other info (date etc). So a quick Wiki reveals some info on Two Harbors, I especially like the honesty in the Skate park section, but is does suggest that the most exciting thing to do on a sunny Sunday afternoon is go and look at an ore boat. Hmmmm....
As promised yesterday, some odd desktop wallpaper for you. Two women, one man, swimming pool...swimsuits. All-righty !! Hopefully not too racy for your PC, but it is summer !
If that's popular, I might post a new wallpaper every weekend.
OK, so foreign travel wasn't as common a few decades ago, but why on earth would anyone take a photos as screamingly dull as this one. There's just no reason for it to exist. It's dull, Dull, DULL DULL! So, it is strangely fascinating to me.
Obviously, the original slide has more detail than the scale version above, so I can tell that the car on the right is an Opel Ascon 1.6D, and the number plate is very clear. But that doesn't affect the fact that the picture shouldn't have been taken.
Tomorrow - I'll post a Desktop-sized image for you to confuse your workmates with.
...but sometimes you do know something about the subjects. A while ago, I purchase a couple of boxes marked "Spain Slides". Bit of a lucky dip, I expected. Boring scenery of Mr and Mrs Average's visit to Torremelinos.
But No ! They appears to be school trips to Spain, with hordes of spotty teenagers and a short supply of teachers. Coach trips to Spain for Easter. Oh boy. The fashions, the horrible kids, the concrete jungle....truly car crash viewing.
The picture above was from a box marked Ibiza 1973 Easter, and appears to be four schoolgirls and their waiter crushes. Anyone recognise themselves ?
Here, preserved for all eternity, a family gather for a group photo. The boys, clearly dressed to the nines for some reason, the parents clearly taking a relaxed approach. The reason...unknown, but does there have to be a reason? Taking photos is one of those things that has to be done.
An aside. Does anyone actually frequent this 'ere blog ?
Summer's here, and the time is right, for clipping your hedge. And for that truly detailed look, it has to hand-trimmed. What had been a wild and unruly thatch, is transfomed by careful clipping into a neat and tidy thin strip. No wonder the gardener looks tired but happy.
I mean, it might be a weather-worn old stone cross.
It might be something else. You know, ummm .... one of "those" things. Well, it could, couldn't it?
...and it was so awesome, I just HAD to take a picture. Guess what...This Is It!"
OK, It's a great looking bathroom, but why would someone photograph it. Perhaps they were a hotel inspector, and was aghast at theidea of having electric switches, sockets and heaters in an inherently wet room. Maybe they were stunned to have a full size weighing scale there. Who knows.
What more would a husband want on his Birthday ? What could be better than a jumbo pack of smokes, and two more ties? Hmm. I bet he could think of a few things...
And how hideous is that fireplace behind him? Must be a 1960's thing.
Ah, when the ladies of the neighbourhood gather, the gossip and backbiting won't be far behind.
What a spread of food Mavis has laid on. Fruitcake, sliced bread AND Dill Pickles. Truly a feast
As threatened, we're back with a Who? What? Why? and When? slide.
I suspect that this is a late 1950's shot from a Navy hospital. The patient has definitely has extensive facial damage, and I struggle to believe that it's a cosmetic nose-job. Those surgeons at the back sure are glad to be there. So, anyone recognise a distant relation ?
Today's shot looks like it's from Holland. Or maybe Belgium. Or actually, it might be Germany. Anyway, it's not goofy, it's not dull, it's just a working barge passing by / under a working swing-bridge. Muted colour, in fact almost monochrome, I rather like ths one. Hope you do too.
Tomorrow, I'll find an "odd" one for you.
Yes, everyone takes photographs on holiday, and why not take some slides so you can invite the neighbours round for a slideshow ! Assuming they can't find a suitable excuse, regale them with interesting stories about trees, lakes, hills and flowers. A perfect evening in the 60's.
Does anyone still go on holiday and wear shirt, tie, brown sweater and brown slacks ? (Actually, I think I know a few engineers who would.)
