Saturday, June 6, 2009

Smile

Carrie asked me why we didn't smile for our old time photo, and I wanted to let her (and anyone else who didn't know) that we did it that way because in the 1800's photography was still in the very early stages. It took several minutes before the picture "took", so people did not smile because it would not only hurt keeping a smile, but probably look very unnatural by the time the camera went click.
Also people were more formal in those days and it was probably considered improper to have a big smile on your face.
We wanted our photos to look "real" as if we were living in 1863 so we tried to look solem. If you notice Cody looked almost sad and I loved the way the photographer captured that. It was as if he is saying My daddy is gone off to war, and I don't want to leave my mommy and grandma but I am going to march off with my big drum and find him. For a child of four he really took this whole Civil War stuff serious. He was so interested in the stories and asked several times to see the soldiers. I guess in his little mind they should still be there.

I am lucky enough to have several "real" photos from the 1800's and early 1900's of my great/great grandparents.



This is my great great grandmother Jeannie Wilson Fincher, born 1857 and lived until 1940
I especially love this photo because it was done in color
our "old time photo" is done in very similar color and I think Rebecca may even favor her a bit. If you look at the shape of the nose and face, to me they look similar

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3 Comments:

Blogger Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Patti, I assume that you meant that your great great grandmother died in 1940..... Wow---she lived for 83 years --which is rare back then.

Patti, Look at your face in that last photo and your great great Grandmother's face. There's a huge resemblance... Also your daughter (as you said)... Amazing!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

June 6, 2009 at 11:07 PM  
Blogger Patty said...

Thanks for correcting me on the date Besty, I had a typo there. I do think I favor my great great grandma but didn't want to say it. I favor my grandmother very much in this photo, I will post her photo soon.

June 7, 2009 at 12:18 AM  
Blogger Carrie said...

Thanks for sharing. Now I see it. My great great grand parents didn't smile either. I guess I never thought about it.

June 8, 2009 at 10:47 PM  

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