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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Souvenir Photos


I got my first brownie camera when I was nine. It was a piece of magic. We each got one, and our mother showed us the procedure of threading the film, winding it on the metal spools, and checking the little red window until the number "one" appeared.



Thankfully it was a simple procedure to take a "snapshot". There was a lever to pull down until you heard the click, and that was about it. Then you rolled the film on to the next number.




It could be weeks of waiting and accumulating rolls to take to the drug store to be developed, but fresh film was cheap, and so was the processing. (We steered clear of colored film which was more expensive.) But finally the day would come when the product was revealed in a mixed blessing.




Since no one had taught composition, or "choosing your subject", or lighting, framing, or anything else of relative sophistication, the result was a pretty mixed bag. The most we knew was to make sure that the shots were taken outside (no flash), and to be sure the person faced the sun so squarely as to be sure they could not possibly keep their eyes open!




Arty pictures of piers, and cars aren't anywhere to be found among my aged white framed photos. But the fuzzy, over exposed shots of school friends and family vacations are much of what remains of the record of my early years. Most parents didn't chronicle each waking moment as is so easily done "nowadays". Ours didn't anyway.




So I'll take them in all their flawed glory. Souvenirs of summers so far past that they now only feel like a place I once visited.

I hope you're having summer fun!
Ciao! for now!

Jacqueline

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9 comments:

  1. hi Jacqueline, I like how you've used an old flower frog to show the photo. I've recently been 'curating' my parents' albums and like your ideas for how to display them.

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  2. such creative ways to display your photos ~ thanks for sharing
    'hugs from afar'

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  3. Lovely combination of old photos and seashells!!! So summery!!!

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  4. Beautiful shell candle. Nice use of the photos and clever display with the flower frogs.

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  5. Hi Jacqueline,
    Thank you so much for visiting me at "Home is Where the Heart is" athomewithelizabethgary.blogspot.com
    Its a pleasure meeting you. Your blog is beautiful and I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. I have become your newest follower and will back often to visit.
    Have a sweet day and hugs, Elizabeth

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  6. I love this old time memory of a process that I had completely forgotten about ~ loading film in a brownie camera. Thanks for the memories. :-) Pamela

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  7. Lovely memories Jacqueline!!

    I hope we get some summer weather soon..it's been so cold here the past couple of days!

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  8. Wow , what an elegant blog you have :) I love your old florist spikes , gorgeous patina . You now have a new follower xx Ava

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  9. Hi Jacqueline,

    I have just found your blog via "met monday "
    and have been lost in bliss perusing past posts!
    I've marked you as a favorite so I can return for more beauty and inspiration another day.
    Thank you for sharing !

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