Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I was given a box of very old negatives to scan by someone who inherited them recently. It's her family's complete photographic history dating from the early nineteen hundreds and going up to somewhere around the second world war ... all 127 format from what I can tell. The film appears to be a little bit narrower than 120 and is damned difficult to scan in the Epson's 120 holders because of this.
All the negatives (400 of them) were in their original beautifully made and printed, folded in half cardboard envelopes ... some with a neat row of stitching along the top and bottom and all with wonderful logos on them along with the prices etc from the pharmacy or lab that processed them on the back. Absolutely beautiful and most in perfect condition!
Once again I'm gobsmacked at how well film retains it's information after close to 100 years ... and although many had what appeared to be a fair amount of damage from the ravages of time and indifferent handling there wasn't one that didn't produce a usable image. I didn't put any time into repairing spots and water marks etc I just adjusted contrast and exposure etc where needed ... the degradation of these images is a large part of their appeal for me so I resisted the temptation to interfere with them much at all.
This to me is the people's art and the images tell the story of suburban family life in Australia shortly after the turn of the century:
Babies on knees, dogs being washed, kids on their bicycles, women chatting over the back fence, family outings to the beach or wherever, posed portraits, washing on the line in the back yard, someone on a new motorcycle and so on ... I love them all and thanks to the Brisbane floods I was able to get this job completed in a couple of days.
I hope these selected (36) images give you as much pleasure as they gave me.
edit ... the set of thirty six can be viewed as a slideshow here.
All the negatives (400 of them) were in their original beautifully made and printed, folded in half cardboard envelopes ... some with a neat row of stitching along the top and bottom and all with wonderful logos on them along with the prices etc from the pharmacy or lab that processed them on the back. Absolutely beautiful and most in perfect condition!
Once again I'm gobsmacked at how well film retains it's information after close to 100 years ... and although many had what appeared to be a fair amount of damage from the ravages of time and indifferent handling there wasn't one that didn't produce a usable image. I didn't put any time into repairing spots and water marks etc I just adjusted contrast and exposure etc where needed ... the degradation of these images is a large part of their appeal for me so I resisted the temptation to interfere with them much at all.
This to me is the people's art and the images tell the story of suburban family life in Australia shortly after the turn of the century:
Babies on knees, dogs being washed, kids on their bicycles, women chatting over the back fence, family outings to the beach or wherever, posed portraits, washing on the line in the back yard, someone on a new motorcycle and so on ... I love them all and thanks to the Brisbane floods I was able to get this job completed in a couple of days.
I hope these selected (36) images give you as much pleasure as they gave me.
edit ... the set of thirty six can be viewed as a slideshow here.
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
Good stuff. But be careful with the negatives as they are probably Nitrate-based.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
bgb
Well-known
Well done mate they are bloody wonderful ... I love old photos 
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
SUPERB Keith !!!
Eye candy Indeed
Cheers-
Eye candy Indeed
Cheers-
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
Really interesting Keith. I love the shots with the motorcycles in particular.
retnull
Well-known
Excellent! Really interesting images.
MickH
Well-known
All very interesting Keith. Thanks for kicking off another great thread. IMHO there are three wonderful shots among those you've posted so far:
Photo 3 in Post 1
Photo 9 in Post 2
Photo 12 in Post 2
These are stand-out pictures for me, and with the lack of info on lens/camera combination chime in well with Mr Hicks' recent Do You Remember? Or Care? thread.
Cheers.
Photo 3 in Post 1
Photo 9 in Post 2
Photo 12 in Post 2
These are stand-out pictures for me, and with the lack of info on lens/camera combination chime in well with Mr Hicks' recent Do You Remember? Or Care? thread.
Cheers.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Thanks Mick ... the photo of the women chatting over the back fence blew me away when I saw it ... the dog staring at the camera and so many other elements make it an absolute standout ... I would have that photo framed on my wall any day!
Probably my favourite from the four hundred I scanned for sure!
Probably my favourite from the four hundred I scanned for sure!
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aad
Not so new now.
Tremendous! thank you so much for sharing.
apodeictic
Established
Keep them separate from other film and in a cool dark place. Nitrate films can be quite dangerous as they deteriorate. For more information read this:
http://www.motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Support/Technical_Information/Storage/storage_nitrate.htm
http://www.motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Support/Technical_Information/Storage/storage_nitrate.htm
mwooten
light user
These are wonderful Keith. They remind me of my kinfolk.
The one of the women talking over the fence is fantastic.
The one of the women talking over the fence is fantastic.
Pablito
coco frío
very nice!
MickH
Well-known
Thanks Mick ... the photo of the women chatting over the back fence blew me away when I saw it ... the dog staring at the camera and so many other elements make it an absolute standout ... I would have that photo framed on my wall any day!
Probably my favourite from the four hundred I scanned for sure!
Keith, of all of them that's the one that made my jaw drop.
The 'ice cream girls' could have inspired Diane Arbus, and I'm not sure what those two lads are up to, but there's so much vitality in that photo!
You're a lucky lad having had two sets of negs like that land in your lap, there could be a career 'developing'. Oh, sorry, wrong thread.
Incidentally, I hope you and yours are keeping dry.
gavinlg
Veteran
Fascinating photos, I especially love the bike in the 4th bike - what a gorgeous piece of machinery.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
The 'ice cream girls' also made me think of Diane Arbus Mick ... it just has that feel!
The two young men are playing quoits ... one's holding one of the rope hoops and the other the pin you try to throw them over. I had this popular back yard game as a kid in New Zealand.
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charjohncarter
Veteran
I love the single meniscus lens. It give a real period look. Someone will probably correct my terminology but you know what I mean.
