"Bought a box of approx. 1000 WW2 era negatives at an estate sale - need advice"

[Moriturii]

"Bought a box of approx. 1000 WW2 era negatives at an estate sale - need advice"

http://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/gssd4/bought_a_box_of_approx_1000_ww2_era_negatives_at/

Not me but this guy on this site aparently bought a buuunch of negatives from WW2 era, he posted a flickr link... hopefully great pictures incoming as he uploads!

I am in NO way affiliated but looks interesting to spread to you guys!

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks I love this stuff, I'll book mark.

 

[MC JC86]

It appears there are only 3 posted right now? Cool though, hope he/she puts up more.

Thanks!

 

[bigeye]

Looks like a California training base.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

From what I have viewed they are impressive. I should think that the finder could go back and locate the photographer.

 

[ampguy]

So what was Vivan Maier doing before she moved to Chicago? hmmm

 

[Mackinaw]

My 90 year old father passed away in January and were still going through his old pictures. He was stationed in the Pacific during the War. Luckily he had access to a camera. Here's one shot shot he took while at Bougainville in the Solomon Islands in January, 1944. GI's up front and captured Japanese prisoners in back.

Jim B.

 

[charjohncarter]

this is from the site:

And it really looks like Central to low northern California. I don't know about The Great Valley military installations; it could be near there. The milk farmer (above) looks like he could be ten miles from my house, too (more toward the coast).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluesaintpretty/sets/72157626399533217/

 

[bigeye]

My 90 year old father passed away in January and were still going through his old pictures. He was stationed in the Pacific during the War. Luckily he had access to a camera. Here's one shot shot he took while at Bougainville in the Solomon Islands in January, 1944. GI's up front and captured Japanese prisoners in back.

Jim B.

Rare shot!

(interesting that the jeep has no windshield mounted and the MP has an old Springfield.)

 

[Keith]

There's quite a few photos up now and some of them are very good. The square compositions in particular show a lot of experience and a very good eye IMO.

 

[Moriturii]

I really like the exposure on these photos. Am I wrong in thinking that the photographer overexposed and reduced development times on the sunny pictures? It doesn't look very contrasty and I love that.

Does anyone have an idea how to achieve photos looking like this other then overexpose and under develop, any other considerations?

 

[Roger Hicks]

I really like the exposure on these photos. Am I wrong in thinking that the photographer overexposed and reduced development times on the sunny pictures? It doesn't look very contrasty and I love that.

Does anyone have an idea how to achieve photos looking like this other then overexpose and under develop, any other considerations?

Yes, you are probably wrong.

Bear in mind that Kodak speed included a 1-stop safety factor, thereby demonstrating the flexibility of the concept of overexposure, and that lenses on both the camera and the enlarger were uncoated, thereby reducing contrast.

The easiest way to re-create ANY vintage look is with vintage gear and the film that gets closest to what was available then: preferably slow and grainy (Rodinal can help reduce speed and increase grain).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Rare shot!

(interesting that the jeep has no windshield mounted and the MP has an old Springfield.)

They've also removed the top bows. As for the aged of the rifle the MP is holding I couldn't comment without seeing the stock. M1903 rifles were produced until 1942. The 1903A3 and 1903A4 version were produced for a good while after too. 😉
Great shot, Jim!

Thanks for the link Moriturii, some very good pictures there. I love this sort of time-capsule.

 

[rbiemer]

From what I have viewed they are impressive. I should think that the finder could go back and locate the photographer.

I was going to make some off hand remark about estate sales occurring after someone dies but the guy who bought the negs says,

I just found out that the photographer is still alive and living in a nursing home in my town. I'm going to try to get in touch with him, and show him some of these photos.

Which raises some other questions for me:
How little did this guy's family care about his photography?
Apparently not much. Though, they may have been forced by finances to sell all/most of his stuff to pay for the nursing home.
The daughter of the photographer was who sold the negs, I wonder did she actually have the right to do that? If the photog is till alive, she can't have inherited them.

The photos are good, the story (what little there is, so far) is depressing.
Rob