Saturday Snapshot
January 29, 2011
This picture is of my mother’s family. It was taken around 1922 – 5 years before she was born, so obviously she’s not in it. She had two brothers and two sisters. This picture was taken at a photography studio and one of the things I love about it is that everyone is all dressed up and posed so seriously, yet the door behind them has been left open.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. It’s easy to participate – just post a picture that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.
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It is funny how they left the door open! I wonder if it’s meant to impart a casual feel to the photo, given how stiff and uncomfortable they all look. The kids in particular look very dubious of the whole process!
It is so amazing to look at these pictures and thing this was just a few generations back… we can do so much with photography now.
What an incredible keepsake!
What a great photo! The open door definitely adds to it. It makes me wish I had more old photos of my family.
I’ve got some old photos of my grandmother’s family and they looked just about as cheerful. LOL
I love the big bow in your aunt’s hair. My grandmother and her sisters had large bows in my pictures of them as well. Don’t know about the door, but it is interesting that it was left open. I think that people had to sit for a long time before the film matured or developed or something and that is part of why they had such solemn faces.
Isn’t it interesting how when you look at old photos like this one, everyone is so serious, yet now, we are taught to smile when we have our picture made? I’ve got some old photos of my grandfather’s family, and some of them look scared, even.
I love antique photographs! This one is amazing! And I also
like how the door is left open, very interesting! Here’s my Saturday Snapshot!
I love this photo! There is something so….compelling about the door being open. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Thanks for sharing.
Perhaps the door was left open to give the picture more light. I love looking at old photos. I was talking to my mum this morning about making a heritage scrapbook with all the stories of our past.
I find the open door really fascinating
That’s funny how they left the door open. I love seeing all these old photographs. I wish I had some of my own.
What a great photo! Everyone appears so serious. I love the sepia tones.
I love old family portraits like this. And the open door does make me wonder!
Very sweet! I love the ribbon in the older girl’s hair.
Oh, how I love this photograph. There’s something so magical and mysterious about old photos, and I’m so glad you’re sharing yours with us. Thanks, Kathy!
I’m loving your old photos. All the pictures I’ve seen of my grandparents in that era are serious too. My mom once told me that because no one had their own camera, picture day was a big event. Hard for me to imagine how that felt.
Hi!
I love looking at old pictures. They leave so much to the imagination. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
You have the most amazing pictures of a time far gone from our lives today.
You are so blessed to have such captured stills, especially of your mother’s family. Thank you for sharing these with us.
I love these old photos!
This photograph really gives me idea for a story — that door being open is just so wonderful — If I write about it, I will dedicate the book to you
The open door adds interest to the background doesn’t it? – would have been quite plain if the door had been shut. But also ask yourself if it is a real door or if the whole background is one of those oil cloth things they used to roll down in photographic studios.
I love these old photos you post, they’re fantastic. How funny that the door behind was left open…I wonder if it was needed for light? I guess that’s a silly comment.
The children look adorable…and probably want to run and change into play clothes! I think it’s great that the family got so dressed up, accessories and all for a family photo. It makes it so nice and special.
Thank you for sharing this picture, Kathy.
~ Amy
This is another great one! I’m trying to figure out what is on the doorframe?
I’ll tell you what Kathy–you are mighty perceptive. Of course the door’s open but I would have never noticed or thought anything of it
Isn’t it so funny how serious taking photos seems to have been in the past? Odd how they must have been told to frown then, but we’re all trained up to smile now! My mom just brought home an photograph of my great grandmother’s, and everyone looks so very grave except for one guy who’s almost smiling, so we imagine that he must have been the trouble maker of the family.
Thanks for sharing your photo – that open door is sometime of a mystery, but an interesting one!
This is amazing photo..I love looking at the ones I have from my grandma. Now I’m wondering why they left the door open ???
This is gorgeous.
I just LOOOOOVE these series of snapshots. And I love that the door is open. Pictures like this seem to have so much to say … you wonder about everyone and what their lives were like. Thanks for sharing.
The open door looks so odd especially when the rest of the photo is so perfect. Great shot.
Fascinating photo! I actually think the open door adds a touch of mystery to it
I know so little about my family history. Makes me sad sometimes.
I have really loved your family photos.
Love this photo as well. Everyone, even the children, have such serious looks — not one of them cracked a smile.
I wonder if the door being open had more to do with allowing for more light in the picture than the scene being set.
Fantastic picture, it’s always interesting to see them.
What amazes me is that the children aren’t blurred. They had to stay absolutely still for quite a while for the picture to be taken, yet there they stand right in focus. Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable the shoes look in old photos? Maybe that’s another reason for the somber expressions – their feet hurt!
Love the bow! Maybe they left the door open for some light or just so the family could quickly escape and change out of those dressy clothes.Either way, it’s an interesting addition to the formal pic.
I love this photo and the door open is so mysterious !
I wonder if in fact the door really was left open or is that just a background image put up behind them? It almost looks painted.
I research my family history and love looking back at old family photos like that, so thanks for sharing this one with us
You are so right. Your comment made me do a double take. I
grabbed the photo to have a look and the open door is definitely
part of a painted backdrop. Surprise surprise. I am so liking these
old photos too. What a story they have to tell.
Isn’t it wonderful to look at such old treasures? At my ancestral home, there used to be a wall full of such old photographs, and I’ve always felt the serious posing very weird!
Oh my, what a great photo! I also love that the door was left open. It gives the picture a curious feeling of lightness, even though everyone is so serious!
I love looking at family photos. Thanks so much for sharing, Kathy!
I actually love that the door was left opened. It made the picture look more interesting. Lovely picture!
Your grandfather looks like my great-great grandfather. It must be the stach!
I love old pictures like this. Such a treasure!
I love looking at the clothes from older time periods. Very funny regarding the door.
That is funny that they left the door open. There must have been a reason but I wonder what it was? I’m also always fascinated how in the old photos no one is ever smiling.
Look at the size of the bow on your aunt’s head!
I love looking at these old family photos, Kathy – thanks for sharing them.