born 150 years too late

[MrBern]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/garden/03tintype.html

Not only does this photographer work in an 1860's style, he lives it.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

"Asked why subjects in 19th-century photos rarely smiled, he says it is because they were dignified; it is only in recent times that people “feel they have to show their teeth like a used-car salesman.”

Plenty of aristocrats smile out from 18th century portraits. The painters added the smiles on; I doubt that the sitters themselves were actually grinning.

The real reason why folks didn't smile in 19th century photos was that the posers had to sit (or stand) in place for a long time. There were nasty chemical smells around, too. It was hardly a fun experience. That, and the fact that many folks had bad teeth (or none to smile with).

.

 

[Paisley]

One nice thing about getting older is that people tend to quit telling you what to do, as in, "Smile!" I got sick of hearing that.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Showing teeth is an entirely American thing, and I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't like that even in the US before the Golden Era.

 

[scotrace]

That, and the fact that many folks had bad teeth (or none to smile with).

Some chuckleheads just couldn't contain themselves.

 

[Rosie]

Ah! I wasn't prepared for that. lol

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

That's worse than George Harrison in the "A Hard Day's Night" opening montage. lol

(Note to self... gotta find a dentist.)

 

[Mr. 'H']

Everyone in Ireland used to have bad teeth, now we're as orthodontically switched on as the Americans!

Braces and retainers are a relatvely new phenomenon here!!!!!!!!





lol lol lol

 

[jamespowers]

The real reasons why folks didn't smile in 19th century photos are that the posers had to sit (or stand) in place for a long time. There were nasty chemical smells around, too. It was hardly a fun experience. That, and the fact that many folks had bad teeth (or none to smile with).

.

Put succinctly, no one can fake sincerity that long.

 

[FedoraGent]

The whole idea that the people didn't smile because they wanted to seem dignified seems like a pretty good idea...but did anyone possibly consider that they were just miserable? Either that or they just didn't want to smile?

 

[Naama]

Maybe you'll also be interested in the work of McGough and McDermott, they do quite the same, they also live like in the 18th century

but they also do paintings and installations, often with a "little" homoerotic touch, maybe not for everyone on the lounge(?)

Naama

 

[pigeon toe]

Maybe you'll also be interested in the work of McGough and McDermott, they do quite the same, they also live like in the 18th century

but they also do paintings and installations, often with a "little" homoerotic touch, maybe not for everyone on the lounge(?)

Naama

hhaha, aint nothing wrong with homoeroticism! at least, not to me.

i think its fascinating when people completely change their lives to live as if they were in the past. i know i fantasize a lot about living in a different era, but i dont think i could ever do something like that man. it reminds me of the PBS show "frontier house", i would kill to be on a show like that.