How strange. This photograph clearly shows my father, but I had to look very carefully indeed before confirming that it was indeed my mother he was standing next to. They are obviously both quite young, and it would be another fourteen years or so before I came along, but I had to search long and hard before finding elements of the facial features that I could recognise.
I suspect that the photograph was taken about 1934, when they were both 23 years old, and a couple of years before they got married. Maybe it's because it is a fairly formal photograph or that my mother has a very serious look, but I have difficulty seeing her in this elegant and beautiful young woman.
Has anything ever been invented more wonderful than a photograph?
Take a look at some other wonderful old photographs by visiting the Sepia Saturday Blog and following the links you will find there.
They look great together. And that is a very interesting background. Rather art deco. Never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteA very art deco backdrop, Alan.
ReplyDeleteYes, the backdrop caught my attention as soon as I spotted it. The co-op in Bradford used to go in for this kind of decoration and therefore I wonder whether the picture might have been taken there.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful photo and wonderful that you have it. I wonder what colour your mother's dress was?
ReplyDeleteI like the art deco background too.
Yes that was a very formal setting, as so many old photos are. As far as looking way back for ancestors I have numerous stories of these early relatives from archives that have given me a feeling of their lives and with local history of my town the family stories have come alive for me. I cannot put on SS all the info I have about Eleanor Carroll that I have. I guess it would be more interesting to do so.
ReplyDeleteQMM
A very interesting photo, Alan. I'm wondering if it was taken a community function like a dance or something.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I found a Photoshop plug-in which emulates various films called Exposure; it even emulates Calotype and Daguerrotype. Heh, heh! Look out world!
we Take Photos Too Much For Granted.Previous Generations Never Had Access To Their Pasts via photography the way we do now.
ReplyDeleteYour Mum was a beautiful lass.
Maybe we never really 'know' our parents or what they were like before we were born. That is a fabulous dress she's wearing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely photo! Your Mum's hair and dress are lovely. My first impression was that they were at a wedding or dance with a photographer set up in a corner.
ReplyDeleteOh yes..a gorgeous picture! She does look elegant and her dress is beautiful! I agree with some others that it looks like they are at a dance or wedding.
ReplyDeleteYes ditto to all the comments about how gorgeous they are, though your father's hairdo seems to be quite high on the top. We learn and think so much about photos today, I wonder if years on down the road anyone will ponder ours that much?
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness yes very elegant indeed! But what strikes me the most is what a wonderful head of hair your father had! Very nice photo for sure, and in such nice condition.....!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great photo. I find it so interesting how people posed years ago for photos, especially a more formal one like this.
ReplyDeleteYour mother's shoes caught my attention. There is no mistaken that they are from some time ago. Your father's don't look much different from those I wear today.
ReplyDeleteThey look so young.
This formal picture of your parents is indeed very beautiful. Your mother looks very elegant and stylish. The silky, flowing dress suits the mood of the occasion.
ReplyDeleteI rather like the uncluttered art deco back background. When I was young I was not so fond of it, but now I think it was a very elegant style.
Love your dad's 'do'. Weird that she changed so much you couldn't recognise her. I'd know my mum in a childhood pic.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has a photo of my mum when she was young and, although I would recognise her, she does look very different!
ReplyDeleteThey do look young and elegant. I guess I need to go back and look at some of the other pictures of your mother to see if she looks different to me too.
ReplyDeleteShe looks about to smile or say something. I guess our children never know who we were before they come along.
ReplyDeleteA very handsome young couple - and I love your Mum's dress :-) Photos like this are real Treasures. Jo
ReplyDeleteA really wonderful photo of your parents--what a treasure indeed. It is interesting to see the parents we knew as children in photos taken when they were much younger!
ReplyDeletefor you to not recognize your own mom... ok, you got no know her later on in life, but still, it may be a formal picture, but one that failed to catch her essence, i would say. your dad looked like he had quite wild hair. do you?
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ
I do have pictures of my mom standing next to men that she may have wished to be her husband but it didn't happen. But to see one that just doesn't quit fit the features that you thought she would have had is a mystery I am sure. It is a great photo.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great photo, Alan. Your father looks a little jovial, your mother so serious.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that it might have been taken at the co-op in Bradford; do you have a guess what the occasion might have been?
beautiful photo of your folks...funny that it took so long to realize it was your ma, did she change that much?
ReplyDeleteLove your Dads hair, did he keep it all?
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