A photo from the olden days

@JudyEv (357177)
Rockingham, Australia
October 13, 2021 6:41pm CST
The people in the photo are my grandparents (the two older people obviously) with my Mum and Dad on the left and Dad’s brother and his wife on the right. As you might have guessed, this was taken in the days when you didn’t smile for photos. I am giving the photo to a cousin. Mum and her father were siblings. She is also related to my grandmother through her mother so there is a double connection there. My cousin and husband bought our old family farm and have now named it Dudbrook which is the name of the ship that bought the first of one line of the family out from England. He was a convict, charged, I think, with stealing. I really should learn more about him.
29 people like this
25 responses
@xFiacre (13852)
• Ireland
14 Oct 21
@judyev Silly thought, but I wonder what they did after posing for the photograph. Get out of their posh gear and have a scratch? that's what I do. Lovely photo to have.
7 people like this
@DianneN (247166)
• United States
14 Oct 21
5 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
They would have hung up their posh clothing very carefully. Or at the least the women/wives would have.
3 people like this
@rebelann (114212)
• El Paso, Texas
14 Oct 21
What a really kool photo. I have a photo of my grand parents and none of them smiled, I always wondered why. All my grand parents were born in the late 1800s.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (152255)
• United States
14 Oct 21
@Fleura I guess that makes sense... but it still seems weird.
3 people like this
@Fleura (31894)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
@rebelann @DaddyEvil In the 'old days' (early 20th century) exposing those glass photographic plates took longer, so people would have to hold the pose - it's harder to smile for a long time without moving or having it morph into a sort of grimace.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
Fleur probably has the right answer but all those old photos are much the same. Not much hilarity going on. It was a very serious business - having your photo taken.
3 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41983)
• Delhi, India
14 Oct 21
Nice family photograph. How old is this photo? Your cousin will appreciate it.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
My parents were married in 1937 so I guess not too many years after that.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (152255)
• United States
14 Oct 21
One of my cousins gave me photos of our family from back when several years ago. I've scanned them into my laptop and have passed digital copies on to everyone in the family who wanted them. (It still seems weird that they wanted everyone to be... sober... when having their picture made. [Sober as in not smiling... not "not drunk"..] although they may have hoped to have people not drunk in the photos, too. )
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (152255)
• United States
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv @Fleura explained about that to us. She's probably right.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
Maybe it was the fashion back then to have everyone very serious.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Oct 21
What an interesting photo and story! I read a novel years ago about the first people sent to Australia from England as punishment.
4 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv And the results were a great new country.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
The English could be transported for the most minor crimes - stealing a loaf of bread or a few coins. Times were tough and so were the punishments dished out.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
@JamesHxstatic That's true. For some of the 'felons', it held to a wonderful new life.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247166)
• United States
14 Oct 21
Lovely old photo and a nice family connection. I’m certain your cousin will appreciate it.
4 people like this
@DianneN (247166)
• United States
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv How nice for her and of you!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
She has said she'd be pleased to have it. I just sent her another of her Dad as a young baby and it was one she didn't have.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58574)
• Philippines
14 Oct 21
Lovely photo! Glad that you have it.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
It's nice to have it but I don't know where it will finish up.
2 people like this
@Nawsheen (28642)
• Mauritius
14 Oct 21
That's a lovely photo. I also have photos of my great-grandparents and yes they were not smiling in these photos. I think this was the fashion these days
3 people like this
@Nawsheen (28642)
• Mauritius
15 Oct 21
@Fleura thanks for the explanation. I was not aware
2 people like this
@Fleura (31894)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
In the 'old days' (early 20th century) exposing those glass photographic plates took longer, so people would have to hold the pose - it's harder to smile for a long time without moving or having it morph into a sort of grimace.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
I think so too and Fleur's explanation is very logical too.
3 people like this
@jstory07 (144875)
• Roseburg, Oregon
14 Oct 21
That is a really nice picture of your family.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
Thanks. It's interesting to see the fashions of the time - and the hairstyles.
@rakski (141529)
• Philippines
14 Oct 21
I and my husband talked about the olden days where people were so 'not smiling' and stiff when posing for a camera
3 people like this
@Fleura (31894)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
In the 'old days' (early 20th century) exposing those glass photographic plates took longer, so people would have to hold the pose - it's harder to smile for a long time without moving or having it morph into a sort of grimace.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
You see very few old photos where the people are smiling.
1 person likes this
@rakski (141529)
• Philippines
15 Oct 21
@JudyEv yes, mostly they are serious
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86526)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Oct 21
That is a nice photo such good memories. When I look at old photos I always like to train my brain to remember who everyone was,
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (86526)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Oct 21
@JudyEv you could try what I do when I go through old photo albums I put a photo in front of me and try to remember who everyone is then on the back I number the photo and put in a notebook the names I do remember, Just a way I train my brain, It is rather fun,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 21
@RasmaSandra That's a really good idea. Very occasionally, I find names written in pencil on the back.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
I have some old photos where I don't know who anybody is.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23473)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
It is fascinating to find out the history & roots of your family. We have managed to trace my mothers family tree back to the 1500's.
3 people like this
@Fleura (31894)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
That is interesting! Tell us more! I can trace my family tree back to the late 1700s but it gets more and more difficult as there are lots of Smiths and Williamses in there and they also liked to repeat family names down the generations just to confuse us!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
Wow, that's a long time to go back. I think it will be hard for future generations with fewer marriages, all sorts of step-families, etc. Even married couples retaining their own surnames might play havoc with people trying to trace their heritage.
@Fleura (31894)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
Great photo. They all look quite young to me! Do you know when that was taken and whether it was a special occasion?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
I don't really know any of the background of the photo. Mum and Dad were married in 1937 so it would be sometime after that.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
14 Oct 21
that is an awesome picture!!!! when my father passed, we scanned all of his slides and pictures so we could have digital copies!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
That was a very good idea. Even some of the damaged photos can be greatly improved with a good software programme.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv 118,000 slides and pictures scanned. we've fixed a few of them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
@DocAndersen Oh wow!! That is a huge number. Was photography his career or just a hobby? It sounds an incredible number of photos for most families.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Oct 21
It is a great old photo. I'm wondering how many of the old family photos my mother has left; knowing her, she may have chucked them when she moved. I'm hoping not, though.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Oct 21
@JudyEv I do want them. She just has a bad habit of acquiring junk and getting rid of worthwhile things. She always has.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Oct 21
If there is no-one that wants them, it's hard to know what to do with them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Oct 21
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
17 Oct 21
I love these old photos. I have a few like that myself. They seemed to last so much longer than the pics we produce today.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 21
That's true. This one would be 80-90 years old.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140504)
• Philippines
14 Oct 21
I am glad that you still have the old photo. I am not sure if my granny will give the old photos of the whole family.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140504)
• Philippines
18 Oct 21
@JudyEv It is fine. That's how life works in this real world.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
When she passes away, someone will have to have them and hopefully preserve them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 21
@Shavkat That's very sad for you.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (477785)
• Italy
14 Oct 21
I noticed that in the old photos people never smile, I wonder why. This is a beautiful photo, I have none of my grandparents young.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (477785)
• Italy
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv It surely make sense, but I think that a relaxed face is easier to keep for long than a too serious face.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
@LadyDuck And, of course, now, for a passport photo, you're not allowed to smile. I don't think I know anyone who likes their passport photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
It didn't seem to be the fashion to smile at the camera and Fleur's explanation makes sense.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Oct 21
I'm sure your cousin will be happy with that photo. It is funny how no one ever smiled in those old pictures. I have some that are similar and everyone looks so much older than we look now at the same age.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Oct 21
@JudyEv I have to agree .
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 21
They all worked a lot harder back then too, didn't they? Well, that's probably not quite true as some today work very hard but physically many were worn out before their time.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318815)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Oct 21
That's a nice family photo. I'm sure your cousin will appreciate it.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318815)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Oct 21
@JudyEv Yes, it is.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357177)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 21
It's good that someone wants it.
1 person likes this