A photo from the olden days
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (388990)
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.
28 people like this
24 responses
@Fleura (36116)
• 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.
3 people like this
@Fleura (36116)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 21
@DaddyEvil @JudyEv
Exposures took 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the light levels.
So here's an experiment - try sitting still and smiling, without moving, for 5 minutes. It's difficult not to feel your cheeks relaxing after just a few seconds, you have to keep sort of tightening up those smile muscles, which of course would result in a blurry picture of your face.
I'm sure it must be possible to set a camera to take a really long exposure photo and see what the result is - although I'm not sure how to do that with my camera.
Or you could try videoing yourself and see how much you move without realising.
Let us know the outcome!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29318)
• 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.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29318)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv And the results were a great new country.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388990)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
@JamesHxstatic That's true. For some of the 'felons', it held to a wonderful new life.
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@JudyEv (388990)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 21
Thanks. It's interesting to see the fashions of the time - and the hairstyles.
@RasmaSandra (101238)
• 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,
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (101238)
• 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 (388990)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 21
@RasmaSandra That's a really good idea. Very occasionally, I find names written in pencil on the back.
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@garymarsh6 (24207)
• 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.
2 people like this
@Fleura (36116)
• 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!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388990)
• 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.
@DocAndersen (54173)
• 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!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388990)
• 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
@DocAndersen (54173)
• United States
14 Oct 21
@JudyEv 118,000 slides and pictures scanned.
we've fixed a few of them.
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@wilsongoddard (7291)
• 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
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• 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.
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@allknowing (153245)
• India
15 Oct 21
Beautiful memories, We too have a few like that
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@JudyEv (388990)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 21
Eventually no-one will know who these people are.
@sprite1950 (30449)
• 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
@RebeccasFarm (91293)
• United States
14 Oct 21
Thank you for sharing this lovely photo of your family with us Judy.
Good you are giving it to cousin.
I wish I could bring myself to get out the box of photos too. And share here.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91293)
• United States
15 Oct 21
@JudyEv Well some, but mostly because the family is flung to all corners now and of course Mama RIP gone from me Judy you know.
Lots of grief in me still.
Lots of grief in me still.1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92334)
• 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
