As soon as I saw this week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt, a particular photo came to mind.
This photo was taken at
Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria – a fabulous outdoor ‘living’ museum of the
area’s goldfields in the 1850s.
An added relevance of this
photo is that my Trove Tuesday post this week was regarding the Eureka Stockade
uprising that happened very close to where this museum is located in 1854, and
in which I have just discovered my 3x great grandfather played an unexpected
role.
Also, the photographer was
my Mum’s cousin!
Despite the clothing and
setting, this photo was taken in the late 1990s.
My girlfriend and I went off
in one direction to get dressed up in clothes of the era while the kids went in
another direction, and my husband muttering about being a landed gentleman went
off with the photographer.
We were surprised to come
back out to the photo setting and find Mr Jax all dressed up as a preacher.
We joked about the preacher
and his two wives and three children!
How many of you have had
similar photos taken?
Did you ever wonder (like I
am) what the family historians of the future will make of such photos? – just
as we Sepians are trying to make something of the prompt photo!
Well, that's confusing :) You'd better make sure you 'write on the back' or tag the file.
ReplyDeleteGreat fun! When I first saw the photo, before reading your post, I thought it was genuine, but very well preserved. How wrong I was!
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Jackie. I also thought it a genuine photo.
ReplyDeleteGreat story there of the preacher and his two wives.
ReplyDeleteOh, please, please remember to write on the back -- names and, importantly, DATE! There will be some very confused historians in your family otherwise! It's a wonderful shot!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was genuine too. Great looking costumes and pose.
ReplyDeleteA boyfriend and I once did the "old west" photo at the Canadian National Exhibition, but when we split up, I tore it apart!
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing I would say that detracts from the realism of your photo is the smiles. I think a preacher's family would have at least one grimace. Ha ha.
I didn't think of that! I have a couple from the costume photobooth. I better identify them now!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar photo taken when I was visiting some older relatives about 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, and we've blogged about it too. The smiles are the giveaway and we won't be fooling anyone. A great souvenir nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteA good point Jackie...perhaps someone will be trying to find a particular family from the 19th century not the 20th....best make sure it has the date on the back ;-) You're right that the relaxed style is a giveaway, and possible because of quicker photographic times.
ReplyDeleteI love the bonnets!!! What a fun day that must have been. And Preacher looks pretty dapper to me.
ReplyDeleteWell there are some minor incongruities that I can spot, but the biggest one is that you're all smiling broadly. That was not really the done thing according to the portrait convention of the late 1860s and early 1870s, which is what I estimate for the clothing and studio setting. Apart from that, a very good take.
ReplyDeleteI do believe what gives the photos away, is the genuine happiness and smiling. Usually back then they sat forever and their expressions were more painful appearing, or bored! This is a great photo very cool idea for your post.
ReplyDeleteFooled me too, but that's easily done. I don't think I have ever posed for anything like this - good fun.
ReplyDeleteLots of fun! My daughter has a photo of her with her girlfriends all dressed as "working girls" in a wild west saloon. I sure hope future generations don't get confused about that!
ReplyDeleteIt's great fun to return to the "Good Ole Days" through the Period DressUp Photos. I got a good laugh at MrJax's return as a Preacher Man. He sure set the tone for the photo, and will probably have future historians searching for their ancestor the minister. Fun post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting CollectInTexas Gal on my return to Sepia Saturday. I, too, often get taken for the younger sibling rather than the oldest. Don't you just love it???...LOL!!!!
The kids look like they're having such fun. Lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm aware of the Sovereign Hill photos, I would have been fooled. But a lack of hair on the preacher might make you stop and think. Great photo.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting thought. What happens when future generations see a photo like this. Hopefully someone will write on the back what it is all about.
ReplyDeleteThere's one in our album. Must take a look and see how geniune it appears.
ReplyDeleteI suspect future genealogists will know this is a modern version due to the paper it was printed on and also, the quality of the camera will speak of a more modern apparatus.
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ