Month: May 2018

Who Is Crossing The North Sea?

One of the most difficult challenges with old photograph albums is identifying the albums creator, as - by definition in those pre-smart phone days - the photographer rarely features in the photographs themselves. In the 1925 Northern Capitals album, there is an intriguing series of photographs taken whilst the cruise ship was "crossing the North … Continue reading Who Is Crossing The North Sea?

Good News For Mothers

I always think that it would be possible to run an entire course in economic and social history based on nothing other than newspaper advertisements. From the perspective of 90 years into the future, I am not sure what is more surprising about this advert from the Yorkshire Evening Post of May 18th 1928. Perhaps … Continue reading Good News For Mothers

The Acme Of Style

10 From Spain 5 : Lingering Smile

Years and years of sun, gusts and gusts of wind, and the occasional rain that has strayed down off the plain have had their effects on this church carving - but that glimmer of a smile still lingers on.

Gone Fishing

For a number of years now I have regularly gathered together all my various blog posts and published them every so often in book form. The main reason for this is to create an archive of my words and images so that when Blogger or WordPress or Facebook eventually curls up and expires, I still have … Continue reading Gone Fishing

10 From Spain 4 : A New Spanish Flag

If ever Spain decides it needs a new flag, they could do worse than an angled white building set against a stunning blue sky.  

Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo

  The caption under this photograph states "Oslo and the SS City Of Nagpur from the mountains". The camera lens clearly was not up to the challenge: either that or the ship has sunk beneath the sepia waves. This time the caption says "Carl Johans Gate, Oslo - with the Grand Hotel". I instantly recognised … Continue reading Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

A group pose for a picture - their identity and the location has long since faded into obscurity. Wherever they are, they are caught between a rock and a hard place, with the sun shining down

First Cousin To An Impression

Unknown Man On A Hill (1920s) The older the photo, the less detail it conveys, the more dust and scratches it has acquired: all of these often conspire together to lift a photographic image to another level, so it becomes first cousin to an impression.