One of the windows at Cannon Hall in Barnsley had a mesh screen on it. It did interesting things to the shapes. The window frame became a picture frame. The exhibition inside became a viewing platform for the exhibition outside.
Category: Pictures From Nowhere
Found Magic
This is another of those "Found Photographs" that inhabit old photo albums of unknown people in unknown places. Part faded and part stained sepia with age, it measured no more than 3 by 2 inches. Nevertheless, it is a work of art that could justify a place in many an art gallery. Zoom in on … Continue reading Found Magic
I Wonder
I wonder what they were thinking when they stood there and had their photographs taken 120 or 130 years ago? Perhaps they were thinking of the bride and groom, or maybe the wedding breakfast they were about to enjoy. I bet they weren't thinking that in over a century's time people from all over the … Continue reading I Wonder
Four Girls In A Boat
A random dip into my overflowing box of "Found Photographs" comes up with a strange little print. Badly faded, creased and torn, it nevertheless provides a fascinating insight into a world long gone. Do a high-resolution scan and you can lose yourself in a Mandelbrot set of absorbing images.
Number 82,637 : Spanish Chair Carrier
My Lightroom Catalogue currently has 105,369 photographs I have taken stored on it. A quick calculation suggests that is in the region of 1,368 and a half photos a year, which is a fair old number. Such calculations are an exhausting and slightly pointless exercise - something akin to carrying a chair in the hot … Continue reading Number 82,637 : Spanish Chair Carrier
Torn History
Every picture tells a story, but very often, half a picture tells even more of the story. The picture tells the story of that moment in time when the shutter fired - the family gathered on the doorstep. I have no idea who they are - the photograph was part of a batch of unwanted … Continue reading Torn History
Beat That, AI
These days, geotags are automatically added to smartphone photos along with the date and the time (and the temperature and your hat size and the state of your bank balance, more than likely). In olden days, you had to depend on penciled captions in family albums. I have no idea who these two were, but … Continue reading Beat That, AI
Back Stories, Front Stories
You don't need to know the time, the place or t he names of the subjects to enjoy a good photograph. A degree of anonymity can, in fact, help; you can throw yourself into the scene and construct backstories and front stories to your heart's content. The strange thing about these four is that they … Continue reading Back Stories, Front Stories
Andermatt 1924/25
Before you ask, let me say, I have no idea what is going on here. That, however, is the essence - and indeed, the joy - of collecting old and unwanted photographs. The only clue is a caption: "Andermatt 1924/25". Think of that as the film title, the photograph a still from the movie, and … Continue reading Andermatt 1924/25
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