Friday, September 19, 2008

Ephemera

Old photographs are rather sad things. Separated from their proper keepers, their context and the real meaning of who, where, when and why. But even just as a lone piece of ephemera they can have a meaning that endures, that says something about people, family, memory... and love.

13 comments:

Breezie said...

SO very true, I have an old black and white photo of my mother, I often think about having it retouched, probably someday I will.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE ephemera and can't wait to attend an ephemera show with Z one of these days. We've started adding ephemerical(?) amusement park and vacation photos to our collection at Amusement Park Ride Photos as well. Check the "historical" section.

-Aahz

Sultana said...

I think we feel that old photographs are sad because the things or the people in them may not be around any more.

Anonymous said...

A picture truly speaks a thousand words.
And I like anything old. Including old folks.

Anonymous said...

I love old photos. I wish my parents and in-laws would put names on the back of them! I keep mentioning it.

Anonymous said...

That so looks like the front porch of my great grandparents!!!! WOW!

Do you know where this photo was taken? The house I am thinking of is in Kentucky.

Anonymous said...

Its true that a picture can say a thousand words . . and that one definitely does.

Anonymous said...

Old photos hold memories that we don't know but can only imagine. I think we put our memories into them when we see them sometimes.

Anonymous said...

I love looking throught my mom's old black and white photo's of her grandparents/great aunts, its almost like looking into another world

Anonymous said...

What bothers me if the person getting rid of the photos at the estate sale is related to people in the photos. I don't like going into an estate sale and granddaughter or son is there, and the photos that are for sale have got to be great-great grandparents, friends of their parents, etc. I would LOVE to ha

Anonymous said...

I love old photos. They are steeped in history and even if you don't know who the people are you can still learn something about them from their expressions and their dress and surroundings.

Anonymous said...

I have a small collection of old photos I have gotten from flea markets and small shops around the US. I've always wondered about the people in them. Who they are and how they lived. I often wonder if they were really as happy as they appear to be.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE old photographs! I've been to several flea markets where they are selling them, and I think that is sad. Someone taking something that never belonged to them, something that would be special to the person it actually belongs to, and selling it to put a few dollars in their pockets. But I'm also a VERY sentimental person!