Vintage Memories

There's something eerily fascinating about vintage photos. And sad.  Like secret memories stuck in time. Compelling stories that never got told. Unsolved mysteries of the past. Faded smiles and silent voices of a forgotten era.

Being somewhat of an amateur photographer myself, I can appreciate most any kind of photography, but when I see a vintage photograph, it curiously transports me back to another time. Another place. Another generation. An era I'm instinctively "drawn" to. Like a wandering spirit searching for a lost past. My lost past. A past I feel more comfortable in than my own present. A bohemian time traveler on a gypsy journey. An old soul longing to go back home.

Take the image below, for example. I pulled it randomly from Pixabay for the purpose of this blog. As you study the faces and images in the photo, imagine yourself behind the camera's lens. What do you see? Feel? Do you feel a connection to the people in the picture? Or is it just another "old picture"? Studying vintage photographs can help connect us to a past where we can learn about others AND about ourselves!

At first glance, this just appears to be a group of young women gathered for a photo. Some type of Girl Scout gathering, judging by the decorated banners and hats worn by them, I'm guessing. Or maybe not. Looking again, I'm thinking maybe they are from a foreign country - maybe Russia or Germany - and they are dressed in the customary fashion of their country. Or perhaps they are from an all girls school somewhere posing for their graduation photo. They could be almost ANYONE from ANYWHERE, but that's not what I'm really interested in.

I'm more intrigued with their facial expressions. What they're thinking. Who they are personally. Where they ended up in life. Study each girl's face for a few moments. Each one tells a story. A deep thought. A hidden wish or secret desire. Even a deep rooted fear. Some of them look extremely happy and proud of themselves, while others look terribly bored, disinterested and even afraid! If every picture tells a story, then every face must tell a secret.

Take the first girl on the left in the top row; she looks like the typical photo poser. Ready and poised for the photo to be taken. Dutiful. Honest. Probably always on time. Quiet and introverted, yet smart and obedient. Meanwhile, the girl to her right her looks thoroughly disgusted, judging from her tightly pursed lips and sharply arched eyebrows. Mad even.  I wonder what's got her so upset? Does she not want to be there? Did she just come from a fight with her boyfriend? Maybe she's mad with the young girl she appears to be staring at in front of her. Did they have an argument before the photo was taken? Maybe SHE wanted to be in front. Maybe that's her younger sister and she's jealous over her for some reason? They do seem to favor a bit. For whatever reason, she is obviously sulking and could care LESS about being in that photo! And determined NOT to smile for the camera! Beside her are two girls who appear to be good friends - best friends, even. Judging from their smirky smiles, they are sharing a happy, possibly even mischievous, moment. They are SO engrossed in their conversation in fact, they aren't even paying attention to the photographer! Doesn't it make you wonder what they are talking about? Or WHOM? 

Now, just to the right of them, and you'll notice a very happy young woman with a well-satisfied smile on her face! In fact, she is SO happy, her bubblegum cheeks are bulging with pride and joy! Whatever the occasion, she is quite happy with her accomplishments, and proud to be a part of this momentous event! She seems to be very self-confident in who she is, and in her right to be so happy. The young girl beside her on the end however, is obviously distracted by something (or someone) in the opposite direction. Clearly her focus is NOT on the photographer, nor does her mind seem to be on the task at hand. Doesn't it make you wonder what (or WHO) she's looking at? 

The two older women on each end of the front row seem to be older and possibly the leaders or teachers of the group. They, too look happy, excited, and proud to be there. They could even be the mothers of some of the girls they are with.

Now, focus on the four young girls between the two older women. As you study each one individually, notice the poignant expressions on each face. When I first looked at this image, I was immediately drawn to the first young lady sitting beside the older lady to the left. She has a quite beautiful, cherub shaped face, and deep soulful eyes. Her smile is faint, but gentle and sweet. I can imagine she grew up to be a very beautiful woman! The young girl beside her in the white lace scalloped collar also appears to be happy and excited to be a part of this group photo. The two girls beside her, however, each appear to be scared, timid and even afraid. Perhaps its the first time they've ever had their picture taken?

Finally, notice the backdrop for the photo. The young women appear to be sitting on some kind of wooden stand - a church pew maybe? Maybe a choir loft, perhaps. There's really no other viable clues except for the partial picture hanging on the wall behind the top row of women, which I can't really make out. The only other clue is the vintage light fixture above the picture, which appears to be from the 1930's or 40's. Interesting enough, I researched this image on Google, and while used on many different websites as a "generic stock image", I could find NO explanation or history about the image, which made it all the harder to determine the REASON for the photo and the stories of the young women in it. From dark and mysterious to innocent, timid and afraid, their thoughts will unfortunately forever be concealed in the grainy images of this photo. The reason for their presence that day, a mystery. 

As you studied the photo, did you feel a connection to any of these women? Did it make you want to get to know them better? Understand their thoughts? Learn more about their purpose for being there? Did it pique your interest or curiosity about the era in which the photo was taken? Did it make you even wonder about the photographer him(her)self?

Vintage photos such as this one deeply challenge us to flex our imagination muscles and envision life in a different time. Encouraging us to reach back and explore the annals of history at deeper levels. To emerge ourselves in the unknown lives of those who came before us. To become strangers in a land we know nothing about - where we ALL become "gypsy travelers".  Where we can visit but never really bring back any memories of our own. These vintage photos belong to the past and will forever be "moments stuck in time". Lost faces in a crowd. Memories burned in a camera's lens. A past the future will never know or understand.  

The next time you see a vintage photo, let it transport you to the past and transform your way of thinking for a while. Become a bohemian gypsy time traveler and discover the many hidden secrets of a antiquated world trapped in the grainy pixels of the past.