These photographs are just a few from a wonderful selection posted at a favorite blog called Accidental Mysteries. While the author, John Foster, covers a fairly wide range of cultural artifacts I tend to be most taken by his anonymous & vernacular photography collection and folk art. More of the former can be seen here... Surprise links if you click on the photos.
I've spent a lot of the last few months digging around for old photos, revisiting my fascination with forgotten images which began a few decades ago... One thing after another has led me to a semi obsessed state of looking at "vintage" photography again. It didn't take long to realize that there is a bottomless well of images to be seen and held for one's own. Scores of collectors hunt out whatever piques there imagination or seduces their sensibilities. My own path has led toward a combination of collecting and dispersing, mainly through eBay... a great source for finding incredible pictures in a limitless range of types, formats, media and themes. The picture above first struck me for the expression that I won't attempt to put in words... later with the realization that it was perhaps the first time that I've seen an elderly couple in a photobooth print. It's much more commonly a playground for the young and very often for young lovers... now I wonder how many other pictures there may be floating around of this pair. I'm also wondering why I've chosen to sell it, after it's too late to take back. Possibly, a reason for offering it up here, to see on a screen, and here to be purchased along with other gems I've come across... time to share.
After a long time past, I'm about to start getting regular on LWP again.
Some words to go with these pictures... while going through boxes looking for pictures of Jezebel the cat, I found lots of stuff that's been unseen by anyone for a while. So, I'll be scanning the ones that I like mostly and putting it on the Flickr page I recently started in a set called "stuff in boxes" along with many of the other sights of Lovely Water Parade (musicians, Japan, polaroids, etc.). So, not all pictures/graphics will wind up here, probably more there... eventually. Check it out, if inclined...
records, records, records, various ephemera & amusing objects
sheet music, promotional photos & posters
78 r.p.m. colored vinyl from the 30's on a Seattle label
78 r.p.m. needle containers
record sculpture by Jesse Paul Miller, collage by Christine Foye
