Not Fade Away
Written on the back of this photo: “1910-1920s, Canada. Marial, Betty, Sarah and Cora.”
I collect discarded treasures; in my bedroom there’s a box filled with hundreds of old photographs I’ve culled from thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales. When I look at them, I wonder about the people in them. Who are they? What are their stories? What happened to them? Why did someone throw their pictures away? To pay respect to these black-and-white castoffs, I have made some adjustments, creating new worlds for the spectral characters to occupy, and giving these forgotten memories a chance at a new life!
All of these photos had writing on the back when I got them; I’ve included that text under the images.
On the back: “H. Hollin Chapman”
“With best wishes to Edward and Laura from Mother. We are all well, hope you are the same, hoping to hear from you, your son.”
“M. Pearlmann & Co., 254 St. George’s Cross, Glasgow.”
“Alice, Isabelle, Howard. Ava this was taken 3yrs ago. My sister and brother and myself.”
“Eloise Parker (Harry’s Girl) / Robert Parker (Truxton New York, Harry’s Boy)”
“H. Hollin Chapman”
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Hello, you. June’s theme will be LONGING. Unlike more-acute forms of desire like desperation or need, longing is a sweet ache—more pining for something than dying for it. It’s nostalgia, homesickness, boredom, a persistent feeling of lack, dreaming of escape/the future. It’s summer: summer homes & cottages, stuffy summer bedrooms, sun-bleached memories of summers past. The shadow of September that hangs over June. It’s secret hangouts, crushes, unrequited love. Send what you’ve got here, and thanks. ♥
These are so cool and unique! I would love to see all of the original, old photos.
Log in to replyThese are gorgeous and so creative! Love the whole set!
Log in to replyAll of these are so perfect I can’t even….
They are all so beautiful and haunted, as if they’re straight from the imagination of a child.
http://littlerebellia.blogspot.com
Log in to replyWOW!
Log in to replyThese are so gorgeous!
I particularly love the group (class?) photo.
llloooovvveeee these!
Log in to replyWow, I wonder how she did these! It looks almost like a transparency from an overhead projector.
http://thatalisonwonderland.blogspot.com/
Log in to replySo cool! I love getting old photos from antique stores, and my mom always ridicules me for it!
Log in to replyThese photos are so haunting. I just want to know all about these people.
Log in to replyhttp://thelunalovingbookworm.tumblr.com/
One of my favourite photo sets <3
Log in to replyMy favorite Rookie photoset ever!!
I love old photographs, and I love the way the drawings don’t look like jokes over the original photos even though they’re funny. This is a haunting set, and I’d like to try something like it.
What did you use to draw on the photos?
Log in to replythese are incredibly beautiful! so interesting. :)
Log in to replyhey fellow Torontonian! this is rad <3
Log in to replyI’m also curious about the people in the photographs. But I really love what you did to them :) it’s so creative and makes me look at the images in a different light
Log in to replyI’m reminded of the book “The Blind Assassin” when Laura hand-tints photographs to make the colors of peoples’ faces the colors of their souls.
Log in to replyNumber Four is lovley!
Log in to replyGreat additions.
Ahh Kendra I love you so much. These are gorgeous!!! Sooo good!!! Ahh!!!
http://fashionfledge.blogspot.ca/
Log in to replyI was wondering I maybe you guys would consider an article about collaging. I love collaging and find it comes naturally, but I know for sure that others don’t feel the same. I think an article on collaging tips would be really helpful!
Log in to replyhttp://rookiemag.com/2012/03/collaging-for-beginners/
☺
Log in to replyMan is H. Hollin Chapman ever a sweetface (with an excellent taste in sweaters)
Log in to replyThese were absolutely beautiful! New goal in life: collect a bunch of old photos that aren’t mine.
intergalactic-dragons.blogspot.com
Log in to reply: )
Log in to replyI love this SO much. beautiful
Log in to replyI love vintage, this post is very creative and interesting!
mintirgin.blogspot.ru
Log in to replyreminds me the “Siamese Dream” lyricsbook.
Log in to replyhad the same thought :)
Log in to replywow i love old photos
Log in to replySoo thoughtful and beautiful and expressive!! LURVE THEM SOOO MUCH!!!
thecoolcustomer.wordpress.com
Log in to replyxxx
Omg, these are so great. I think I’ll start a collection of old photos like this, it’s so amazing!
Log in to replyLOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE THIS <3
Log in to replyThe St George’s Cross picture! Wowee. What country did you get that picture in?
I used to live just round the corner. I think whatever was at number 254 has been abolished to make way for the motorway. :(
I assumed it must have been a school, because I found this other photo in my searches: http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Scotland%20Photos/Lanarkshire,%20Glasgow,%20St%20Georges%20Cross%20School%20Photo.jpg
But then I found this, even more interesting, a photographer must have been based there!
Log in to replyhttp://www.thelows.madasafish.com/cards/pearlmann_254.htm
Wow that’s crazy and very cool!! I picked up that particular photo from this women selling odds and ends on a street corner in Toronto.
Log in to replyLove this so so so much.
http://toomuchlightburnsthenegative.blogspot.it/
Log in to replyhttp://cicalaprecisa.tumblr.com/
I love the Glasgow one, I lived there for a year and a half and have very happy memories
Log in to replyThis is so strange and beautiful, I love it.
Log in to replyawww, I love the whole set so much
http://cheekyprawn.blogspot.de/
Log in to replyBrilliant idea I might do something similar but with postcards or similar?
http://www.frankiesimon.blogspot.com
Log in to replytheses are beautiful photos but i don’t think you need to draw on them to give them a new chance of life. That is for the observer to do, they are already magical objects
Log in to replyOMG, I have always loved our old family pictures and stuff, they are incredibly cute. And this is so perfect! such a great idea! (:
http://birdiewearsatie.blogspot.com/
PS: I don’t want to be to advertise-ish here, really not, but I have made a zine about Rookie this weekend. It would be so amazing if you could check it out! Thank you so much.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Marythefreak?ref=seller_info
Log in to replyThis is an amazing idea, it really adds emotion to the images and it’s a wonderfully clever twist.
I adore old photos, it sounds a little weird, but it always end up making these incredibly intricate stories up about the people in the images. But then again, maybe it’s not weird, I am amongst Rookie Readers afterall…
-Heather
Log in to replyhttp://aesthetic-junkie-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
I love the whole idea of this so much, all of these are beautiful!
http://www.cheramiblogger.blogspot.co.uk
Log in to replyA new thrift shop just opened up on the Hip Strip….I can’t wait to look for some old photographs!!!!
Log in to replyThese are so, so great! In my grandparents attic they have a lot of old photos like these. They photos have a certain elegance, maybe because people didn’t take so many pictures with phones and everything wasn’t digital. I love how you added the fun touch.
http://dreaminginfashion.wordpress.com/
Log in to replyI have always been fascinated by these type of pictures as well :)
Log in to replySo neat. And looks like a fun way to make art not like a labour.
xx Domenic
Log in to replyThis is such a cute idea!
Log in to replyno. 3 reminds me of The Cottingley Fairies Case! are you by any chance inspired by them? it was among my favorite urban legends :D
Log in to replyThis is awesome and the boy in 7 is soooooooo cute. I guess I have a crush on somebody who might be dead. Beautiful. Like him. Okay I will stop. But this was amazing and perfect and yea.
Log in to replyMy Grandfather was Maurice Pearlmann of M. Pearlmann & Co – Glasgow. So he must have seen the presentation in photo number 4 in real life. How’s that for “crazy and cool” Kendra?
Log in to replyAh!!!! Now that is very crazy and cool!!!! What are the chances of a lost photograph being found?
If you have a photo of him, I’d love to see it :)
Log in to replyThese are so cool!
Log in to replyI love these :)
Log in to replyIt’s very creative and lovely.. the people in those photos must be happy !
Log in to replyJust wondering what media you used ?
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