Who Were They?

Sepia Saturday challenges participants to see photographs in a different perspective at times. And some days, when the photo appears to meet the prompt exactly to theme, sometimes the meaning of the photos doesn’t. Or can’t. Or, has been lost. So often we see old photographs for sale on ebay, in antique shops, thrift stores, and even thrown into the trash, because they don’t mean anything to the current owner. Photographs are taken, shown to friends, placed into an album or shoebox or drawer, then to be forgotten by the person who took them in the first place. When they aren’t identified, it is especially difficult for descendants to figure out exactly what caught the eye of the photographer. My sister and I threw away probably a hundred photos of trees that our grandfather took on a trip somewhere, some time, with some people….but we didn’t know any of the details. Grandpa Jim liked scenery. Grammie Hennie liked people. The few photos we did save had a giant frame of scenery, with down in the corner or off to the side…a person. It was their compromise. :-)

So, as a “curator” of old photos, I seek out these lost treasures, the memories lost to time, and share them with you, all for our speculation and enjoyment. This week’s Sepia prompt shows blurry landscape. If I still had all those photos by Grandpa Jim, I’d share them, haha. But instead, I have a series of 14 5×7 photographs, from someone’s trip. To somewhere. To visit someone. The photos were not identified, but they were numbered. They may have been self developed as the weight of the prints varies. Some are on firm paper, others quite flimsy.

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I will pull out a few for closer examination, below. Click any photo to enlarge it.

At first glance, this is a picture of the tarmac at an airstrip. But, looking closer, there is a small silver plane in the center of frame.

This photo, taken over the wing engine of a plane I believe, shows a team of farmers collecting hay. The bales are large round ones, and to the left of the hay you can see a man, a horse, and in the distance more horses. There is also a man standing on the top of the main hay pile.

The view out the window, I suppose. Houses that do not look American. Hills rising in the distance. An electric cable right through the middle of the shot.

An image of a party or restaurant, unfortunately badly backlit by the windows. Looking to the left wall, there is a mural painted there. It shows a truck, a car and possibly a motorcycle, all on a road that appears to be along the edge of the world.

All the photos are intriguing because their meaning and origins are lost forever. Perhaps someone can identify the type of houses, or landscape. I’m thinking a military base, possibly in Germany, but that is a total guess. The slideshow displays the images in their numbered order, so that might tell us something about the progression of the person’s trip. But, just who was visiting whom…..we shall never know.

For more blurred memories and images, click over to Sepia Saturday. You will be happy you did!