A moment in time, preserved forever.

I’ve written before about how I’m not a fan of the family photo du jour that seems to be dominating the walls and hearts and minds of families across America.

You can read my rant – Just Your Average Family Hanging Around On A Sofa In The Orchard – about plush couches lugged out into random orchards and then sat upon by smiling families dressed in matching Anthropologie sweaters.  But listen, if you’re averse to salty language you may just want to skip ahead to the most excellent slideshow featuring family photos from every decade in the 20th century.

I’ve been reading a lot of novels that take place in the thirties and forties.  These fictional creations feature families, characters created so beautifully by authors that I was inspired to Google “family photos 1940′s” to get an idea of the type of folks about whom I was reading.  The images my search procured are beyond cool.  Unsmiling faces staring out into the camera, somber exteriors belying… well, belying what?  Inner turmoil?  Bad marriages?  Economic strife?  Who knows?

One thing is for sure, it’s fascinating to observe not only how wardrobes change throughout the decades, but also note how and where families pose for photos.  From austere settings draped with dark cloths to lounging in front of the family car or perched on a couch in a living room or, yes, an orchard.  The technological advances in photography and cameras also obviously play a large role in the types of photos produced.

Take a look:

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Cousins: Justine, 29, & Ulric, 29

Genetics are a funny thing. You may not act or talk like your mom, dad, sister or brother, but like it or not, you probably look like them. Be it your eyes, your mouth, your facial structure or the hue of your hair, you acquired the physical elements that make you look the way you do from your family.

Exploring the similarities that genetics brings to the table is the photographic series by the Quebec, Canada-based graphic designer and photographer Ulric Collette. His inspiration? His son. He said in a recent interview that, “my first genetic-related image was this one of me and my son (immediately below) who looked very much like me when I was a kid.” And from there, the series was born.

Check out these stunning photographs right here. Continue reading »

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Jonathan Hobin's collection "In The Playroom": breathtaking or disgusting?

Have you seen the hauntingly beautiful yet absolutely nauseating photo series In The Playroom by Jonathan Hobin? The collection features children reenacting horrific moments in history such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and even the slaying of Jon Benet Ramsey. Honestly, I couldn’t stomach sharing all of the photographs (there are 12 in the collection)… there’s no doubt Jonathan Hobin is an amazing photographer, but I find the series extremely inappropriate.
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Is the obsession to "capture the moment" missing the whole point?

With some trepidation, I read the recent Babble article by Holly Pevzner Picture Perfect? Could your photo obsession ruin family memories?. I felt guilty just thinking about it because I do carry my camera around more often than not. My children’s lives are well-documented through my blog and photos- via my DSLR and/or iPhone. (That those said photos have yet to be printed and only remain on my computer in many folders is another story.) Continue reading »

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Showing up for a playdate, there was a time when you couldn’t help but notice the age progression reflected in school portraits lining the walls. That was then.

Now, the photos seem to stop around two years old, the last trip to the mall for that baby perched uncomfortably with a germy toy shot. If you’ve been missing the school shots, you’re not imagining things. According to the New York Times, the school portrait industry has suffered a huge financial blow in recent years.  Continue reading »

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I was a big fan of Pacing the Panic Room’s photo series following the development of little Tessa Tangerine, and I can already tell I’m going to be a big fan of this one, too.

Ryan is following the progress of his friend Trish’s pregnancy, and this time is using a cool neighborhood as the back drop. I can’t wait for more. Continue reading »

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The photographer who captured this is a genius or just lucky. Someone must have told this kid about the historically bad financial, health care and geopolitical s***storm he’s been born into. Continue reading »

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