This picnic scene is lovely. The ladies are so artfully grouped with the young girl's back facing us. Her hand against her face is perfect. The only thing that bothers me is the floating hat effect created by the deep shadows under the hat brims. Is it just me or do those lovely hats look almost as if they've been photoshopped onto the ladies heads?
Just for fun I thought I'd google for other floating hats. I found more than I expected.
Here's a Japanese artist's exhibition in Tokyo's Spiral garden. Nendo's installation of Hatmaker Akio Hirato's white creations.
And a suggestion for Hallowe'en decorating from brooklynlimestone.com
A Borsalino hat exhibit...
and here's a clever ad for Panama hats, floating down the canal.
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| www.sfhats.com |
and a market in Bangkok where the hats float with a boat under them.
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| Bangkok floating market |
So much for floating hats.
This week, unlike most other weeks, I actually have an appropriate photo to offer from my own albums. My grandparents and their friends seemed to be enjoying themselves at this repast, even though it looks like my grandfather is about to set that tree ablaze with his portable stove. " Smokey the Bear" had yet to happen along to warn revelers about the dangers of fire in the forest.
This week, unlike most other weeks, I actually have an appropriate photo to offer from my own albums. My grandparents and their friends seemed to be enjoying themselves at this repast, even though it looks like my grandfather is about to set that tree ablaze with his portable stove. " Smokey the Bear" had yet to happen along to warn revelers about the dangers of fire in the forest.
"H.F." written on Grandpa's sleeve was my grandmother's handiwork - Hector Fortier was her husband. As she began forgetting more and more, she jotted notes on her photos. I don't dare try to erase the pencil on the actual photo but I guess I could try the erasure feature on Photoshop and clean up the digital version. The writing on her photos is one of those things, however awful at first, that I've become used to; they're part of her legacy. The shaky pencilled initials and the senseless squiggle tell a story in themselves and so for Sepia Saturday, I'm leaving them alone.
You're wise to leave the older photos alone - no matter the disfigurement. I've tried 'fixing up' some of our old family photos, but results have not always been good & I've decided it's better to just leave them be. Loved the hanging witchs' hats & broom, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of suspended hats. Makes you look twice!
DeleteNever thought of floating hats. How interesting. And any writing on a photo is part of its history, never to be removed, in my humble opiniion !
ReplyDeleteYes, I've come to look at the writing affectionately instead of railing about it. I was converted by participation in Sepia Saturday and seeing hundreds of family photos with unique styles and presentations.
DeleteI think the hairstyles were actually created to support those hats. Plenty of hatpins required.
ReplyDeleteCherchez the hat pin manufacturer?
DeleteThat is a wonderful picture, the photographer seems to have managed to get the camera right in amongst the action rather than a long distance shot we are so used to from this period.
ReplyDeleteLove the floating hats. I've had many a problem with my own floating / flying hat at Melbourne Cup race meetings. I hadn't thought about just how 'perched' these ones were in the prompt photo.
ReplyDeleteThat'a lovely relaxed and happy shot. Never mind about the writing, it's better than there being no label to tell who the people are if you don't otherwise know.
ReplyDeleteSpot on with the last picture Helen! whata a happy bunch they are too. Floating hats? That's given me an idea for a prompt!
ReplyDeleteFloating hats! What an inspired take on this week's theme.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your post about hats, I love hats!! I have yet to own a Panama Hat, but hope to in the near future, I find a hat completes an outfit.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, meant to comment on your cover photo on your blog, love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We rarely have clouds like these...it was a particularly spectacular sky. Our avocado trees were greatly enhanced by the backdrop. Thanks for noticing.
DeleteLove the humor of the Panama hats floating down the canal.
ReplyDeleteAnd I offer a sympathetic sniff and sigh over your grandmother's penciled legacy. The initials are truly a gift to future generations who might try to identify the picture (in case anyone who shall remain nameless forgets to write the full name on the back).
I love the sfhats floating on the canal. I looked at their website and found this quote that fits our theme:
ReplyDelete"Life can be a banquet, life can be a picnic. Dress appropriately."
Leave the pencilled notes - that is what makes these photos history!
ReplyDeleteI raise my hat to you for this post and for leaving the initials untouched. A very relaxed picnic group.
ReplyDeleteThe spin on hats was great and I agree their hair/hat style makes for a strange effect. The picnic photo of your grandparents must have been a fun time for the man to run the "kitchen".
ReplyDeleteLoved the floating hats --just fun. But the picture of your grandparents picnicing in the woods is just great. Looks like such fun. And I too have a number of photos with less that attractive handwriting scrawled across the photo -- sometimes, my mom, or other adult, and sometimes a child --those too are part of my history.
ReplyDeleteWhat an observant eye! I had never noticed that about the hats in the prompt - yet you are absolutely right - they do seem to float. I enjoyed your unusual "take" on this week's theme.
ReplyDeleteVery entertaining and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful idea to venture into the floating hats. It was so interesting I might have to google more myself. If it weren't for the picnic theme, I surely thought of taking on the hats too, because they are so darn interesting, but I never would have thought of this. Very awesome.
ReplyDeleteLove the floating hats photos! You sure can find anything on the internet.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was pretty good at identifying photos on the backs or the album pages, but I wish I had someone like your grandmother who had identified all the rest...even if it was on their sleeves.
Barbara
Love the picnic shot - what a great photo.
ReplyDeleteLove the floating hat pics! What a unique take on the photo prompt.
ReplyDeleteStill laughing over the invisible witches in the corner! Might have to try that come October...and the Panamas in the Canal are a hoot. Remember that palindrome? "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!"
ReplyDeleteI adore the composition... how innovative for the time! And your grandfather is quite handsome... the handwriting... well, I find it hard to understand why she would do that :) ....
ReplyDeleteFunny pics of floating hats. A great shot of a family picnic and a poignant story of the writing on the photo.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite photo is the postcard with the panama hats floating down the river. I'd love to have a copy of that. Did you actually type in to Google "Floating Hats"? If so, that's too funny. There's a category for everything. And you found some great floaters.
ReplyDeleteThe picnic scene is wonderful. I can just taste whatever it was your father was cooking.
Nancy
Love your spin on the theme.
ReplyDeleteThe Borsalino is the best in my opinion,
as they look like a bunch of hats had been thrown into the air at the same time, in a rejoicing moment.
I photoshop everything I come across
and I'm usually happy with the results.
I do have some experience in the matter though...
:D~
HUGZ