Photo throwbacks.

I was sorting through some old things the other day and I came across all my old AS and A level photography work. Its crazy to see how much my work has changed and how I've created my own style which looks nothing like my old photography coursework! 

All of these photos were taken using a 35mm film SLR camera and had to be printed by me in the college darkroom. I'm not sure if they still do this or have made the whole course digital.

Below is a series I did for my AS level photography course. I think the theme had something to do with a process or sequence.  My idea was an umbrella slowing opening up as rain started to fall. Making this happen consisted of my poor mum standing on a ladder with a watering can! 

When shooting on a 35mm film camera, the teachers love you to make a contact sheet, so you can easily view each photo and choose which ones you want to enlarge. I usually did always end up printing most of them large anyway though!

I think this one was taken as part of a 'patterns' project. Not sure if my foot in there was intentional!

This photo I tired a photography technique called solarisation. It gives the photo a silvery/grey effect. I dont think it worked very well on this photo though! 

Old fashioned photography tips, trends and techniques

Before the time of digital, and film was the only option, you had to get a little more inventive to get the effect or composition you wanted. Below I will go through the clever, strange and just plain creepy ways in which photos have been taken in the past.

Carpet cover-up 

Back in the day, shutter speeds were extremely slow, meaning that the model would have to stay still for a long period of time. It can be difficult nowadays to get the right shot with kids involved but can you image how difficult it was back then to keep them still? So the carpet cover-up was invented! This volved the mother or nanny of the child holding the child or their hand to keep them still, but as an attempt not to be seen in the photo, they would hide under a carpet...Yes its as crazy as it sounds. Check out the photos below:

Good attempt...but doesn't work well..

'Watch the birdie' 

This little device was invented to help the photographer get the attention of the child. When ready to take the shot, the photographer would squeak the device to get the child to look his way.

Photographing the dead

Known as memorial or mourning photography, photographing beloved dead people was the norm for the rich in the 1800's. The photos served as keepsakes for the family, and in some cases may have been the only photograph taken of the deceased. It sounds very creepy to us these days but back then death was much more common in households, particularly in infants. The deceased were often made to look alive by posing them with toys, or in positions as to make it appear they are asleep. Sometimes a rosey tint was added to the photos to make the person look more alive.

Crack a smile!

You may have wondered by victorians are rarely seen smiling in photos. I used to think it was just the fashion back then to seem rather moody. But the actual reason is down to the long shutter speed times. It was easier to look glum then to fake a smile for 30/60 seconds. As shutter speed times increased over the years more people were depicted a little happier. 

10 vintage photos that need an explanation. (They will make your day)

#1 In times before the batmobile

2#    If you haven't heard, pandas make the best goalies 

#3 Dirty (yet skilled) monkey

#4  Can someone explain? 

#5 Someone call ghost busters

#6 'Nothing to see here, move along.' 

#7 In the days before photoshop, there was always the carpet to cover grandma. 

#8 Before health and safety, when kids LOVED saws. 

#9 The cats expression screams 'WHY?' 

#10 'Sir, you appear to have something...nevermind.' 


Hope you guys enjoyed checking these pictures out, I sure had fun finding them! Cameras have seen some weird things since their beginning and these photos leave so many unanswered questions! 

Planning on doing a few more blog posts like this in the future so keep update with me via my facebook page www.facebook.com/beckynetleyphotography 

Ciao for now! x