Monday 7 February 2011

Sepia Saturday 61 : Saturday 12 February 2011

State Library and Archives of Florida
This photograph is listed in the catalogue of Florida State Library simply as "Men Standing By A Silo". There is no record of the photographer, no date, and there are no names of the four men themselves. It is listed as being part of the photographic collection of the Agricultural Experiment Station, so we can perhaps assume that they are State employees rather than independent farmers. Two connected things made this photograph stand out to me : the  prosaic nature of the given title and the anything but prosaic body language of the four men in question. Each one is a chapter in itself and together they form a book-full of stories and personalities. And like a fine impressionist painting you can read your own interpretation of the lines and shapes that make up the scene.

Sepia Saturday 60 achieved, I think, a record number of participants and it was great to visit all the posts and see such a wide variety of subjects and interpretations. Remember, you don't need a silo-full of old family photographs to join in with Sepia Saturday, all you need is an old image and a new thought. You can follow the theme if you wish (if you can find one) or you can explore your own path through your own little bit of history. Try to get around as many of the other Sepia contributors as you can : and don't forget the latecomers, it is always worth a return visit once Saturday is over to check-out new posts.

Sepia Saturday 61 will take place on or around Saturday 12th February 2011. Come and join us ..... or the little chap wearing the cap stood in front of the silo might just punch you on the nose!


21 comments:

21 Wits said...

Oh this is a remarkable photo! Hmmm I'll have to really think with following this theme. But one thing stood out to me immediately....the hats! I love hats, and wish Americans wore more than just baseball caps...but I've noticed through my trails of the past, hats seemed to reveal the very emotion of the time/moment and especially who the person under the hat was....! Amazing bunch of a hard working crew for real!

Tattered and Lost said...

What a fascinating photo. A little bit Indiana Jones, a little bit cowboy, a young fella who looks like he should be directing a silent movie with a megaphone, and an accountant with style.

I enter the Sepia Saturday world early and look forward to all who follow.

Kathryn Colbrese said...

I like your comment! He looks like he is getting ready to do the punching!

Kathy

Bob Scotney said...

No men in mine just a tour of silos that must have used some manpower.

dakotaboo said...

Curious picture. Reminds me of similar pictures of rural America from an exhibition I found by accident in a small gallery in Hampstead.

My sepia saturday post is not relatd this week but has just been posted.

Karen said...

I just posted my Sepia Saturday as tomorrow is a busy day!
Love the hats in the photo.

Jinksy said...

Those hats make me green with envy! :)

DougVernX said...

That's a great photo and one big metal silo! I've made my post again being the rebel and not going with the theme. haha

Garnetrose said...

fascinating photo. I love old photographs. I like to look at them and make up stories about them.

Unknown said...

could not find a silo but found something else which will be up in a jiffy; the hats remind me of my post a couple weeks ago with the hat cleaner...

Christine H. said...

No silo visible in mine, but there was probably one somewhere. I love this guy's tall hat.

Alan Burnett said...

Silo-less. I don't think I've ever followed a theme yet (and I'm the one who makes them up in the first place!).

Howard said...

No silos in mine either! But it is sepia and there are lots of people in it.

MuseSwings said...

The body language is worth a story or four! I love the breeches and the hats. The young guy up front is doing his best to stand taller and show more muscles than his fellow workers. Now if he could just get them to call him Roy or Beezer instead of his given name Fauntleroy he'd feel more secure.

Unknown said...

Love this photo, the hats and pose are what caught my attention and helped me to decide on the photos I would use this week.

Kristin said...

Some photos of the cleage photographers with cameras this week.

PattyF said...

I think the only way I followed the theme is "unknown," "unknown," and "unknown."

Anonymous said...

Sorry I'm late! I wasn't going to do a post this week till I saw the BREECHES - just the job for Alan's next cruise :-) Jo

North County Film Club said...

I was wracking my brain for a post about silos and I actually had a memory in mind of diving into grain or corn or ? in a silo on a relatives farm. (Don't try it at home. I've heard you could drown.)
We all survived that time.
But I decided to go with a more Valentine oriented one this time.
Barbara

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Hi Alan and Kat,

Thank you so much for visiting my first post and leaving such an encouraging comment. I am so glad that you did, because I started to think that I did it wrong and was supposed to do a creative writing story. I have a bunch of these old family pioneer photos, and will post as often as I can. Your blog really got my going on the old days again and has inspired me to get cracking on my book.

Take care and have a great week,
Kathy

Melissa said...

I'm a little bit late but wanted to play along!