Monday 6 July 2015

Sepia Saturday 287 : 11 July 2015


A natural response to having a camera pointed in your direction is to smile. It has been drilled deep into our collective psyche over the years that we should "watch the birdie" and "smile". I am not sure when this habit developed - if you look at some of the earliest photographs, there is no trace of a smile on the faces of the Victorian and Edwardian sitters. But for the best part of 100 years, photographs have meant smiling faces: and if you get a group of sitters (or standers) crowded into a photograph, you can more or less bet good money on a smile breaking out somewhere. Our theme image for Sepia Saturday 287 (post your posts on or around Saturday 11th July 2015) shows a group of students - but there is hardly a trace of a smile between them. As far as potential themes are concerned, you might want to go with group photographs, students, or smiles or the lack of them - as usual, the choice is yours. Just post a post and then link it to the list below.

Before you dash off in search of miserable faces, cheer yourself up by taking a quick look at what happy themes are around the Sepia Saturday corner.


That is all for the future. For the time being, just stand still, compose yourself, and smile.



16 comments:

ScotSue said...

No glum faces here with memories of my school and student days.

Postcardy said...

I have a postcard with an old group portrait photo.

Jofeath said...

Some people who did't look like they were happy at school, other who were just seriously minded, and a happy picture to finish.

Joan said...

I am on a Sigford roll.

Little Nell said...

I feel very cheerful after my break in Spain, but it was not always so.

Kristin said...

An 8th grade class photograph of my father and an exert with words from my grandmother about his school experience.

La Nightingail said...

To smile or not to smile - that is the question.

Wendy said...

2 photos in the newspaper

Éire Historian said...

Thanks for the inspiration image. My post is entitled 'The Promise in a Photograph', and as usual will appear on Saturday. Cheers!

tony said...

Miles of Smiles....

Mike Brubaker said...

This week a musical school group with a mix of smiles and frowns.

Anonymous said...

I have a fairly good match this week with the girls' white blouses and ties.

Brett Payne said...

Okay, I'm in with just under an hour to spare.

Barbara Rogers said...

Ah ha, Sepians are posting more and more ON SATURDAY! And here I join you, 8 am EDST, with some old class ROTC photos.

Unknown said...

Another Saturday entry...Class of MIT, 1907...and it's serious business!

Boobook said...

White uniforms and ties ... worn by men.