Past of a Stranger - Photographic time travels into the past, captured by strangers.

[awty]

I think it's a shame when the past ends up in the trash. Just think when the work of Vivian Maier was thrown away. Phew.

That's a one in a million exception. Unfortunately most amature photography isnt worth keeping, some people shouldn't even be have a camera.

 

[Don_ih]

Unfortunately most amature photography isnt worth keeping, some people shouldn't even be have a camera.

Truthfully, most photography isn't going to have any significance to anyone other than people directly related - that includes professional photography, also. But from a more general historical context, it's possible that some things of interest may be found in what are otherwise family snapshots. Who has the time to sift through all that? Who knows. I don't even have time to sift through my own photos.

 

[MattKing]

It isn't the quality of the historic photography that mostly matters.
It is the incidental revelation of the details of the past.
A mid 1940s view of a bridge, roadway and now suburb of Vancouver - from some photos taken by my father.
It depicts something that is still there, but changed in fascinating ways. For example, count how many lanes of traffic are there - it is different now.

 

[albireo]

It isn't the quality of the historic photography that mostly matters.
It is the incidental revelation of the details of the past.
A mid 1940s view of a bridge, roadway and now suburb of Vancouver - from some photos taken by my father.
It depicts something that is still there, but changed in fascinating ways. For example, count hom many lanes of traffic are there - it is different now.

Stunning! And I agree wholeheartedly. I never tire of the 'accidental time machine' role of photography.

 

[Roseha]

I have just started looking at your site Andre and I agree that it is fascinating to see these images. I also went to your instagram. I was about to recommend @retronyc for a similar experience, however I see you are a follower of that account as well!

 

[macfred]

Love your Time Machine - excellent project. Thank you for sharing !

 

[poas]

Hey again!

I have just published a new collection:

This collection of medium format slides features photographs of New York City taken between 1973 and 1976, including classics such as Rockefeller Center, the World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal, the Queensboro Bridge, St. Paul’s Chapel, Greenwich Village and the Flatiron Building. The photographs capture the unique charm and architecture of the metropolis during this significant period.

https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/collection-16/new-york-city/

Enjoy browsing through the past,
André

 

[poas]

Love your Time Machine - excellent project. Thank you for sharing !

Thanks!

 

[Romanko]

This is a great collection of slides. Thank you for sharing.
It would be nice to have some technical information on the website about the film stock, how the slides were mounted and stored.
For people who collect, study and preserve historical images this information is of great interest.
Also, when you scan slides do you try to preserve their appearance or do you edit the images to restore the original colors?
Do you have any experience with inverting old color negatives? The task is challenging enough even for fresh negatives let alone those that were slowly degrading for decades.
Good luck with your project and keep posting updates!

 

[loccdor]

Wonderful images.

 

[poas]

This is a great collection of slides. Thank you for sharing.
It would be nice to have some technical information on the website about the film stock, how the slides were mounted and stored.
For people who collect, study and preserve historical images this information is of great interest.
Also, when you scan slides do you try to preserve their appearance or do you edit the images to restore the original colors?
Do you have any experience with inverting old color negatives? The task is challenging enough even for fresh negatives let alone those that were slowly degrading for decades.
Good luck with your project and keep posting updates!

Thank you very much, @Romanko.

below the gallery I always include info on time period, location and type of film (as far as I can find out).

After scanning, I only remove the dirt (lint, dust, etc ...) I don't change the color.

I have described the digitalization process on this page: https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/digitization-of-negatives-slides-and-dry-plates/

I hope this helps a little.

 

[Romanko]

I hope this helps a little.

It does. Thank you for the reference to Thomas Raatz's article. It is a very useful resource indeed.

 

[poas]

Hey again!

I have just published a new collection:

This collection of 35mm slides from 1970 shows photographs from India, including lively street scenes, the impressive Taj Mahal, remote mountain landscapes and insights into a textile factory. The images offer a fascinating documentation of the country’s cultural and scenic diversity.

https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/collection-17/india/

Enjoy browsing through the past,
André

 

[poas]

Hey again!

I have just published a new collection:

Road trip through Peru: an analogue travel documentary from 1968 – by train through impressive landscapes from Estación La Galera via Pachacayo and Llocllapampa to the ruined city of Machu Picchu. In Cusco, at the foot of the Andes, scenes of everyday life and animated street scenes show life in the late 1960s – a documentary insight into Peru.

https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/collection-18/peru/

Enjoy browsing through the past,
André

 

[runswithsizzers]

Hey again!

I have just published a new collection:

Road trip through Peru: an analogue travel documentary from 1968 – by train through impressive landscapes from Estación La Galera via Pachacayo and Llocllapampa to the ruined city of Machu Picchu. In Cusco, at the foot of the Andes, scenes of everyday life and animated street scenes show life in the late 1960s – a documentary insight into Peru.

https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/collection-18/peru/

Enjoy browsing through the past,
André

Fantastic set! Thanks for sharing.

I just finished reading "Turn Right at Machu Picchu" by Mark Adams; which I recommend to anyone who is interested in this region of Peru and its history.

 

[poas]

Hey again!

I have just published a new collection:

Road trip through Alaska: An analogue travel documentary from 1994 – by car through the vastness of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park via McCarthy, Anchorage and the historic Ma Johnson’s Hotel to the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park. Impressions of untamed nature and authentic snapshots paint a documentary picture of Alaska in the early 1990s.

https://www.pastofastranger.com/en/collection-19/alaska/

Enjoy browsing through the past,
André

 

[Chuck1]

Nice find