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Category: Series: Caught Our Eyes

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Caught Our Eyes: Sunshine in the House

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

What first catches my eyes in Gertrude Käsebier’s 1913 photograph is the streaming sunshine illuminating the interior scene while one bold slant of sunlight has entered the room through the open screen door: Next, as I survey the five people gathered near the open door, the sailor’s attire worn by the four male figures prompts me to wonder: …

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Caught Our Eyes: An Auto House

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

This September 1924 National Photo Company image of an auto house caught my eye not only because of the delight it sparked in seeing such a novel vehicle, but also because the lack of contextual information set me to wondering and wanting to know more. For example, assuming that the photo shows Mr. Harris and …

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Caught Our Eyes: Field Day

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

My two kids participated in an annual end-of-the-school-year event earlier this week: Field Day. My memories of field days consist of contests such as the water balloon toss or varieties of races including the sack race or the three-legged race. In this Russell Lee photograph above, the young fellow, looking for all the world like …

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Caught Our Eyes: Sisters Who Weave

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

On September 26, 1859, sisters Lucretia Electa and Louisa Ellen Crossett stood before photographer Alfred Hall to have their portrait taken together in Lawrence, Massachusetts. I like to think of them as mill workers participating in the expanding American Industrial Revolution. The sisters, dressed in identical aprons, blouses, and simple jewelry, are both holding weaving …