My own dear photographs…

Have you ever seen that website called ‘Dear Photograph‘?

The Dear Photograph logo

Dear Photograph was recently set up by a young Canadian lad called Taylor Jones, and has grown really quickly in popularity. He was looking through some old family snaps, when he realised that his brother was sitting in the exact same spot as he was in the photo he was looking at, taken 15 years previously. It was at that moment he had the idea to hold up the photo, in the same spot where it was originally taken, and take a picture of it!

And that is the aim of the website – for other people to ‘take a picture of a picture from the past, in the present’, and share it. You can submit your photograph to the website, and they feature a different one every day. There are some really good ones on there, it’s worth having a look if you haven’t already, although it’s also worth remembering that if you do submit any yourself, the site will retain the rights to your images.

It’s weird, because you don’t realise how it will make you feel seeing a picture from the past taken in the present day. It’s strange looking back and thinking of how things were when you were younger, or even before you were born!. The idea behind Dear Photograph becomes even more evocative when the pictures feature people who are no longer around. Kind of happy and sad at the same time!

Anyway, having checked out loads of the photos from other people, I couldn’t wait to try out the idea myself when I went back to see my M&D for the week in September!

All you have to do is try and line up the photograph correctly with the walls, doors, staircases, or whatever still remains in the present day! I thought it would be easy, but it’s actually really tricky, and every photo took me ages to get anywhere near lined up!

This is what you have to do…find an old photo of yourself or of somebody else.  Then you stand in the same place where the original photograph was taken and hold the photo out in front of you. Here is the first picture I tried…it’s a pic of me, aged about one and a half in an attractive red babygrow. As you can see, the background hasn’t really changed in about 30 years!

Past and present

Then you line the photo up with the door frame and wall (or whatever). Here is the picture lined up. It only took me about 20 attempts to get it right!

At the door

Once I started I couldn’t stop trying different pics…

I had the bouncer with the best pattern

That bear is called Tessie. I've still got her.

This is me with my Grandad.

Late 70s

Before remote controls.

Uncle Perce, Kim, and me.

This is me aged two, on my tractor. Goliath was his name.

Tractor & trailer

Me, my Dad and Grandad on the driveway.

Digging

My sis on the swing in the back garden - dungareez!

Me out the back

Who had the best dungarees? I say me.

My sister and me in our finest Clothkits.

Pot noodle in the garden

With our flowers what we grew

SNOOPY SUNGLASSES!

Matching hats

I do not recall having ever washed another car since this day

Christmas morning, 1984-ish - I do believe that is my very favourite game emerging from the wrapping paper - yes, Grabbin' Dragons

Spirograph! YES! Very happy with that. But...and I don't mean to sound ungrateful...amongst all those presents, you will note there is no sign of Mr. Frosty. Year after year I waited, and he never showed up

When I go home and stay now, I sleep in the spare room, which used to be our room when we were little.

The kids room

Us with our Nan

My first year of secondary school (1990 I think!)

School days - my sis and me by the front door

I even managed to encourage my mum and dad to join in with the fun times…

1974 - here they are on their wedding day

Something borrowed, something pink

And now!

37 years on....

I recommend having a go yourself if you can, it’s quite fun!

Also, check out Dear Photograph here – http://dearphotograph.com/

Dear Photograph on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/dearphotograph

Dear Photograph on Twiter – https://twitter.com/#!/dearphotograph

See ya! xx