The 1931 Polytechnic Tour to Grindelwald, Switzerland 3

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Grindelwald is the traditional starting point for climbs of the Eiger, one of the great climbs in the Alps. The Nordwand, the north face of the Eiger wasn't climbed until 1938, and was one of the last great technical ascents in Europe to be done. Another postcard from the duo of Eve and Ja (aka Jim). On the back of the Blue Grotto card, addressed to "A. Hammers, Esq., Holkham House, Dersingham, King's Lynn, Norfolk, Angleterre" The message, "Grindelwald. Dear Sir, I've arrived here (yesterday) rather a long journey, but well worth it. The scenery is grand, the mountains are still snow clad. This afternoon a party from the Hotel went on a glacier climb over the glacier on the other side & we went in the blue ice grotto (overleaf). Am having a very good time thanks to your aid. Ja" Note that the picture of Eve has a different type of corner mount. Was it put in the album after the other pictures, and was it shot somewhere other than Switzerland.

The 1931 Polytechnic Tour to Grindelwald, Switzerland 2

A polytechnic is a school that taught applied sciences, and technical arts, things that would have been beyond the traditional English apprenticeship programs. Three of the images in this collection are postcards that had been sent to England from Switzerland. The one of the glacier that's on the same page as the mountain guide's picture, addressed to "Mr & Mrs Rowe, Norwich Road, Acle hr Norwich, Angleterre." The message, "Grindelwald. Monday. We are carefully avoiding all crevices you will be pleased to hear! Yesterday a party of us were roped together & crossed this glacier. Having a wonderful holiday & wasting no time. Have collected lots of plants for your rockery. Eve." Eve is the woman with the glasses in the second photograph. The next to the last image, addressed to "The Folks, Bank Chambers, Dersingham King's Lynn. Norfolk Angelterre" The message, "Grindelwald. Oi! What yer! Am just in after a climb over the glacier on the other side of P.C. all roped together you know with a guide. Take my advice & book up your holidays here. The mountains are wonderful-are still snow clad. Wasn't sick crossing the channel. I know you'll all be sorry-Tell you all about it after 5!!! Ja" And the last image, addressed to "Miss Rowe, 114 Brondesbury Road, Kilburn, London N.W.6, Angelterre" The message, "Jim is writing you re our return. Being here is great fun & very interesting. Jim using his French where possible. We expect to do Jungfrau tomorrow, weather permitting. Doing our best to get some decent snaps to make you envious. Eve." Jim, I'm guessing is Ja, and I would say that he and Eve have some sort of relationship.

The 1931 Polytechnic Tour to Grindelwald, Switzerland 1

It's time to put up another photo album, and just like the last time, I'm going to put it up in order without interruption. Too, I have yet to figure out how many parts it will take to put up the whole album. Since I'm also following my usual practice of putting up both full pages to show position as well as individual scans, I'll be posting some images in both true color and gray scale. The final image in this part is a postcard that had been mailed. It was addressed to "Mr. & Mrs. Cole, Newbridge House, Snettisham, King's Lynn, Norfolk, Anglettrre" The Message, "Grindlwald, Sunday. We arrived yesterday 12:00 o'clock rather tired after long train journey & not much sleep on the train. Grand crossing and we weren't sick. The view on the other side is from our hotel-We are going to do a glacier with a guide-The scenery is grand-The grub is also A1. Must tell you all about it. I hope you will give us some like it. Ja"

Affectionate Men

Printed on postcard stock. The message on the front reads, "this is Charley with the cap on it was taking at the fest fall Bel lost" At least I think that's what the writer meant, since "fall" is off where it shouldn't be. The Message on the back, "gime 15 1911 Dear mother as were are all well and soray to here that Iris is not well. I dont see how i could com out But i love to. I have 40 turkies But few chicknes this is my day to take Butter to moristoun. Roy has got the cows here and i must milk. I sit a letter soon B By and send Kate our love to." The name of the addressee is partly obscured by the post mark but I think it's "Mrs (obscured) Rork, Greensburg, Indiana RR6" Greensburg is the county seat of Decatur county and had a population of 5,140 in 1910. The postmark is a bit smeared, so I can't make out the name of the town where it was mailed, but I can make out, "JUNE 16 4 PM 1911 OHIO"

Amateur Glamour, Dodging and Burning, and Man Drag

Look at old newsreels, and you'll notice that when the average person was interviewed they stood stiffly and spoke in a monotone. Today, everyone knows how to perform for the camera. I think the same is true for photography. Once the necessity of standing absolutely still to compensate for slow shutter speeds was no longer an issue, professional photographers could pose their subjects in a greater variety of positions. It didn't take long for the amateur to emulate the pros. This photographer may not have realized that he was emulating someone like Louise Dahl-Wolfe or Cecil Beaton, but he was. The side profile and angled horizon line of the first and second shot in this collection have been used by every fashion photographer in history. Take a look at the third image of the group. Notice the light area around the subject. Dodging and burning is a method that printers use when there is detail in the negative but the shadow areas print too dark and that detail goes solid black, or the highlights print too light and what little detail that prints through seems to be floating in a sea of pure white. To burn is to selectively increase exposure in an area of the print. The printer would make a general, over-all exposure, and then make a second exposure on the paper while obstructing light in those areas that would be considered properly exposed. Dodging is when the printer makes a single over-all exposure while obstructing some of the light in the shadow areas that would print too dark, turning black, with no visible detail. Even though this image was taken in direct sunlight, our photographer could have avoided the need to dodge and burn by using a flash to balance the light. And now for the final image from our photographer. Today, if someone is in drag, it's a man in a dress, but it wasn't that long ago that a woman dressed in male attire would have been just as out of place in the general scheme of things. Written on the backs of the second and third image, "Fairgrounds 6/47" On the back of the cross dressing photo, "3/28/43"

Behind the Screen Door

Who is the mysterious person behind the screen door? Click on the image to get a better look. Printed on postcard stock.

Abandoned Baby

I know that in the past I've written that I don't like pictures of babies, but this one has always seemed kind of funny to me. It looks like someone just dumped the kid along the road. Into the weeds where passing cars would miss him.