Blog - Found photos

Before Facebook: A Photographic Collage of Friendship

  Collection of Barbara Levine / projectB.com Photo albums can be more than collections of images; they can reflect a whole artistic sensibility. In this remarkable 1920s example, the inside back cover is a collage of faces and maker has inscribed a question—or a title—at the bottom: A "Million" Friends. Are you Among Them?. It is a (pre Facebook!) photographic map of friendship, and an invitation to find ourselves in it. Save Read more 1 comment Barbara Levine, Found photos, Vernacular photographs, Victorian collage, Vintage photo albums

Appreciating Found Photos

image © Jane Waggoner Deschner. from the garment series (little boy, dragon), snapshots of James "Jimmy" Schelfhout, 2011 There is a growing awareness that pre-digital snapshots are quickly becoming obsolete. In view of this more is being written and considered about their cultural value (including about artists who use found photos). In the last few weeks, three note worthy articles have come out on the topic: listen to NPR's interview with Robert Jackson "Are Snapshots Dead?"; read New York Times art critic Roberta Smith's exhibition review: "Not for the Family Album: Snap Noir and Photo Brut Display Found Photos"and feast your eyes on artist Jane Waggoner Deschner's stitched photographs featured this week on John Foster's Accidental Mysteries blog. Hooray for... Read more Barbara Levine, Found photos, Photographica, snapshots, vernacular photographs

Mystery Diva Snapshot

  We review thousands of vintage photographs in the Project B archive before deciding which images would make great wall size prints. I try to imagine photographs people would want to put on their walls. I came across this 1965 snapshot and doubt anyone would choose it to go over their couch!  This photo is a mystery; are we looking at a zombie woman, a man in bad drag or an aging opera diva?!  What do you think? Read more 1 comment anonymous photographs, Barbara Levine, found photos, snapshots