Live or Memorex?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

I am going to post a few pictures in this thread that I have copied from various period and recreated images. What ones do you think are real and which are modern, and why?

Sorry mods, I should have combined these into one post. It was a long night :cry_smile

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Image two. Live or Memorex?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Third image. Reenactor or original?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Last image. Now or then?

[BigMike]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Period, modern, period, period.

[BorderRuffian]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Howdy,
Just my .02, I would speculate that image #2 and #4 are modern,with the others being original.I may get a fooling,but that's my picks.

Forrest Peterson
Landis Light Artillery

[RN_PAC]

Re: Live or Memorex?

I agree with Big Mikehere; period-modern-period-period.

The first fellow I believe I have seen before in a Confederate POW group image somewhere in the midwest I think; the last I know I have seen before as an example of an ugly hat on an actual, period image.

The 2nd image, which I think is a modern image, is very good and is a tough call but it just gives me the impression that great pains are being taken in it to make it look period. the other images are just so nonchalant and plain that they seem more genuine.

#3 I am less sure about

However, I am at this very moment experimenting to see weather my foot will actually fit into my mouth in the event I am wrong :p

Enjoyable post!!
Tom Scoufalos

[daviswright]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Period. Modern. Modern. Period.

______________
Davis L. Wright

[Tarheel64]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Period, Period (just seems to wild not to be), Period, Modern

[Hank Trent]

Re: Live or Memorex?

I can't tell about the others because I can't find enough clues, but here's my reasoning for voting that number 2 is period.

There are few modern photographers who have a painted backdrop, so if it's modern, I'd expect to have seen similar reenactor photos floating around in the hobby, but I don't recognize the backdrop. And why a mortar? I dunno, if I were going to go to all the trouble to paint a modern backdrop, I just wouldn't choose a mortar. They've got a reputation in reenacting like dismounted cavalry, which wouldn't matter in the period.

Also, note that the photographer even has a jug with his name painted on it, presumably backwards, to advertise. I can't read the name, and I'll kick myself if it says "Bob Szabo" or something, but most reenacting photographers don't include their names in the photos, because the philosophy is they want the photos themselves to look all-period, so they add their name and date in an unobtrusive place to prevent the photo from being sold as an original. But a period photographer, of course, would be glad to include his name as an advertisement.

The one thing that bugs me is the poor set-up. The backdrop looks like it was made to be used in a studio with a standing subject, so it looks jakey with a subject sitting on grass, since the painting doesn't go all the way down so there's a blank spot between it and the grass. But I can't tell if that makes it seem more or less period.

It's more typical for a reenactor photographer to be forced to work outdoors on grass, which tips the balance toward it being modern, taken at a reenactment. But on the other hand, you'd think a reenactor photographer would be more prepared for photographing on grass and would have a better set-up, while a period photographer might have left his studio to take advantage of an encampment of soldiers nearby and not been prepared with a well-planned backdrop.

The only think I wish was that there was a period after the word "photographer" on the jug. That bugs me.

Anyway, I vote period. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :D

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Doesn't John Coffer use a jug as an ID prop in his images?

[Charlie]

Re: Live or Memorex?

My vote is Period, Modern, Modern, Period. I think that #2 is trying a little to hard to be period, it feels staged beyond a period staged photo. Of course ... I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.
Just my two cents....

[Company Tailor]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Image #1 - Nice image. Could be either, but I'd lean toward period even though the guy looks a little familiar. Maybe I've seen the image before.
Image #2 - Is he wearing some of my work? Since I have a photo of myself in front of the same backdrop I vote modern. Excellent image though. And good on Mr. Dunnaway for marking it a repro! He's probably saved a collector lots of dough years on down the line.
Image #3 - Too blurry to tell.
Image #4 - Since I don't know of a reenactor with the guts to wear a hat like that at an event I vote period.

Great post!

[Matthew.Rector]

Re: Live or Memorex?

Image #1 - I believe this image is period.
Image #2 - Very nice image...I am leaning towards modern though.
Image #3 - As stated above, "Too blurry to tell." Although, I want to say modern.
Image #4 - That is definitely period. Anyone who has spent considerable time looking at period photos on the LOC site will agree I think.

[CavLt]

Re: Live or Memorex?

I believe #1 is period. This man looks young, thin, and his uniform appears to be a bad fit - to big and long in the arms.
#2 looks modern - as previously stated it looks over staged to give the look of being period.
#3 is to blurry, but I am leaning toward period.
#4 is period - that hat falls under "never say never or always".

Jay Johnson