Fascinating blog, but that first photo is just plain unnerving.

[Snagg]

What is it about daguerreotypes and other forms of early photography that slightly dehumanize their  subjects?

Especially the eyes. Those EYES, man, dear god, those EYES!

[Snagg]

http://ageofuncertainty.blogspot.com/2010/10/almost-lost-forever.html

[d's girl]

Clearly this was before the quest for life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. Rather, living dead, suffocating entrapment & the pursuit of drudgery infinitum. ;-p

Thanks for the giant dose of gratitude I just got for my current place in life.

[Slayer Dug]

Truly a wonderful find. The guy in that first photo kinda resembles a Lycanthrope. I mean, he looks like the Wolfman...for real!!! Times were a lot different back then. A lot less worries than we have today. Then again, the standard of living was commensurate to the cost of living. Oftentimes I find myself wondering what it would have been like, living in those times.

[d's girl]

Good question, B A F.

Dug, I must say, I REALLY appreciate the comforts of life we have today, in stark comparison to the mid nineteenth century. And I fear their worries were way more pressing than the ones we have today.

[Snagg]

Researching those photos a bit, I was somewhat nauseated to learn of a fad popular in Britain at the time of those photo's creation that may explain a few things: It was fashionable to prop up THE RECENTLY DECEASED and take a portrait photo with the surviving family members.

Okay, let the Screaming Meemies commence, and you can all go have nightmares tonight.

Yeesh. At least the photographer didn't have to worry about warning ONE of the subjects to "HOLD STILL!"

[d's girl]

Wow - very interesting. I must say, I find our current ritual of viewing our dead loved ones' bodies just as gruesome. WHY do people want to look at dead people?? And worse is the dialogue that goes along with it... "Doesn't he look good?" Well, I HOPE he doesn't look so good..... HE'S DEAD!!!! :-p

[Snagg]

Ehh. I think it has a lot less to do with actually examining the dead person (Unless you're one of those people who had good reason to make sure that they were REALLY dead), than it has to do with "paying respects" and social politics.

Me...I've always expected to die in a bizarre freak accident that results in such a case of physical mangling that a closed casket is not just a kindness, but a necessity; That's what cremation is for, as far as I'm concerned....

Is it me, or is TBD suddenly moving into the Halloween mood?

[Jaylee53]

I found each and every image fascinating. I saw our past...maybe a little of the future. Not the least dehumanizing..just bad lighting.
I was profoundly saddened by the group of boys....the ones in leg pillars.
I do know that one had to sit still for a long time for the image to take...hence the dogs not looking too clear.
I know that it was common practice to take images of the dead. Not creepy to me at all. I actually wish I had done with some of the near and dear that have died. No, I would not have put them on fb.....:-]

[Chez moi]

Thanks for this, Snagg. I am a great fan of old/odd images, and these are the real stuff.

Is is my imagination, or is this last one Aggie's ancestor?

[Snagg]

...Which one do you think was already dead?

[TeeBubbaDee]

I think you're right Chez, and did you know one of Snagg's ancestors was a zombie??

[Snagg]

MOM?!