40 Interesting Historical Photos You Wouldn’t Find In History Textbooks
Interview With ExpertThe aesthetic of vintage photographs is undeniably charming. Certain imperfections and the warm, grainy, soft look evoke nostalgia and take us back in time when moments were captured on film. They make one really appreciate the craftsmanship needed to create such images as well since materials were scarce and retouching was minimal, which meant that the photo had to be taken in as few takes as possible.To further kindle our love for vintage photography and history, we compiled a list of old pictures, collected by the Untold Tales Of The Past Instagram account. Scroll down to find them and make sure to upvote the ones that you wish you could’ve spotted in your textbook in school. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation with award-winning analog film and darkroom educator and owner of Little Vintage Photography, Rachel Brewster, and award-winning photographer and owner of Belle Privé, Emma Finch, who kindly agreed to share a few tips with those who want to achieve a vintage photo look in the modern age.
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The Athlete Who Lost $10.000 To Help A Struggling Competitor
Jacqueline Nyetipei Kiplimo did something that stunned the world during the 2010 Zheng-Kai Marathon when she witnessed a disabled competitor struggling to drink water who was a double amputee. Instead of seeing her moment to run ahead of this struggling athlete, she ran along side of him from the 6.2 mile mark to the 23 mile mark (10km mark to the 38km mark), helping him drink water at all of the watering stations. The aide that she so compassionately provided her fellow competitor slowed her run time down and caused her to lose her first place position and place 2nd in the race — costing her the win and the $10,000 cash prize. Jacqueline Nyetipei Kiplimo showed the world that day that to her, being compassionate and helping one another was more important than winning a race that she had been preparing for her entire life.
Charles Thompson Being Welcomed By His New Classmates, Just 4 Months Earlier The Supreme Court Rules That Racial Segregation Was Unconstitutional
A Young Inuit Girl Carrying Her Pet Husky On Her Back. 1920's
Award-winning photographer and owner of Belle Privé, Emma Finch, has a deep love for vintage photography, particularly for everything that has to do with glamour, femininity, and elegance of the 40s and 50s, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Film Noir, and the Roaring 20s.
“I have always been captivated by the glamour, the elegance, and the femininity of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I love the rich colours and the dramatic lighting,” she tells Bored Panda.
Two Boys Teaching Each Other Parts Of Their Culture
Vietnam Veterans Protesting The Vietnam War, “We Won’t Fight Another Rich Man's War”. 1970
Louis Armstrong, An American Trumpeter And One Of The Most Influential Artists In Jazz History, Drawing A Trumpet And Autographing The Side Of A Young Man's Head In Nice, France, 1961
Meanwhile, for award-winning analog film and darkroom educator and owner of Little Vintage Photography, Rachel Brewster, creating her vintage photography business was a way of dealing with the loss of her mom.
“It was also a way of reconnecting with a tactile, physical process when I was feeling overwhelmed with the pace of the digital world. I felt that if this alternative way of creating images and telling a story was important to me, there would probably be other people who would benefit from it too, so I began running workshops and courses, teaching people how to shoot with film, process by hand and print in the darkroom,” she shared with us.
A Little French Girl Gives An American Soldier A Kiss On Valentine’s Day, 1945
Anatoly Golimbievsky, A Heavily Decorated Soviet Veteran Who Lost Both Legs In The Second World War, Acknowledges The Salute Of Four Young Sailors From The Nakhimov Navy School On V-Day In Leningrad In 1989
Orgone Accumulator, A Device Sold In The 1950s To Allow A Person Sitting Inside To Attract Orgone, A Massless 'Healing Energy'
The FDA noted that one purchaser, a college professor, knew it was "phony" but found it "helpful because his wife sat quietly in it for four hours every day."
More and more people (including myself) are returning to vintage photography and are trying to emulate it by taking photos on film or using digital technology. One reason this is happening is because people love nostalgia and want to revisit a 'simpler’ offline world, says Brewster.
Other motivations she mentions include an interest in the imperfect aesthetic film offers and the influencer celebrity culture, which uses point-and-shoot cameras to create content that stands out from the crowd.
She also believes that people come back to vintage photography for their own mental health and well-being. “The delayed gratification of 'slow-tech', hands-on experience is so different from what is created in a screen-based digital world.
Kiss In Central Park, C. 1974
A Better Walk In The Park, 1937
A Game Of Unicycle Basketball In Harlem, C. 1960s
Whereas Finch says that her clients are drawn to the timeless elegance of vintage photography. “They want images that stand out in this modern age. The women that I photograph want a break from their daily lives to look the most glamorous they ever have. The 40s and 50s in particular created a style that never goes out of fashion. Many of my clients dress in a vintage way on a daily basis.”
Nurse Showing Newspaper Headline About Polio Vaccine To A Man On Chest Respirator Due To Polio, 1955
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nominated as health secretary by Trump in the US. "...key advisor to RFK Jr petitioned regulators to revoke approval of polio vaccine" - the Guardian.
Police Officer Unaware Of The Imminent Danger, 1959
David Henseley, Young Child Crippled By Polio With Both Legs In Braces, Soliciting Funds In Public Fundraising Driver For A New Polio Hospital, 1948
“TV and film also play a part—highly styled hair, makeup, and outfits can be aspirational to many women,” she adds. “I think another element is lighting—dramatic lighting that can be created in the studio, which is very authentic, is not something you can do at home with your phone, which makes vintage photography perhaps more in demand.”
Bruce Lee Doing Two Finger One Arm Push UPS, Ca. 1970s
As Soviets Approach Berlin, The Citizens Of The City Did Their Best To Take Care Of Zoo Animals, 1945
Ah! The shoebill stork. I only recently learnt of this bird. A really gentle creature with interesting mannerisms.
The Statue Of Liberty 🗽 Towering Over Paris Just Before Being Disassembled And Shipped To New York
So if you got inspired to dabble in vintage photography, Brewster recommends investing in a good-quality workshop where you can clarify anything by asking questions. “It will save you so much money and time in the long run (less ruined rolls of film and expensive processing mistakes) as well as being a lot more satisfying as an experience. Learn how to process your own film so that you are able to save money on processing costs and be fully in control of your creative vision and decisions,” she says.
Together, An Armless Man (Charles Tripp) And A Legless Man (Eli Bowen) Can Ride A Tandem. 1890s
A Milkman Makes His Way Through The Rubble Following A German Bombing Raid In London, 1940
An Anti KKK Group Called 'The Invisible Jungle, Knights Of The Tiger's Eye,' A New Secret Order
She additionally advises not to overthink what you’re doing. “Grab a good-value camera (either a cheap point & shoot or an SLR from a reputable dealer with a warranty) and a few good-value rolls of black and white film (something like a Kentmere 400 or ILFORD HP5+) and experiment. These are really forgiving films, so you will still likely get some images, even if you make a few mistakes whilst you're learning.”
Soldiers Of The 6th Waffen SS "Nord" Mountain Infantry Division Bandaging A Wounded Dog's Paw
In London, The Double-Decker Buses Underwent A Tilt Test To Prove They Would Not Tip Over
Alfred Hitchcock Serving Tea To Leo The Lion, Mascotte Of MGM ,1958
She also suggests, “Take loads of notes and be methodical so you can figure out what works, develop a unique style and see your photography progress! This will also save you so much money and time on wasted film and paper.”
Nudity Is God’s Creation, 1979
Night Fishing, 1948
I'm not sure all these people understand. It's not like years ago.
Load More Replies...I was just thinking the same thing!
Load More Replies...What's even more insane is that this man is from a tribe that has evolved to be able to dive for up to 10 minutes without going up for air. Bajau tribe, Google them
Load More Replies...Picture Of Male Lovers From 1850 - 1950 When Being Gay Was Illegal
Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell, who are married, collected over 2,800 images over the last 20 years from flea markets, estate sales and family archives before digitising them for their book Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love.
The subjects vary from 19th century working class men to fashionably dressed businessmen, students, soldiers and sailors.
We don't actually know they were gay, they may both have been looking for wives. It was common to advertise for a spouse, especially if you were from a small town and placed the ad in bigger cities as there may not have been singles in your area. Doesn't matter really but it's still worth noting.
Lastly, Finch urges not to forget the importance of styling and lighting. “To create vintage-style images, it starts with the styling. Working with a hair and makeup artist who truly understands vintage styling is essential. Lighting is also critical - understanding how to shape light and combine hard and soft lighting will really elevate your images. Posing is also very important - it should be elegant, classic and above all, flattering. It’s important to pay attention to hand positioning in particular.”
London, 1939
A Boy Sitting On A Sea Mine Eating An Ice-Cream In Kent, United Kingdom, 1945
Samuel Reshevsky, Age 8, Playing Against Several Chess Masters At Once In France
Born in Poland, He learned to play chess at age four and was soon acclaimed as a child prodigy. At age eight, he was beating many accomplished players with ease and giving simultaneous exhibitions, 1920
A Nun Keeping Her Young Charges Cool, Madonna House Day Nursery, New York City, Summer 1941
Hey, a penguin watering little dudes. There was a picture previously of a dude watering little penguins. How 'bout that?
A Zookeeper Watering Some Emperor Pinguïns To Keep Them Cool On A Hot Summer Day, 1957
They should be swimming where they belong, not being so hot this needs to happen.
A Boy Selling Lemonade With A Portable Lemonade Dispenser. Berlin, 1931
Watching The Signing Of Treaty Of Versailles, 1919
Woman Operating A Camera Underwater, 1940s
But there have to be another person underwater taking her picture of her taking a picture.
A Navigation Hotline In The Netherlands, 1963. Long, Long Before Google Maps
A 9000 HP Spiral Turbine Being Built In Germany For A Power Plant In Norway, 1928
How The Donut Size Changed Throughout The Years
This 1958 Photo Shows A Prisoner Being Used To Test Safety Nets Before They Were Mass-Produced For The Public
No living being that did not give express permission should be used to test anything
Soviet Soldiers Crouched In A Trench As A Russian T-34 Tank Passes Over Them During The Battle Of Kursk, 1943
BP PLEASE Stop "shortening" the articles. We can look at 100 pictures, it's not a burden. If we want to stop at 30, we can stop. But commenting on an interesting post, then it disappears, it's annoying, and "shortening" serves no purpose.
XenoMurph....BP expects you to desire to look at all 100 pictures by paying for a Premium membership. LMAO. I can likely get these pictures on some other website for free. I'm not paying BP anything to look at historical photos.
Load More Replies...Interaction. Ad space probably sells for more if they can show that people are interacting.
Load More Replies...Why would I pay to see more pics, when BP already incorrectly described several of the first 30? How about doing some verification work instead of spreading someone else's misinformation?
Haven't been on BP in a while and now there's silly ads?! Yeah, no thanks, never again.
BP PLEASE Stop "shortening" the articles. We can look at 100 pictures, it's not a burden. If we want to stop at 30, we can stop. But commenting on an interesting post, then it disappears, it's annoying, and "shortening" serves no purpose.
XenoMurph....BP expects you to desire to look at all 100 pictures by paying for a Premium membership. LMAO. I can likely get these pictures on some other website for free. I'm not paying BP anything to look at historical photos.
Load More Replies...Interaction. Ad space probably sells for more if they can show that people are interacting.
Load More Replies...Why would I pay to see more pics, when BP already incorrectly described several of the first 30? How about doing some verification work instead of spreading someone else's misinformation?
Haven't been on BP in a while and now there's silly ads?! Yeah, no thanks, never again.