Venice in the Rain

A beautiful set of photographs from LIFE photographer Dmitri Kessel (who also shot these similarily beautiful and atmospheric photos of a snowy Paris) depicting Venice on a rainy December day, 1952.

Dmitri Kessel, LIFE © Time Inc.

Gondolas moored on the Grand Canal. Source

Dmitri Kessel, LIFE © Time Inc.

The Basilica and Doge's Palace on the Piazza San Marco. Source

Dmitri Kessel, LIFE © Time Inc.

People in the Piazza San Marco. Source

Wartime Barbering

Hair doesn't stop growing just because there's a war on, after all. 

© IWM (Q 19051)

The barber of the American Submarine Chaser Depot, WWI. Source

© IWM (Q 4029)

A barber of the Black Watch Regiment during the Somme, 1916. Source

© IWM (A 6223)

The ship's barber of the HMS Cochrane, WW2. Source

Picnicking in the Past

Hello and thank you to all my wonderful followers! I apologize for the prolonged absence-- I've been interning at an amazing photo collection, and much as I love photographs, I have to say that after 40 hours a week spent working with them, I need a break! I've just finished, though, and I have this month off before starting my second year of my master's (in photo history and preservation, of course!), so let's take advantage of it!

How about a nice, summery post to start? Picnics of the past!

LIFE archives © Time Inc.

A carside picnic, ca. 1930. Source

Swedish National Heritage Board

Picknicking in Lyskeil, Sweden, ca. 1890. Source

State Library of Queensland

A hunting party has a picnic, Queensland, Australia. Source