Marked Up

Before Photoshop, photographs were hardly left untouched. Professional portraits were retouched and airbrushed from the start. Press prints in particular were worked over to meet the needs of page layout and halftone printing. The main difference is simply in the marks left behind. Crop marks and the painting out of backgrounds for a cut-out effect are common leftovers of the manipulator's hand, leaving behind a wealth of inadvertent surrealism. 

Nina Leen, LIFE © Time Inc.

A man in a business suit, 1946. Source

Nina Leen, LIFE © Time Inc.

Polar bears at the Bronx Zoo, 1956. Source

Nationaal Archief

George Mallory (with halo) and other members of the 1924 Everest expedition. Source

A 1920s Party of the 1950s

1920s parties seem to be especially popular lately, which, of course, as a wannabee flapper I couldn't be happier about. The look and popular culture of the era hold a strong appeal-- distant enough to romanticize but close enough to relate to. The idea of Prohibition is easily turned into pretend naughty fun. And who doesn't love sparkly dresses, stripey jackets, boater hats, and pearls? 

In fact, the 1920s party potential was already being seen by the 1950s. In these photos from 1954, partygoers have gone all out in their costumes (which, considering the decade only ended 24 years ago, are more than likely actually from it). Drinks are being sipped from teacups (though eventually many of the people give up and turn to cans of beer), a bathtub is used as a decoration/liquor holder, the ladies roll down their stockings and the men wear spats. I find it especially interesting to see considering that most of the people there were probably born in the 1920s, or slightly earlier.... it's the equivalent of a 1980s or even 90s party today!

Wallace Kirkland, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Wallace Kirkland, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Wallace Kirkland, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Cat Eats Corn

Another look at the fluffy side of LIFE magazine. This is one of my favourite examples of "fluff"-- photographs of a cat that apparently likes to eat corn on the cob. I'm sure that only one of these pictures was actually published, possibly on the last page which for a while was reserved for a light-hearted picture (I haven't yet found it, but still looking), but of course, an actual real-life photojournalist was dispatched to do this so as per the course he shot a range of pictures to get the best one/one that would best fit the page. So the LIFE archives, as well as containing some of the defining photographs of our era, includes a whole bunch of photos of a cat eating corn. 

1951, by Allan Grant. 

Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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The Secret Lives of Pennies

I have to admit, I love the "filler" stories from LIFE magazine. There's dramatic, insightful, though-provoking photo-essays... and there's tests on cooperation in cats, pet lemurs, and Parisians drinking Coca-Cola. Most of these kinds of stories would only have a few pictures in the published magazine, somewhere in the middle to back, surronded by ads-- but thanks to the online LIFE archives, we can enjoy the silliness/banality to its fullest! 

This picture story is apparently concerned with pennies, and what you can do with them.

Photographs from 1953, taken by Nina Leen. 

Nina Leen, LIFE © Time Inc.

A store receiving their week's worth of pennies, with police escort. Source

Nina Leen, LIFE © Time Inc.

Tea bags you can buy for one cent each. Source

Nina Leen, LIFE © Time Inc.

Boxes of matches 2 for a penny. Source

Strange Photos from the LIFE Archives

In all the poking through the online archives of LIFE magazine that I've done for this blog, I sometimes come across photos that are just plain weird. Sometimes they make more sense with the caption; sometimes they make less. 

Francis Miller, LIFE © Time Inc.

 A man carrying a giant pickle to the top of a radio tower. Of course. 1949. Source

Wallace Kirkland, LIFE © Time Inc.

The winners of a Chiropractic Beauty Contest, with their winning x-rays, 1956.  Source

Peter Stackpole, LIFE © Time Inc.

A raven smoking a pipe, 1939. Source

The Cat Show

Photographs from a cat show in Los Angeles, 1952, shot by George Silk, some of which appeared in the December 1952 issue of LIFE. 

George Silk, LIFE © Time Inc.

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George Silk, LIFE © Time Inc.

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George Silk, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Kids Playing in the Leaves

Happy start of fall! A set from LIFE photographer Allan Grant, 1953:

Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Allan Grant, LIFE © Time Inc.

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A Pet Lion-- in Colour!

This blog always likes to feature strange pets* and old colour photographs, so the combination of both just had to have a post, even if we've seen a pet lion before. 

These photographs were shot by photographer Michael Rougier for LIFE-- no date is given but the style is pretty clearly 60s or maybe early 70s. 

Michael Rougier, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Michael Rougier, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Michael Rougier, LIFE © Time Inc.

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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

A Time of War

Photographs taken in London in the days right before and after the declaration of World War Two, late August and early September 1939. 

By William Vandivert for LIFE, although they don't seem to have been published in it. 

William Vandivert, LIFE © Time Inc.

Headlines of the days leading up to the war's outbreak. Source

William Vandivert, LIFE © Time Inc.

Soldiers filling sand bags for air raid protection. Source

William Vandivert, LIFE © Time Inc.

Putting masks on a traffic light (so they can't be seen in a blackout). Source

Tiger Cubs of the 1940s

Nothing dramatic or insightful today, just the LIFE version of Zooborns. This adorable series captures newborn tiger cubs being cared for by Mrs. Martini, the wife of a Bronx Zoo keeper, after their mother wouldn't nurse, 1944. 

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Tiger cub in the hallway. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Tiger cub trying to climb a couch. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Mrs. Martini feeding a bottle to a tiger cub. Source

Love and LIFE

Kisses from the LIFE archives for Valentine's Day. 

Ed Clark, LIFE © Time Inc.

Actress Ava Gardner kisses a man, North Carolina, 1949. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE  © Time Inc.

A couple kissing in side Sammy's Bowery Follies, NYC, 1942. Source

Eliot Elisofon, LIFE © Time Inc.

Sailor kissing a girl at a Navy luau, Hawaii, 1945. Source

Young Love in Japan

Photographs of young couples in Japan, 1958, shot by photographer John Dominis for LIFE (though unpublished, as far as I can tell).

John Dominis, LIFE © Time Inc.

A couple looking at tree blossoms. Source

John Dominis, LIFE © Time Inc.

A coffee house date. Source

John Dominis, LIFE © Time Inc.

Strolling in Tokyo. Source

Coca-Cola Comes to France

A series from LIFE capturing the French as they first meet Coke, 1950. (no product endorsement intended, haha). 

Photographs by Mark Kauffman, from the LIFE archives. 

Mark Kauffman, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Mark Kauffman, LIFE © Time Inc.

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Mark Kauffman, LIFE © Time Inc.

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A Return to the Battlefield

A photo series from 1947 following an ex-GI and his new wife re-visiting the battlefields of France where he fought in the war. I find it so striking that he felt compelled to do this, and especially that she felt compelled to do it with him. 

By Tony Linck for LIFE magazine. From the LIFE archives. 

The ex-GI, Ernest Kreiling, and his wife overlook a valley where he fought in WWII. Source

The woman puts a helmet on her husband in the foxhole where he first heard an enemy shell. Source

The man gives his wife a demonstration of how he washed his socks during the war. Source

Shadow and Light

A showcase of incredible photographs by Hungarian-born photographer Gjon Mili. Unless otherwise specified, taken in Mili's studio in NYC. 

From the LIFE archives. 

Gjon Mili, LIFE © Time Inc.

Skaters of the Hollywood Ice Revue at Madison Square Gardens, NYC, 1948. Source

Gjon Mili, LIFE © Time Inc.

A model in raincoat, umbrella and galoshes, 1943. Source

Gjon Mili, LIFE © Time Inc.

A little girl watching soap bubbles, 1941. Source

Growing Up

A photo series of babies at various phases of development, by Nina Leen, 1942. 

A one month baby, able to yawn as well as smile and sneeze. Source

A three-month-old baby, able to lift its head and look around. Source

A four-month-old discovering his hands. Source