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Looking at the pictures it seems that they were taken exactly in the moment of greeting the photographer (People with their hands on hats...). The way the funct

Looking at the pictures it seems that they were taken exactly in the moment of greeting the photographer (People with their hands on hats...). The way the function of the camera is described, using the gestures of greeting someone may have nicely helped in keeping his camera a secret. Also: Indeed, very nice to see people smiling in that time! I wonder how much the grim-looking portraits we know add to the cliche of hard-ship and sadness we have of earlier times. Then, having to look that way when being portrayed may stemmed from who were the earliest people being portrayed: Saints, Kings and Queens.

mikestew 9y ago
Then, having to look that way when being portrayed may stemmed from who were the earliest people being portrayed: Saints, Kings and Queens. That certainly might have contributed to the lack of smiling, yes. From sources I have long since lost, it is my understanding that portraits were expensive, and photographs were serious business. Add to that the fact of...umm, why do we smile for photographs again? I do it because everyone else does. Build a time machine, and someone from the 1800s is going to ask, "why does everyone in your photographs look like a smiling idiot? Was there a rash of some brain-eating disease in your time?" I've also heard the theory based on exposure times, but by the very late 1800s exposure times had dropped dramatically. Though it could be argued that not smiling was a carry-over from the days of long exposure. Again, though, documentation I've seen simply said, "that's just how it was done". Fashions change, just like we don't wear corsets anymore (well, I don't; but I don't judge), now we smile for pictures.
- thaumasiotes 9y ago
  > I've also heard the theory based on exposure times, but by the very late 1800s exposure times had dropped dramatically. Though it could be argued that not smiling was a carry-over from the days of long exposure. Again, though, documentation I've seen simply said, "that's just how it was done". Presumably photographic portraits were done in the style of painted portraits.
  - mikestew 9y ago
    Hmm, so maybe it is a result of "exposure time". Dunno about you, but I sure can't keep a smile on my face for a few hours while Leonardo does me in oil. (Err, wait, that didn't come out right...) Despite any documentation, I think it's just a matter of asking for an answer to a negative action. "Why didn't you smile for your photographs back then?" "Same reason we didn't do a handstand: why would we?"
daveFNbuck 9y ago
It was always my understanding that people didn't smile in older photos because it's easier to hold a neutral pose for a long exposure period.

mikestew 9y ago

Then, having to look that way when being portrayed may stemmed from who were the earliest people being portrayed: Saints, Kings and Queens. That certainly might have contributed to the lack of smiling, yes. From sources I have long since lost, it is my understanding that portraits were expensive, and photographs were serious business. Add to that the fact of...umm, why do we smile for photographs again? I do it because everyone else does. Build a time machine, and someone from the 1800s is going to ask, "why does everyone in your photographs look like a smiling idiot? Was there a rash of some brain-eating disease in your time?" I've also heard the theory based on exposure times, but by the very late 1800s exposure times had dropped dramatically. Though it could be argued that not smiling was a carry-over from the days of long exposure. Again, though, documentation I've seen simply said, "that's just how it was done". Fashions change, just like we don't wear corsets anymore (well, I don't; but I don't judge), now we smile for pictures.

thaumasiotes 9y ago
> I've also heard the theory based on exposure times, but by the very late 1800s exposure times had dropped dramatically. Though it could be argued that not smiling was a carry-over from the days of long exposure. Again, though, documentation I've seen simply said, "that's just how it was done". Presumably photographic portraits were done in the style of painted portraits.
- mikestew 9y ago
  Hmm, so maybe it is a result of "exposure time". Dunno about you, but I sure can't keep a smile on my face for a few hours while Leonardo does me in oil. (Err, wait, that didn't come out right...) Despite any documentation, I think it's just a matter of asking for an answer to a negative action. "Why didn't you smile for your photographs back then?" "Same reason we didn't do a handstand: why would we?"

daveFNbuck 9y ago

It was always my understanding that people didn't smile in older photos because it's easier to hold a neutral pose for a long exposure period.