July 4, 1922. Takoma Park, Maryland. "Fourth of July celebration." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

1955 was the height of Davy Crockett mania, and while I never got a coonskin cap, I was as wrapped up in it as most kids of the time, hence the "Dying at the Alamo" concept of this shot. Didn't have any arrows, so I had to improvise with that twig. My eye patch, which I was forced to wear in an unsuccessful attempt to deal with my "lazy eye" condition, sort of adds to the effect. (It was unsuccessful because I kept cheating by peeling it up so I could read my comic books.) I think that was an official Boy Scout canteen, but I don't know where we got it, since neither of us were in the Scouts. Sharp-eyed camera bugs will notice my brother used fill flash with this Kodachrome; he'd borrowed or rented a fancy electronic flash unit.

Sepetember 1862. Antietam, Maryland. "Confederate soldier who after being wounded had evidently dragged himself to a little ravine on the hillside where he died." Wet plate glass negative by Alexander Gardner. View full size.

New York, 1908. "Old church on 48th Street." Studebaker Garage, a former Christian Science house of worship, at 143 West 48th Street. View full size. 8x10 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress.

November 1913. Beaumont, Texas. "Hard work and dangerous. River-boy Lyman Frugia poles the heavy logs into the incline that takes them up to the mill. It is not only hard work, but he is exposed to all kinds of weather and is dangerous too. Said he is 14 years old, has worked here several months, gets one dollar a day. Miller & Vidor Lumber Company." View full size. Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine.

New York. February 27, 1917. "Examining naval volunteers." View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Library of Congress.

"Rasch dancing." The Viennese ballerina and choreographer Albertina Rasch circa 1915. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection glass negative.