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1919. Washington, D.C. "Beauty contests at Tidal Basin." Stand back, fellows, and give the ladies some room! Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
Apart from the several movie cameras in evidence, there is one (that I can see) collapsible-bellows camera. It is being carried by the man facing us, with what appears to be 'US' embroidered on the front of his swimwear.
My mother owned a similar type of camera back in the 1930's/1940's, which gave sterling service well into the late 1950's, until the corners on the bellows started to fray and let the light in.
I look at this photo and think immediately of three things: hot chicks, tuberculosis and polio. Thankfully, in that order.
Apparently in that age, ink belonged in the pen, in the inkwell or on paper.
Saw this scene on "MTV Beach Party" a few weeks ago. The bathing costumes were different, of course.
Autre temps, autre mores
Instead of local TV coverage of a later era, it looks like four Biograph movie cameras there on the left. Film at eleven, at the Orpheum.
This picture has every face and darn near the poses of Rennaisance Art!
Ah, the beauty of Humanity. And Photography.
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