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In Just-spring: 1952

"May 4, 1952. Dam at Blue Earth below cemetery." The latest installment of Minnesota Kodachromes might be titled "Tadpole and the Big Dippers." And hey, did you see that fish?! 35mm color slide by Hubert Tuttle. View full size.

"May 4, 1952. Dam at Blue Earth below cemetery." The latest installment of Minnesota Kodachromes might be titled "Tadpole and the Big Dippers." And hey, did you see that fish?! 35mm color slide by Hubert Tuttle. View full size.

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Warm spell

Often the lilacs don't bloom in Minnesota until after Mother's Day. 1952 had an unusually warm spring:

"The longest warm spell was from April 23 to May 7, constituting 15 consecutive days with warmer than average high temperatures."

It reached 91 degrees in Minneapolis on May 4. No doubt Blue Earth was enjoying comparably toasty temps, but I'm sure that water was still ice-cold.

And now we know

This must be the trouble that our mothers knew we'd get into if allowed to frolic unsupervised.

Incredible color

I feel like I could step right into the picture.

Compelling

If this was just a snapshot, it was certainly a lucky one. It also proves that, in spite of what many used to say, Kodachrome was capable of subtlety in the way it handled greens.

When the box of slides came back from the processor, it must have been a happy day for this photographer.

eddieandbill come running

Somebody should note the title's reference to a wonderfully apt poem by E.E. Cummings. (Make that e.e. cummings if you're a purist.)

Image quality

Either these were incredibly well preserved slides, or you have changed your scanning techniques. The quality of this set is absolutely amazing.

E. E. Cummings Flashback!

Just seeing the phrase "In just-spring" flashed an image in my head of Sven Armens, longtime (long, long time!) English professor at the University of Iowa. He looked like Rance Howard and sounded like Arby's sandwich detective Bo Dietl. I can just picture him sitting casually on the corner of the classroom desk in loose slacks and sport coat, chain-smoking ultra-low tar Carlton cigarettes in the classroom (in violation of policy) and reading in a heavy, husky, hoarse Brooklyn/Bronx accent, "Thy fingers make early flowers of all things -- "

Rockwellian

If you say this is a Kodachrome, OK, but I've never seen a photo look so much like a Norman Rockwell's painting.

(Maybe it's a Kodachrome of a Rockwell painting?)

Initial impressions (cont.)

I agree Dutch. Had to study closely looking for brush strokes. Great and unusual lighting and exposure.

A Genuine Snapshot Masterpiece

The composition, lighting, and color in this image truly rise to the level of masterpiece. I think Bazille would have traded his canvas and brushes for a roll of Kodachrome had he seen it.

Best dam photo on Shorpy

Seriously, that is a beautiful photo.

I'm looking

But I don't see the little lame balloonman.

You know you're in Minnesota-

When boys wear winter hats with earflaps for Springtime wading.

Initial impressions

Not even posed. At first glance I thought this was a Rockwell painting.

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