What photographs can reveal

Kaga you have a gift. The ability to set a scene and stimulate the imagination of others (well mine at least), but your description of the hustle bustle of a street scene during a past period, does remind me what I do when all pictures of street scenes of Coventry in all threads are published is to look at the "detail" and wonder what the characters are about. But you have also given me a reminder, I know somewhere in a dusty old box full of family photos, there is one of my mother taken I think in a Coventry street, before WW2 by one of those people who used to take snaps of people and then give you a ticket to go and buy it later. I must look it out, it will show not just only her, but it is also what happens to be in the background I would like to see. Thanks Kaga, please keep the good work up. Post copied from topic Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) on 2nd Dec 2017 7:35 am

Would love to see that Roger if you could share? You often find a lot more unusual and interesting detail from photos of that type over 'standard' view postcards etc.

Roger then you have a gold mine, I remember people did that, took your photo then gave you a ticket to buy if you wanted to, but I do believe they had to have a licence from the Council for x amount of money. Yes, even if it's just shots of people someone may be recognised, maybe even me roller skating down Trinity Street???

Roger, sorry I read your post wrong, I read it as your mother was the photographer, guess old age getting the better of me.

Hi Neil, I`ll have a go, but first I`ve got to locate it, which might be a problem, I know it exists, I can visualise it (seem to remember she looked a bit like a "flapper") but where? Goodness knows. Anyway, as I say I`ll have a go. But you are right about the background detail - there must have been dozens of these sort of snaps, I wonder if any of our other members have any buried?

If Coventry wins the Capital of Culture, I think the Herbert should put a national call for images of people and the city. There might be a gold mine of information, especially in the background of a picture. Every time I think that there are no new gems, something turns up.

Is this what you mean Roger:- Not sure if it's come over ok but fingers crossed. My father, Broadgate 1934.

Yes Dreamtime, that`s exactly what I meant - brilliant. Very studious looking chap and what about those trouser creases, he`s very smart and you can see the polish shining on his shoes! And the lady in the background, pushing the pram in front of the tram, brings to mind Kaga`s comment about people nipping in and out.

A real shopping basket

Roger, Yes, tut, tut, and smoking too. Of course, I was not around then but often wonder where he was going with his 'shoes blacked'. He could have been on his way to get a ring for a certain girl hence the serious expression. I have only just had a really good clear view of the photo after it being enlarged for me (by the boss)!

I do hope there's more shots like this amongst our members - like the comments above, I find it fascinating to look at them closely Over the life of this forum, a number of images posted have had cars, buses and other vehicles picked out from the background for discussion, but few have had the "anonymous" people looked at in the same way Perhaps this new thread will give the opportunity to view some photos in this way

As an example of what turns up - in my last trip to the Herbert I unearthed a rough sketch of the south side of Cow Lane before the big Bushill's works was built, showing what must have been the old converted ribbon factory and Bushills 'new' shop; a detailed etching of the Bablake school, looking towards the west end of the mysterious fourth wing and thus being able to place one of the library images because of the similarities; a load of images of in and around Lady Herbert's garden from even before the demolition took place to its completion, especially some wonderful pictures of Cook Street, north and south. And just the other day I found a sketch of a crypt from the NE corner of Little Park Street, to add to the other subterranean information I've gleaned.

Yes I did notice the fag Dreamtime, but in view of my "previous" in this respect, I didn`t feel it right to cast the stone. However there is worse to come; I spent last night and this morning delving into three boxes of family photos taken over many years and would you believe it, there is one of my wife sitting having a drag, but to be quite honest we were both hooked from the day we met, me on Gold Flake and roll my own Anton Justman's light shag and she on exotic Balkan Sobrani I still didn`t find the photo that started this all off.

Dreamtime, What this photo reveals is that it's more about your father than any background, your father was a very unusual man, young, very well dressed for 1934, well groomed, expensive cigarette (not Woody's) mid-day not at work, doubt he ever wore a cloth cap, serious but well aware his picture is being taken, looks to me as though the photographer has chosen him for a reason, where is he going? Dreamtime, like to tell us more.

Sorry Kaga, wouldn't have a clue as to his destination. I didn't arrive on the scene till 5 years later. You sound like Sherlock Holmes giving your perspective of the scene before you. I know he worked at the Standard, Banner Lane, during the war years, and for a number of years after that. It looked like my mother's handwriting on the back of the photo. The photo itself is only very small and doesn't look like one he may have to pick up if wanted from a street photogropher. To me it looks like a 'proof'. If my eyes are not deceiving me, is that a raincoat he has over his left arm. I don't remember him wearing raincoats of that type in my younger days. Don't laugh but my daughter reckons he looks like a spy, but where is his trilby? By the way, he did wear a cap for work when on his bike. I would add, he always dressed very neatly, always wore a tie, and was always polishing his shoes, with polish and brushes kept in an old crystal set wooden box. There you have it Kaga. Why he was in the city is anybody's guess. Also once he went in to the licencee trade he gave up smoking. OK then Sherlock, solve that one if you can. I hadn't ever seen that photo before until it was passed on to me after my parents died.