We, humans, are visual creatures. We might read or listen about the past, but looking at photographs is somehow even more pleasing. Since time traveling is not a thing (and probably will never be), what's a better way to visit the places and times we didn't have a chance to be a part of than through vintage photographs?
Pages like Flashbak give us an opportunity to get a glimpse of life before our time by keeping the spirit of old photography alive. They scour the archives to find the coolest photos of famous people and city life in the 20th century, so, here we present to you the most interesting ones!
Bored Panda reached out to the creator of Flashbak, journalist and editor Paul Sorene, and he kindly agreed to tell us more about the project. Check out the story of how Flashbak came to be and how you can contribute to it below!
More info: Facebook | Flashbak | Instagram | Flashbak Shop
Flashbak isn't just a Facebook page that collects cool historical photos. It's a dedicated blog about vintage pop culture with the tagline "Everything old is new again." Its oldest entries date back to 2008, with the first post ever being a very brief history of British television. You can find all kinds of cool stuff relating to 20th century pop culture there: from cool old movie posters to photo studies of rock stars' junk.
It was created by British journalist and editor Paul Sorene, for whom Flashbak is a dear passion project. "My work means being in newsrooms and I realised that millions of pictures stored in newspaper archives and libraries had never been seen," he told Bored Panda. "So Flashbak became a place to share these pictures and the stories behind them."
"It's all about the story – and every picture tells one," Paul goes on. "So I invite readers to share theirs – and I love it when they do. Some have been exhibited and featured in books, films, TV, posters and more."
"And because demand was so great, I created a shop selling 'all good things.'" And that shop is truly a wonderland for art lovers. If you're looking for some inspiring wall art, postcards, artsy apparel, or are just short on stunning wrapping paper, head over to the Flashbak shop and support the project in the process!
And if you have some cool vintage photos of your own to contribute to Flashbak, don't hesitate to share them right here!
Nostalgia for the second half of the 20th century doesn't seem to be going away. We love the aesthetics and the feeling that these photographs emulate, so why not try to evoke them in our own photography efforts in the modern day? Film cameras are readily available today to those who wish to dabble in old-school photography.
Photographer Stephen Walton writes that there are three types of cameras people can choose from: 35mm, medium format, and instant cameras. Polaroid and Fujifilm's instant cameras have really grown in popularity these couple of years, as they're pretty easy to operate. You can see the result straight away too, and they give your photos a vintage feel.
On a table to her side she placed 72 objects that could be used on her - items included: flowers, a knife and a loaded gun. Her instructions were placed on the table: Instructions: ‘There are 72 objects on the table that one can use on me as desired. Performance. I am the object. During this period I take full responsibility.’ Abramović said that at first visitors were peaceful and shy, but quickly became violent: ′′The experience I learned was that... if you leave the decision to the public, you might be k**led... I felt very violated. They cut my clothes, put rose thorns in my belly, one person pointed the gun at my head, and another pulled the gun out close. This created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I got up and started walking towards the public. Everyone ran away, escaping from a real confrontation.”
Flashbak Report
Then there are 35mm cameras. Walton notes that models like the Canon AE-1 or the Nikon F series are great for beginners and professionals alike. For people who find them too intimidating, there are disposable cameras or film point-and-shoot cameras. With those, you don't have to worry about things like focus and exposure, but can still get the old-school photo vibe.
According to Walton, a lot depends on which decade's style you want to emulate. If you're shooting (no pun intended) for the 1920s or the 1930s, black and white would probably look the most similar. These decades, Walton says, were all about sophistication and glamour, so, they would require soft lighting and shallow depth of field.
If you like the aesthetic of the 1960s and the 1970s, you'll need to focus on vibrant colors. These decades were famous for their psychedelic patterns, so, Walton recommends not being afraid to increase saturation and contrast. Wide-angle lenses and unusual angles also give the photographs a bold aesthetic.
Some people look at this generation's fascination with film photography with a dash of skepticism. Why go back to grainy, low-quality images when we have the all-powerful digital technology right in our phones? The element of instant gratification might be precisely why we're currently so enamored with film cameras and their aesthetics.
Lately, there has been a resurgence of digital point-and-shoot cameras. When The Bear actress Ayo Edibiri brought her own digital camera to the Emmys, many took it as a signifier that Gen Z is done with phone cameras. Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian both have been spotted with the tiny point-and-shoots as well. Even manufacturers started noticing it as the film camera market value is predicted to reach $385 million by 2030.
However, people have different reasons for choosing to go back to analog photography. According to a survey carried out by Analogue Wonderland's co-founder Paul McKay, 66% of the respondents said they like that it makes them slow down and consider the image, leaving them more connected to the image.
The other 34% had various reasons, and the most common was the wish to create something physical. 'To create unique photos' was the third most popular answer in the survey, especially among young people and those who didn't have much photographing experience. "Film captures memories and emotions, where digital records light values," one respondent noted.
What do you think about vintage photography, Pandas? Which of these photos from Flashbak do you think are the coolest? Let us know in the comments! Also, don't forget to share with us your adventures with analog photography, if you've ever dabbled! And if you'd like to see more interesting historical photographs, you can do so right here.
The concert was historic because it was the first night of the Anarchy In The UK Tour (The Damned were replaced by the Buzzcocks after the Leeds gig).
Flashbak Report
The bar was run by a husband and wife team – Chicago native Parnell St. Aubin (December 19, 1922 – December 4, 1987) and Mary Ellen Burbach (born September 21, 1920).
Both had showbiz pedigree. He’d played a Munchkin soldier in The Wizard of Oz. She was a former Mae West impersonator with the vaudeville troupes Rose’s Parisian Midget Follies. Mary also performed with (and see if you spot a theme): Fred Roper & His Wonderful Midgets, Henry & Dolly Kramer Midget Troupe, and Nate Eagle’s Hollywood Midgets.Was
Flashbak Report
The Whispering Gallery was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the renowned architect who was also responsible for the construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral itself. It is located 30 meters above the floor of the cathedral and is accessible via a staircase of 259 steps. The gallery gets its name from the way sound travels along its curved surface, allowing whispers to be heard from one side of the dome to the other
Flashbak Report
Note: this post originally had 95images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.