Historic Hood River
Twinkle in the Eye
Notes
This is one of the few unlabeled Laraway negatives, but it really captures my attention. It was from a smaller camera, so possibly predates 1895 when he started shooting 5×7″ negatives. It’s wonderfully aged but perfectly clear. Scratches in a glass negative show up as black voids; dirt in or on the emulsion shows up a white specks. The glass is chipped around the edges and there was a very slight movement of the camera or the subject so there is a slight blur, yet the overall effect is a face cutting right through the ages. While I hate to ruin the artistry by getting technical, I was drawn to study the twinkle in his eye. It turns out the focus on the eye is just a tiny bit soft, yet you can still see the reflection of the room in his cornea. I think the vertical object to the left might just be the photographer.
Nellie
Definitely a Laraway, as the facial structure is so much like William F., Percy and Bill. Probably an uncle of Percy’s would be my guess, as William did have brothers.
L.E.
Looks like my pup got ahold of his bow tie.
The jacket and vest fabric look extremely heavy. I wonder if it is a felted wool.
Will
Big difference between his open air photos and this one with canvas backdrop and Doric pedestal. He works well with multiple props and points of interest.
nels
I assume that having considerable weight is a byproduct of wealth.
Not many over weight people seen in these old pictures.
L.E.
I probably should post this link here, since it is an auction site, but the watch, made by W.F. Laraway is beautiful.
https://jones-horan.hibid.com/lot/53309106/hamilton–925-w-rare-damascene-and-fancy-dial?q=127&fbclid=IwAR2fIwQZXxvw0oqKs5Jd76og6x1VZ705Z-HV8dDAqnLgxNbGu2OZOPZf81U
And, I learned a new word. Horology: the study and measurement of time.
the art of making clocks and watches.
L.E.
Sorry, I meant to say, "shouldn’t post".
W.F was working with his brother Joseph Warren, in Glenwood, Iowa. I wonder what encouraged him to leave a family home town and come to Hood River.