PHOTO Dear friends,
Yesterday I went tothe slightly distant famous photo studio, to make a few prints of my passportsize photo taken there months back. I had carefully taken the photo affixedreference card from studio, but got mixed with other things and could not findout. But I had a passport size photograph taken. I asked whether they couldmake prints using it. Yes sir, with asmile they collected it, scanned, added density of dots (brightness) and preparedeight prints as I desired. Just Rs 80-00. Photography has become very quick andcomparatively less costing. In fact if print was not possible from it, I wasthinking to take a new passport size photograph. Nostalgic memories ofphotography came to my mind. This is outcome of those memories. Gopala krishnan 30-12-2021 1. Recollection of earliest photographs The first photo coming to my recollection wasthe one while I completed seventh standard. I did not get a print. Thephotographer came in the evening (which was their practice on those days) whensunlight was there, arranged students in row standing behind teachers. Teacherssat in front on a back bench. Since students were more, one more row of bencheswas arranged and boys were asked to stand on them. Girls were always asked tostand in the first row on the ground. Photographerasked all to smile and highlighted no blinking of eyes when flash appear. He took twophotographs, and proof prepared and the one approved was printed. He gave threeprints pasted on mounts;one was framed and hung in Headmaster’s room. Year, class and division werewritten in black ink by a teacher. No printing using black ink was there atthat period. Second print was kept by class teacher and 3rd copy wasshown to students. It was kept by monitor, if my memory is correct. On those days itwas floor mounting camera and the photographer used a black cloth covering all sides. He ensured the eye of the camera isclosed before mounting film with cover in the camera. Then cover of film moved sideward,for a moment he opened the eye of camera and image fell on the film and closedit. The film was taken out covered, without any more light falling on it. Students shared thecharges. Many times the class teacher shared about 50% charges. He/She ensuredall students appear for class photograph, with neat dresses, and appearingafter haircut by boys and make up by girls. Last period on the photo day wasfree for such makeups, dressing etc. This practice ofcamera on stand continued for years. 2. Marriage photos and photos of auspicious functions On those days aftermarriage the couple might go to studio for a good photograph. Photographer mayvisit the home; take photographs with all relatives in groups, with parents andin-laws with couples. Photographer arriving for muhurtha was rarest. Relativeswere requested to wait, till photographer arrived. He could take photographsonly in evening sunlight. He had to carry the big photography equipment. Thesame with all functions. Mostly they came in motorbike. 3. Dressing rooms. Studios had dressing rooms, personscoming to take photo could comb hair, adjust sindur, wear holy ash, sandal,change dress by women, etc. In studios if husband was short, height could beadjusted with wife asking husband to stand on a plank etc. Similarly wife’sheight also. Standing, sitting, side pose etc. were all taken. Only black and white photos were known on those days. Films wereimported on those days. Films were developed in dark room. There was no entry for visitors insidedark room. 4. Developed film- Negative- Kept by photographer. Only prints were givento customers. Negatives were kept by studios. If more prints were required on alater date, the person in chargeof negatives searched for negative, and prints were prepared andgiven. It took years, for the studio to givethe negative under signature, and paying extra money. It was convenientto print, especially passport size photograph on later days. Now no studio keepnegatives. 5. Mount Mount was a thickhard board well finished in the top yellowish or white in colour and came instandard sizes. Prints were pasted to the mount. 6 Rectangular print and mount with printing. While I passed outfrom higher secondary school in 1960, sixty years back, the procedures werealmost same, but copies were given to students. Teachers sat on chairs. Class monitor was given a seatnear class teacher. In the centre, Head master, next class teacher andby his side the monitor was given a seat. Names of school, standard, Division, year were printed on the top of the mount.Rectangular films were made by the time, and the print became lengthy with goodappearance. It was pasted centrally overthe mount. In the bottom of the mount , students names were printed. While theproof is given, monitor prepared the list, and class teacher corrected and thengiven to the studio. By the time morestudios appeared, competition came about the quality of print. Best studiosbecame crowded. I am having still in good condition my SSLC photograph took in 1960. The samearrangement was in college also. However in college, the peons of thedepartment also were called to present in the photograph. The lecturers andprofessor (Main and ancillary) and principal only were in the photograph. The photographwas taken in the end of final year. There was a student’s leader of the class,but no special priority was given to him. Mostly from ancillary department one or twolecturers were only present as representatives. Lecturers andprofessors were seated in chairs in the front, Principal in the middle, female studentson one side behind them, and mail students on the other side were arranged. Malestudents more were asked to stand on abench behind the first row of standing students. Copies of the photograph werekept framed in almirah in professor’s room. Photo was taken before the department mostly. Lastperiod of the day was given for dressing and appearing for photo. Male studentsappeared with best dhoti and well ironed shirt, well shaved face, femalestudents either with half sari or full sari and all make ups. 50% lecturersappeared with tucked in shirts, Pants and wearing tie and shoe, remaining withdhoti and shirt and good footwear. Professor and principal wore coat over shirt.Wearing other foot ware other than shoe was not common on those days. Now mostwear ordinary footwear like chappal along with pants and wearing tie has becomerare. I will continue my photo story in next posting. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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