Boston1954

I cannot help but wonder why people did not smile in pictures a long time ago. Wasn't anyone happy back in 1892?

cjsews

I read that it took so long to set up the equipment and exposure time that the could not hold a smile that long

cashs_mom

That's what I've heard also cj. Those old tin types and early photos took a long time for the proper exposure so people had to stand still for a long time and didn't try to smile.

leonf

Correct answers here. Photo studios even had rests for chins and arms to keep them still. I used to shoot ancient cameras.

bearisgray

I had wondered that, too.

Jingle

Probably miserable in the clothes they wore back then, especially if it was hot there.

Ginaky

I don't know about smiling, but that's the year my paternal grandmother was born. She passed away in 1976.

Blue Bell

My grand mother was born in 1892, too, and passed in 1980. She did all kinds of hand work, but no quilting! A good cook, as well.

SusieQOH

I read the same thing about the old ways of photography.

Doggramma

I wondered that myself. And I wonder why they're photographed at times with weird items. It would be interesting to know the stories behind the pictures.