This most uplifting object is a Flying Hat, the subject of a late Victorian trick photograph (although the trick is not that astonishing - if you look closely you can see three wires attached to the hat).
It was taken by Eli W. Buel, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts photographer, about 1870. But why? This is the sort of picture that makes you wish you knew more about the photographer. Did he like hats? Did he long to be a magician instead of a photographer? Did someone ask him to make a portrait of their favorite hat?
We may never know.
From the collection of George Eastman House at Flickr, link here.
And tomorrow: the weekly History Mystery...
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Thank you to Silly Willy and Fluffy for the Friendship Blog Award!
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And also: I have disabled Entrecard ads. I'll let the already-bought ones run and then I am leaving Entrecard. I am not a fan of the sponsored ads. How about you? Do tell in the comments.
I'll be bookmarking and subscribing to lots of EC friends. Let me know if you want to keep in touch. I'll have more time to visit, comment and - you know - actually write stuff.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Flying Hat
Posted by Lidian at 6:15 AM
Labels: Oddities, Old Photographs, Victorian Oddities
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12 Comments:
I'll still visit whether or not you use Entrecard. I've already added you to my blogroll so I don't miss your latest posts :-)
I'm not keen on the idea of sponsored ads either, but I'll give them a chance for a couple of days. If I object to the content and have no control, I'll just remove the widget.
It almost looks like the sort of thing Mr.Magritte might have photographed if he had been a photographer!
The hat charms me. I'm not sure why.
And yep, I'm leaving EntreCard, too. Same reason.
Yes, everyone is saying that they will leave OTOH they have to find a way to make money, right? I'll see what kind of ads run, if I don't like them - poof gone.
John - I am definitely going to keep visiting you! :)
Kittybriton - It really does, you're right :)
Susan - It is a most charming hat. I'm bookmarking West of Mars, no doubt about it. Maybe I can get more fiction writing done now that I am not dropping too-many-hundred EC cards a day.
Grace - You're right, but I am tired of all the ups and downs. If things settle down, I can always go back, I guess. I'll be interested to see what happens...
I like the hat photo, although I was tempted to copy it and PhotoShop the wires out. :)
I left EC months and months ago. I think you already know how I feel about them. You are doing the right thing, though belatedly. You will feel free. Good for you.
Cool pic! Really makes you thing how he did it.
Max - I was thinking about you leaving EC awhile back, recently (if that makes sense). And I agree. It's time to move on - I'm sure of it. You were right about all that.
Amanda - I wish he had written about how he set it up!
Lidian, I sure will keep up with your blogs! Would you consider joining Facebook too?
I am not happy with EC, and won't be far behind you in leaving. I just want to make sure I have a way to keep in touch with all the blogs I so enjoy.
Theresa - I will keep up with you too! :)
I am not a big FB fan to say the least, but I am giving some thought to the Networked Blogs thing.
I left EC when the original sponsored ads came out, and found myself much more free to actually read blogs again. The fact that I haven't been here in a while is owing solely to work-related franticness (is that a word??). But I don't think you'll regret leaving EC.
Meanwhile, about the picture. At first I thought I was looking at one of the Surrealist paintings or photos, and that maybe this one had a title like "Ceci n'est pas une chapeau" or something.
Phyl - Thank you, I appreciate the reassurance. I feel like I'm really going out into the unknown! :)
It IS nice not to drop gazillions of crds, and to stop and read and comment. And I am really going to work on my own blogs with more pleasure.
The photo does indeed look like a Surrealist painting.
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