Wow thank you so much Chris for reading it and for your kind words! I’m so happy that you were able to connect with the story and photos. Thank you for your support! I appreciate it!
Hey, Michael! I love this. I can just imagine the thrill of viewing those slides for the first time, knowing they were Kodachrome, and feeling everything magical that comes with that experience. I wouldn't have been able to toss them either. I'm sure it meant a lot to Joan and her family that you kept them. Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective for people to see the value in what they've made. It sounds like you did just that. I admire your tenacity in preserving those images and giving them the elevation they deserve. I love the castle on the hill and the picture of Joan herself!
Thank you Al! Yes, my background/degree is history so the combination of photography means that I'm always thinking about the historical connections and particularly archiving photographs and the importance of that! Yes it was quite lovely making that connection with Joan's family. It made me think of all the orphaned slides out there in the world and while many times the images are appreciated for the aesthetics and being a window into the past, what it would mean if those images were made available to the people's decedents. Like I'm sure there are slides or photos out there of my Oma just walking the street in Winnipeg perhaps, it would be amazing to see those photos!
I didn't touch upon it in the article but alongside some trips shots there were actually some family photos in the slides that I received from Joan. I felt strange about scanning and putting them up anywhere, but when I was able to hand off those slides to Kirstin, those were some of the most cherished shots. She was able to see photos of her aunts and mom as small kids. The whole story of Joan and her slides was definitely the pinnacle of working at Don's. Sometimes I wonder why I stayed in that job/retail for so long (answer: I love photography and people but I just wished it payed better), but then even if it meant I was able to pass these slides off to Joan's descendant it would have been worth it.
That warms my heart! I'm sure it meant a lot to them. Undertaking family photo archiving can be daunting, so having someone else do it (and do it well) was probably much appreciated! I can understand why you stayed as long as you did. It seems it was like a unique window into other people's lives and memories. I get that even from finding stray slides and photos at thrift stores, estate sales, etc. It's so interesting to see what captivated someone enough for them to make a picture; what was worth holding onto.
How in the heck did I miss this amazing post??? As someone who explicitly got into street photography, into film photography, into so much of what has shaped me as an artist due to Vivian Maier, this really struck a chord with me.. Joan's photos are gorgeous and really exemplify that transitory stage of postwar Europe you describe as well as the richness of Kodachrome. I'm glad you were able to come across her slides and breathe a new appreciation into them that Joan herself was able to experience. Thank you for this Michael.
Thanks Tyler!! And yeah not sure how you missed it but glad you were able to give it a read now! I'm glad you were also able to see that transitory stage that I noticed. Honestly I think back and being able to do this was worth working at Don's in retail for so many years.
Thanks Susanne for checking it out! I'm honoured that Joan and her photos came into my life and was more than happy that I could not only pass it on to her relatives but also share it more widely for people to appreciate Joan's photographic eye and artistic heart.
Michael, I enjoyed your heartwarming story and Joan’s images! My favorite is the one with the red car. Kodachrome was indeed a one of a kind film. The colors come alive and they glow when viewed in a light table. Alex Webb even cherished his last roll and was intentional on how he wanted to capture the last 36 frames. Although Steve McCurry has been controversial the past several years, there is no doubt he has a good command in capturing color. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for checking this story out Stella! Yes the little mini cooper! Its so cool to think Joan drove around Europe in it. Yes, I definitely had a thought of perhaps not including Steve McCurry because of the controversy, but I had his 1985 National Geographic photo kicking around at home and because of how famous that photo was I thought I should include a quick note about him.
Wow thank you so much Chris for reading it and for your kind words! I’m so happy that you were able to connect with the story and photos. Thank you for your support! I appreciate it!
Wow, what a moving piece. Thanks for sharing this.
I'm glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you reading it!
Hey, Michael! I love this. I can just imagine the thrill of viewing those slides for the first time, knowing they were Kodachrome, and feeling everything magical that comes with that experience. I wouldn't have been able to toss them either. I'm sure it meant a lot to Joan and her family that you kept them. Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective for people to see the value in what they've made. It sounds like you did just that. I admire your tenacity in preserving those images and giving them the elevation they deserve. I love the castle on the hill and the picture of Joan herself!
Thank you Al! Yes, my background/degree is history so the combination of photography means that I'm always thinking about the historical connections and particularly archiving photographs and the importance of that! Yes it was quite lovely making that connection with Joan's family. It made me think of all the orphaned slides out there in the world and while many times the images are appreciated for the aesthetics and being a window into the past, what it would mean if those images were made available to the people's decedents. Like I'm sure there are slides or photos out there of my Oma just walking the street in Winnipeg perhaps, it would be amazing to see those photos!
I didn't touch upon it in the article but alongside some trips shots there were actually some family photos in the slides that I received from Joan. I felt strange about scanning and putting them up anywhere, but when I was able to hand off those slides to Kirstin, those were some of the most cherished shots. She was able to see photos of her aunts and mom as small kids. The whole story of Joan and her slides was definitely the pinnacle of working at Don's. Sometimes I wonder why I stayed in that job/retail for so long (answer: I love photography and people but I just wished it payed better), but then even if it meant I was able to pass these slides off to Joan's descendant it would have been worth it.
That warms my heart! I'm sure it meant a lot to them. Undertaking family photo archiving can be daunting, so having someone else do it (and do it well) was probably much appreciated! I can understand why you stayed as long as you did. It seems it was like a unique window into other people's lives and memories. I get that even from finding stray slides and photos at thrift stores, estate sales, etc. It's so interesting to see what captivated someone enough for them to make a picture; what was worth holding onto.
How in the heck did I miss this amazing post??? As someone who explicitly got into street photography, into film photography, into so much of what has shaped me as an artist due to Vivian Maier, this really struck a chord with me.. Joan's photos are gorgeous and really exemplify that transitory stage of postwar Europe you describe as well as the richness of Kodachrome. I'm glad you were able to come across her slides and breathe a new appreciation into them that Joan herself was able to experience. Thank you for this Michael.
Thanks Tyler!! And yeah not sure how you missed it but glad you were able to give it a read now! I'm glad you were also able to see that transitory stage that I noticed. Honestly I think back and being able to do this was worth working at Don's in retail for so many years.
What a story! Thank you for sharing her story and her photographs, Michael!
Thanks Susanne for checking it out! I'm honoured that Joan and her photos came into my life and was more than happy that I could not only pass it on to her relatives but also share it more widely for people to appreciate Joan's photographic eye and artistic heart.
Michael, I enjoyed your heartwarming story and Joan’s images! My favorite is the one with the red car. Kodachrome was indeed a one of a kind film. The colors come alive and they glow when viewed in a light table. Alex Webb even cherished his last roll and was intentional on how he wanted to capture the last 36 frames. Although Steve McCurry has been controversial the past several years, there is no doubt he has a good command in capturing color. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for checking this story out Stella! Yes the little mini cooper! Its so cool to think Joan drove around Europe in it. Yes, I definitely had a thought of perhaps not including Steve McCurry because of the controversy, but I had his 1985 National Geographic photo kicking around at home and because of how famous that photo was I thought I should include a quick note about him.
Wow! What a story! Thanks for share this!
Thanks for giving it a read Fernando!