Let's put our fancy modern cameras aside for a moment and dig back into our existing collection of photos!

In this contest, we want to see OLD photos, and by old, we mean, from a previous Millenium! I.e. before the year 2000. Taking a new photo and making it look old is not allowed in this contest.

Even though digital cameras were already in use during that time (Kodak released the first digital camera as early as 1975), they weren't as mainstream as they are today. This means that photos can also be photos that were taken with classic analog cameras. If you use one of these, take a picture or scan the photo, so you can upload it to the contest.

Obviously, some people weren't even born back then. If you fall into this category, see if you can find some old photos from family or friends. Just make sure you ask their permission to use them.

Vintage style, B&W, and color photos are all allowed. Colorized B&W photos are allowed as well. Photos are not limited to portraits.

Photos can date back however far you want and preferably have an interesting backstory. Tell others when the photo was taken, what the occasion was, who or what is in the photo, and why the photo is important to you.

When voting on a photo, take into account the technological limits that were prevalent during the time the photo was taken. Judge by that, and the backstory of the photo.

Good luck!

Zizounai avatarLevel 16Gold awardTogether award
1 out of 32
75%

July 1917 created by Zizounai

On the left side Claire, my dear maternal grand-mother (1906-2001), Mathilde her mom I never met in the middle (1878-1949), her sister Eliane on the right side (1911-2004). In the frame, my great grand-father François who was prisoner in a German labour camp (1874-1963).

8 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12Hug awardSilver award
2 out of 32
74%

1960, My dad and youngest sister. created by Vibeke

I took this photo in 1960 of my dad and youngest sister. I inherited my love of photography from my dad. Sadly he is no longer with us, but my sister and I are close despite living in different parts of the world. This is from a scanned 6x6cm negative.

13 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16Bronze award
3 out of 32
74%

My mom and her sister, 1942 created by Zizounai

5 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16Heart award
4 out of 32
72%

Me created by Zizounai

The photo was taken in 1960 or 1961. I was at my grand parents in North of France. The strange device on the right side is not a super boomer system, but a gas heater.

10 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
5 out of 32
72%

Italy 1961 created by Vibeke

Taken by me on a holiday in Italy in 1961. 6x6cm transparency. My first real overseas holiday. We left drove Copenhagen to Hamburg where the car went on a train overnight to Munich, while we had a sleeper on the train. Then drove to Lage Garda where we stayed at a small Pension, the food was wonderful. I have loved Italy ever since.

6 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
6 out of 32
70%

Mom created by MyMindsEye

Professional portrait taken sometime in the mid-late 30s. H/S Graduation? Likely a plate camera was used as would have been the photographers tool of choice from that era. Colorization (tinting) was popular for portraiture during this time, though not always accurate. (Her eyes were blue). Mom passed in 2013 @ 96 and is thought of everyday.

8 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
7 out of 32
70%

My dad created by Zizounai

Photo from around 1943, for his solemn communion. He was all his life a confirmed atheist though!

3 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
8 out of 32
69%

Me @ 5 created by MyMindsEye

Taken by my brother who at the time was a staff Photographer for a government agency. He learned his craft in high school, had a darkroom in our garage and did all of his own processing. The camera, I believe, may have been a Graflex Speed Graphic 4x5 Press Camera or similar. Being I was a terror, this may have been a "Mug Shot" ;-)

4 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
9 out of 32
68%

Tuesday Picnic - Spring 1961 created by Vibeke

Finding photos for this contest is difficult, I have so many and looking through old photos brings back so many memories. Some good some sad, especially the ones of people who are no longer here. This photo made me smile, a lovely spring day when I should have been in school and the boys in the photo should have been at work. I was not going to tell anyone, but then I ran into a good friend of my mother's and even more stupid, I processed the film and prints in school. Don't think I got into too much trouble. The photo was taken on my Rollicord. I wonder where they all are now.

6 reactions
Merlin avatarLevel 16
10 out of 32
66%

1931: 90 years 😯 created by Merlin

The BABY we see is my wife's aunt. Irma STILL lives, at 90y, and she is doing very well 🥰 The photo of the family was taken in May 10, 1931. I carefully placed the old photo on an outdoor chair before taking the photo of the photo myself 📷

11 reactions
retired avatarLevel 11
11 out of 32
65%

Hawaiian couple created by retired

Photo taken in the late 1940's in Hawaii, colorized and enhanced by me.

4 reactions
Marleen avatarLevel 12
12 out of 32
65%

The vanity has remained a little longer created by Marleen

I was 4 years old and my mother had made a beautiful light blue dress for me. proud as a peacock I presented them for the photo.

3 reactions
denlig avatarLevel 9
13 out of 32
65%

Mom and me created by denlig

The first photo of me ...

5 reactions
iquraishi avatarLevel 9
14 out of 32
64%

Entry without name created by iquraishi

My uncles took this picture back in 1988 or 1989. I was too young to understand I was modeling :P

11 reactions
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
15 out of 32
64%

Me, 2nd from Left -- 1962 created by Wayne-Cheah

This image was taken by a fellow adventurer with my Brownie Box which was my very first camera. Sadly I lost it in the intervening decades. In this camping trip somewhere in S.E. Asia we were harassed by a family of elephants. If only the smartphone was around then.

3 reactions
photonut avatarLevel 12
16 out of 32
63%

Having a Rest created by photonut

This is a photo of my dad who sadly passed away 19 years ago,this was taken in 1975 when we went to a beach in essex in the uk with my parents,he was tking a nap when i took this,think if i am correct was taken on an instamatic i had at the time. Its good to look back although it does make you fill sad sometimes. One regret i have had is not being as close to my dad as i should have done and asking him about his time in ww2,at the time to busy growing up and going out,its only when you get older do you look back and regret things you did not do,will go of now as i am welling up writing this.

7 reactions
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
17 out of 32
63%

I am tired created by Wayne-Cheah

This scanned image was taken with a Leica M3 on B&W film some decades ago. He was a village blacksmith in a small town somewhere in S. E. Asia. A life-time of blacksmithing shows in every sinew of his body.

7 reactions
retired avatarLevel 11
18 out of 32
63%

Ain't he Adorable? created by retired

Me, it's 1949, and I'm 2 years old. Born on the island of Cres just off the coast of northern Croatia. My mother would put sugar in water to hold the banana curl on top of my head. That outfit made me itch a lot.

3 reactions
Skyangel avatarLevel 15
19 out of 32
63%

Tied the knot created by Skyangel

27 July 1976. Our wedding day. We had changed into our "going away" outfits which I personally sewed. Still together after all these years. 5 more years till our 50th wedding anniversary.

5 reactions
filantrop avatarLevel 8
20 out of 32
62%

My Ilona! created by filantrop

1978 Ráckeve (Hungary)

7 reactions
Marleen avatarLevel 12
21 out of 32
62%

The camel and me created by Marleen

I think 1959. Every year the school photographer came. Then we "were allowed" on a real camel. I don't know where they got it from and how it got to the playground, but hey was quite an event. Notice for a moment how obediently and quietly everyone is standing in line.

9 reactions
kyricom avatarLevel 13
22 out of 32
61%

Great White created by kyricom

My grandfather moved to Longboat Key off the west coast of Florida in the 1930s, hacked out the Mangroves with a machete (with others), and built a small resort. There's still a town on the island there named after him. This is a photo from the late 30s of a Great White shark caught right from the shore by one of my grandfather's workers. Great Whites are extremely rare there now, but back then there was a lot of very large sea life.

2 reactions
filantrop avatarLevel 8
23 out of 32
61%

My Ilona 2 created by filantrop

1961

3 reactions
grasshopper1 avatarLevel 11
24 out of 32
61%

Smile for the camera. created by grasshopper1

Brother and new wife. Korea 1958. Interesting Note. Her grandfather was the last Korean Samurai. Her family defected from north Korea about 1 1/2 years before this pic.

11 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
25 out of 32
60%

Wupatki Nat. Monument, Arizona USA 1981 created by MyMindsEye

On Vacation 1981 Learning to use my new Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR 50mmf1.2 lens. Thousands of photos to follow over the next 10-15 years w/ modest improvements. Much less to think about these days w/ new tech cameras. Site Info: The many settlement sites scattered throughout the monument were built by the Ancient Pueblo People, more specifically the Cohonina, Kayenta Anasazi, and Sinagua. Wupatki was first inhabited around 500 AD. Wupatki, which means "Tall House" in the Hopi language, is a multistory Sinagua pueblo dwelling comprising over 100 rooms and a community room and the northernmost ballcourt ever discovered in North America, creating the largest building site for nearly 50 miles. Nearby secondary structures have also been uncovered, including two kiva-like structures.[6] A major population influx began soon after the eruption of Sunset Crater in the 11th century (between 1040 and 1100), which blanketed the area with volcanic ash, improving agricultural productivity and the soil's ability to retain water. By 1182, approximately 85 to 100 people lived at Wupatki Pueblo, but by 1225, the site was permanently abandoned.

5 reactions
grasshopper1 avatarLevel 11
26 out of 32
60%

Giddy Up created by grasshopper1

Me and buckshot. Circa 1960 Philadelphia...land of the cowboys....lol.

1 reaction
Staaan avatarLevel 20
27 out of 32
60%

Me, having no idea what I am supposed to be created by Staaan

This was taken in the early 80s with a Polaroid

2 reactions
muscarmen avatarLevel 7
28 out of 32
57%

Here comes the cavalry created by muscarmen

2 reactions
muscarmen avatarLevel 7
29 out of 32
55%

Christmas decoration created by muscarmen

I cherish this photo because it was taken the first Christmas after I got married (1988). We still have the baby Jesus and angel statues!

4 reactions
muscarmen avatarLevel 7
30 out of 32
55%

Funeral carriage created by muscarmen

Taken on one of my first holidays in Italy.

2 reactions
muscarmen avatarLevel 7
31 out of 32
54%

Prehistoric remains created by muscarmen

I took this photo in the early 1980s. Today it looks very different.

3 reactions
muscarmen avatarLevel 7
32 out of 32
51%

Favourite pet created by muscarmen

I loved this cat a lot and was devastated when it was run over by a car. At that time I only had a very basic camera as the photo shows.

1 reaction

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