I know times were harder but people never are smiling in old photos. Actually they look seriously p.o.'d.
2006-11-21 07:12:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I don't think it was so much that they were unhappy . It was considered inappropriate (or they had bad/missing teeth!). Plus, with the longer photo exposure times (sometimes several minutes), people had to choose a face and pose that they would be able to keep for an extended period of time so that the photo wouldn't blur.
2006-11-21 07:17:17 · answer #1 · answered by Jeniphish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of reasons.
Getting your photograph taken was a rare occurence long ago. If you had you photo taken once or twice in your life time, that was a LOT! So people really didn't KNOW to smile like we all do today.
Also, with a lot of older cameras, a picture sometimes 5 to 10 seconds to get an exposure. So people would have to sit real still for longer periods of time, and it easier to hold a neutral facial expression than a big wide grin.
2006-11-21 07:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lol, you're right, they do looked p.o'd (xD). But the reason why they do this because it's a tradition. They don't know what reaction they should put on the picture, so they try to look normal (which you might see that they are actually really grim). They are really formal, meaning to do that everytime they take a picture. But nowadays, people found out that it's better to smile that frown.
2006-11-21 07:16:42 · answer #3 · answered by roflyounotfunny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I heard is in the old days, the camera took so long to take a picture, people couldn't keep a smile that long.
2006-11-21 07:18:17 · answer #4 · answered by njyecats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because long ago you had to stand perfectly still for a period of time for the camera to catch it. It was much easier to look solemn rather than hold a smile for that long.
2006-11-21 07:37:45 · answer #5 · answered by Jo Jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a ton of old ones, and all the people were sober looking...I guess like you said, they all lived a rough life back then and didnt have all that much to smile about....
2006-11-21 07:16:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no its because the camera wasnt instant like ours are today back then it took a couple mins to take the actual pic so imagine having to hold a smile for like 5 mins beforethe pic was taken. its not that they are unhappy they are just sick of sitting in front of the camera. lol.
2006-11-21 07:16:19 · answer #7 · answered by ~*cRaCkNeSs*~ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed that too, it is like they never heard of smiling not even the kids-- I have no idea
2006-11-21 07:15:49 · answer #8 · answered by Arual 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say cheese wasnt thought of yet
2006-11-21 07:15:55 · answer #9 · answered by Bill Brasky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably had bad teeth and didn't want to smile .
2006-11-21 07:18:32 · answer #10 · answered by Geedebb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋