While watching the Ken Burns' documentary on Shakers in the United States, I noticed that nobody in any of their photographs was smiling. It suddenly occured to me that almost nobody (as far as I have seen) smiled in any photographs that were taken "back in the day" (ie pre-20th century). So, for any historians out there: why is this so? When did it become socially acceptable (almost mandatory) to smile during photos or portraits?
2007-02-27 07:27:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
In the 19th century, taking a photo plate took exposures of up to 5 minutes or sometimes even more. The subject had to stand absolutely still for this entire time. Almost no one could maintain a smile for 5 whole minutes - hence, they didn't smile!
Smiling in photos became common when film became sensitive enough to cope with exposures of a fraction of a second. In the 1920s and 1930s people started being able to smile in photos, and from then on it became common.
Nothing to do with social trends, only technology!
2007-02-27 07:33:33 · answer #1 · answered by Saint Bee 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first recorded smile captured in a photograph was in 1921. Photo taken by James Doolally of his mother and father. Reportedly taken over looking a valley in Salem , Mass. Rumor has it the smile that is on Sara Doolally lips was from a comment made my Reginald Doolally. The remark was said to be off color and in referring to the genealogy of the Head Loan officer of Liberty Banking and Land Loan.
2007-02-27 16:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by Casca 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When they stopped taking hours to pose for!
It isn't about social acceptableness as those same people (probably not Shakers, but others) would smile for portraits all over the place.
The older photographs had to be exposed for a long time and you weren't able to move or it would be blurry so people didn't smile... try smiling for an hour and see how you do.
2007-02-27 15:32:46 · answer #3 · answered by ashley b 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I believe it started in the 1930s when photography became more accessible and cheaper. Cameras became more portable and people took them on holiday and used them for informal portraits where people were more likely to smile.
Before that, people went to a studio or hired a photographer to have a formal portrait taken and were not supposed to smile.
Quicker exposures also helped, as other posters have pointed out.
2007-02-27 17:01:56 · answer #4 · answered by squeaky guinea pig 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not only did the time involved with taking a picture affect people smiling, but there was another reason as well...
People didn't exactly have the best oral hygiene back "in the day". They were missing teeth and the teeth they may have had were, in some cases, rotting.
2007-02-27 16:40:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
becauz before it used to take a long time, so the person getting their photo taken had to be still, now ppl not only smile becuz it takes less time, but they also want to look good and cheerful in a photo. DONT U SMILE FOR A PHOTO?????
say CHEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
2007-02-27 15:42:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it happened after prohibition was repelled that put some smiles on peoples faces.
http://www.theind.com/photos/20050601-feature-0101.jpg
2007-02-27 15:32:58 · answer #7 · answered by MikeDot3s 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋