circa 1800's
2007-07-05 08:09:24 · 9 answers · asked by feeddaneed 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
For two reasons: the first is cultural: remeber, we are a bit before the age of VIctorian ethicks and some of its caractericreistics had already appeared and so a little bit of "stiff upper lip" was considered very seemigly for a man especially form the upper echelons of the society from 1800 onwards. The second is techical: photography (sometimes in this period called also "daggerography"* )was in his infancy and a posing for a photography could take much more time than today and so a stiff expression was for the photograhers merely the more convenient pose for a long-time posing
*daggerrography= has nothing to do with daggers, simply took that name from one of the first photographers in the same manner as in during the 18th century the art of making a profile was called after one of its more renowed practioneners
2007-07-05 08:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by chrisvoulg1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this is true or not, but a photography student friend told me once that no one smiled because of two reasons...
number one it took a long time to get a photo. Not like today, point and shoot...you had to stay still until the plate reached exposure.
Number two, because people then believed that a photograph was a piece of family history, and it was a serious business for them to take the picture.
2007-07-05 08:17:40 · answer #2 · answered by aidan402 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think camera's in those days had fast shutter speeds. The people had to sit very still and motionless for a few seconds while the pic was being exposed. Expressions like smiles were hard to hold in one place for the lenght of time required to expose the pic!!
2007-07-05 08:13:59 · answer #3 · answered by zanthus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was because getting a photograph was like sitting for a painting. Only professional photographers had cameras.
People only sat for photographs if they were(A)rich, and(B)only for important events.
It's not like now where EVERYONE has a camera...
Vandevere
2007-07-05 08:14:57 · answer #4 · answered by Ven D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old photos were taken by manually removing the lens cover, timing the amount of time it was off and replacing it on the lens. They had to hold still so long for the picture to transfer to the plate that holding a smile was difficult. They had to use the most relaxed pose they could.
jinx Aidan. LOL
2007-07-05 08:17:40 · answer #5 · answered by oplsjames 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because the film had to be exposed longer. Sometimes, people had to hold a pose for as long as 30 minutes.
2007-07-05 08:13:09 · answer #6 · answered by germaine_87313 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
because their corsets were too tight.
But seriously, i dont know but I hadnt noticed it til now. Maybe they thought it was a serious event having a picture done
2007-07-05 08:12:41 · answer #7 · answered by loudpurplehair 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chris, for someone who knows so much about photography, you should invest in some good spelling lessons.
2007-07-05 10:07:28 · answer #8 · answered by firey_cowgirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
THE EXPOSURE WAS TO LONG, AND ALSO IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LIKENESS OF YOU, AND YOU DO NOT GO AROUND WITH A SMILE IN YOUR FACE ALL TIME.
2007-07-05 12:02:16 · answer #9 · answered by bigonegrande 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They hadn't figured out how to fake it yet. : )
2007-07-05 08:12:42 · answer #10 · answered by nita5267 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋