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I wanted to say that I really like that photograph, the eyes are hidden, he's on his horse in a simple jacket, and for all I know he is Headest Most Honcho of Mexico.  He has a spanish face.  Trees, a horse.  He seems comfortable.  The fold in the top left gives it a fractured sense, and I like that--I was at The National Gallery yesterday, an exhibition of german stained glass.  Most is religious, but the...hey...I searched for the image but couldn't find it.  It's a couple in bed, a pair of slippers by the bed (in a different panel, coloured using a different technique, the lead bent into intriguing shapes--below the fold there's an ochre stain), the photo has orche and black and white and greys.  I was thinking: that's a really great picture, Gringo's done a great job capturing the image in its faded state...heh...Let's hope those waters don't flood a second time!

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Fri Dec 14th, 2007 at 09:01:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thank you for the kind comments.  Each old photograph like this one carries with it someone's life story and as you have pointed out, every aspect of the face and surroundings have a message.  From what I have gathered from persons who remembered this gentleman, he used to ride his horse into town. In this "backward" part of Mexico none of the older inhabitants are far from their ranches and horses, even today. My wife's, aunt, now in her late 70s, remembers "Don Salvador" riding past her house in the middle of town.  I know several of his descendants and they are still ranchers today.  Totally removed from the recent oil boom economy.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 10:59:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
This reminds me of a wonderful book I read recently, called The Book of Chameleons by Jose Eduardo Agualusa.

It is narrated by a Gecko and the main character he discusses makes up histories/identities for people. These histories based around real events with real people as the 'new' parents and relatives, photos to back it up as well as dates and places.  But your photos remind me of that book, how I imagined the old photos to be that he gave to his clients in constructing their new selves.

Wonderful.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 11:19:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Excellent comment.  I recently read somewhere about unscrupulous for-hire genealogists that do that sort of thing. Apparently the motive is money and reputation.  Usually their "impressed" clients are unaware that the family histories they have been provided are only partly factual. The impressive parts are just "documented" lies.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 09:24:10 PM EST
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