This lovely little photo was in the Phelan family's album but I have no idea who the people are but they look like they're having fun
There are a few clues. The two men are wearing the uniform of the AIF, the Australian army. There is a headland on the horizon. The rowboat is made of wood and I can make out the letters X, H and W on the stern. The women are wearing hats with wide brims. It's probable that the photo was taken in England when my husband's grandfather, Roy Phelan, was on leave during World War 1.
I chose this photo in response to Sepia Saturday's theme of 'role reversal' or 'Leap Year' because the women are doing the rowing. There are only two oars visible but hopefully there are four so they don't row in circles.
Do you think they're actually rowing, or just posing for the photo??
ReplyDeleteMaybe they had to row just on one side to get in the proper orientation for the photo.
ReplyDeleteGood idea for the reversal theme. Oars in the middle certainly balanced the photo if not the boat.
ReplyDeleteGood sleuthing about place. Perhaps those young women were giving the men a ride, or perhaps not...and yes, they wouldn't want to go in circles very long.
ReplyDeleteOne assumes that the photographer was in another boat, and the camera appears to have been very low down near the water. I thought "J.H.W." - does that make more sense?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Brett!! How did I get that wrong?
DeleteMy reaction was that the camera was on the jetty. WWI - would you risk taking your precious camera out in a rowing boat ? Whichever it is there is a lovely story behind that photo. Two Aussies on an outing with a couple of English lassies.
DeleteMy reaction was that the camera was on the jetty. WWI - would you risk taking your precious camera out in a rowing boat ? Whichever it is there is a lovely story behind that photo. Two Aussies on an outing with a couple of English lassies.
DeleteTricky, tricky! Good imaginative take on the theme! Perhaps one of the gals had been rowing on the other side & simply pulled her oar across for the picture? Isn't it funny how we all try to solve the problems of each others' posts. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful photo made almost ethereal by the faded contrast. I don't think switching oars(wo)men in midstream would have been a good idea. Perhaps the next photo on that roll of film shows all four in the water!
ReplyDeleteHi Lorraine - great photo. I see the letters J H and W on the stern. I wonder if its the initials of the proprietor of some boat shed.
ReplyDeleteThis is fun, it does appear the women are rowing, but then who knows it could have been a staged photo too. Whatever the story they are surely out having a fun time.
ReplyDeleteStaged or not - it’s a great photo and they look very content with their role reversal.
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