- City: Unknown
- State: Unknown
- Country: United States
- Source: Bodin Collection
- Approx. Date: 1917
- Photographer: Unknown
Wearing a simple, white dress, an elderly woman poses in front of a lush garden in Cape Porpoise, Maine. She faces slightly towards her right with a timid smile, yet also with a tremendous sparkle in her eyes. Both of her hands are curled into a fist, and she stands firmly with the utmost posture; her pose reflects the serious nature and refinement of the old woman. And yet, despite her seriousness, the woman's gentle countenance sends a message of peace and positivity to her audience. She stands in the lawn of a luscious garden, and the rich, overgrown grasses slightly reach past the hem of her dress. Behind her is a dense thicket of trees, with the sky peaking through its dark cluster of leaves. Judging by the shadows of the trees and the delicate glow of the sky, the photograph appears to have been taken around the early hours of the morning.
Portrait photography began to change drastically in the early 1900s as technology started to improve. The first portable camera was finally developed, making it easier for photographers to travel and take photographs from a wide range of locations. Also, while older photographs required longer processing times, the development of more modern, faster cameras allowed subjects to strike more diverse and comfortable poses. Instead of choosing a stiff pose that one was able to hold for a long time, people began to express themselves in a more playful and fun manner.
From the collection of Fred Bodin of Gloucester MA. Fred was a long time resident and well-known photographer of Gloucester and had one of the best private collections of New England nautical photographs in private hands. Fred was a photojournalist having graduated with this degree from Syracuse University and worked for Yankee Magazine. Fred passed away in 2016 and HIP purchased his collection from his estate.