F r e s h ®
The Victorians - 5
Posted by Michael Fresh (Chester, United Kingdom) on 30 July 2011 in Documentary & Street and Portfolio.
Paul at Despite Straight Lines mentioned the wooden huts used to bring the 'Ladies' to the waters edge. A transport facility to hide the women from men's eyes even though they were covered from head to toe.
My book entitled, Looe in Cornwall a photographic tour, is on sale now.
Wild Mustang Photography from Carlisle, Massachusetts, United States
A beautiful capture of a fine image! Great info too!!!!
30 Jul 2011 5:12am
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
How cool is that? I love this series. Bravo, Mike!
30 Jul 2011 5:20am
@Steve Rice: Thanks Steve for the comment.
CElliottUK from Reading, United Kingdom
Those bathing machines really were something else!
30 Jul 2011 5:33am
Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom
Would be great to re-visit these places and try take the same shot today. I wonder if The Beach Hotel is still there and the tea-rooms further along ? I see from Google that the pier from which this shot is taken is still (partly) there !
30 Jul 2011 10:02am
Christine from Duns, United Kingdom
Brilliant, the huts are amazing, some quite far into the water
30 Jul 2011 10:35am
Marleen from Doesburg, Netherlands
Fascinating series Michael! So many details to enjoy:-)
Great how you managed to show these scenes in this quality on my screen!
30 Jul 2011 10:56am
Anne from 新加坡, Singapore
Great and amazing details..very interesting nice to see the Victorian era..beautiful capture !!
30 Jul 2011 11:38am
Pavan Kaul from Mumbai, India
A beautiful image...painterly with the lovely tones and treatment!
30 Jul 2011 5:39pm
DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES from United Kingdom
Now that's what I'm talking about Mike, that's just the most fascinating and fantastic frame harking back to the days of decency and modesty of the flesh. Families at the sea side on a big adventure that was the highlight of the summer season for them, those carriages pulled by horeses or strong men to the waters edge and the female occupants entering the icy water with the minimum of view from manly eyes on those white pale limbs covered by enormously lengthy bathing costumes and bathing hats.
This is my fave so far, an absolute gem of a frame and what a priceless memory. A brilliant series, absolutely amazing to look back on those days that seem such a lifetime away from the society that we now live within where morals have gone to the wall and taboos no longer exist. I wonder if we will turn full circle one day like fashion itself......
30 Jul 2011 6:21pm
Dokmateo from Spain
Excellent series...a very approving job you just made here. Thanks for sharing. thumbs up!
30 Jul 2011 10:47pm
@Dokmateo: gracias.. :)
Laurie from Prescott, United States
Each one of these pictures I have thought was my favorite, but this one is absolutely priceless. How did we get from there to here, giving up so much - modesty, joy in the simple pleasures. Wonderful picture, Mike. Thank you again and again for sharing these.
30 Jul 2011 11:34pm
@Laurie: I am so glad that you are enjoying these nostalgic pictures....!
Phil David Morris 2011 from Saskatoon, Toronto, Canada
These photos are masterpieces, each and every one, Michael. One thing I always find so amazing
with pictures of the very early 20th Century, a 4 story building almost becomes a skyscraper of
their generation, always looking massive where nowadays has to be almost 30 stories to qualify !
Beautiful photos of the grand hotels on the beach front, and the interesting bath houses on the
water with wheels. Every place like this became a beach, and the people knew how to promenade
down the streets in their Sunday finery. I built up a nice collection of early 20th Century postcards,
when I was still in my 20's and have cherished them for what they were. Series Extraordinaire.
31 Jul 2011 2:57am
@Phil David Morris 2011: I agree Phil, masterpieces indeed. But as I've already mentioned I cannot take any credit for these wonderful pictures, I can only share them with you. And it is true that people saved their best clothes for Sunday, as if to say - look at us how fine we are. These day's it's shorts and T-shirts for everyone, everyday.
