Digging For Vintage Photo Gold

The Thrill Of Victory + The Agony Of Defeat

Aug 03, 2024

While much of the world is watching The Olympics (or glitching about it online), I’ve been scouring the World Wide Web for new sources of vintage photos…and boy did I win a few gold medals this week!

So many thrills, so many victories. A few agonies. A few defeats too.

Being a digital creator and curator isn’t everybody’s idea of a good time, but it is mine. It’s also what I do for a living, running a Shop that features vintage photos (and more), a Substack that’s becoming increasingly photo-focused, and a YouTube channel filled with montages, mostly created using a mix of contemporary and vintage photos.

So when I say I LOVE photo research, I LOVE PHOTO RESEARCH!

There's a unique thrill that comes with discovering a cache of vintage photos online. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s part art curation and part history excavation.

This past week, I struck gold when I found an incredible online archive. I’ve spent the past two days downloading and sorting through these visual treasures. And still have a few more hours to go before I’m done.

To say this vintage photo hunt has been enlightening and exhilarating would be an understatement. But it’s also been challenging, so I'd like to share some helpful tips for anyone looking to embark on a similar journey.

THERE’S GOLD IN THEM THERE INTERWEBS!

Uncovering vintage photos is like stepping into a time machine. Each image offers a glimpse into a different era, capturing moments that tell stories of bygone days.

As I delved deeper into the archive, I found myself lost in the charm and nostalgia of each photograph. This journey was akin to being a digital archaeologist, piecing together fragments of history through the lens of a camera.

It felt like going west during the Gold Rush, hoping to strike it rich with each click. However, this adventure was not without its hurdles.

TIPS FOR CURATING VINTAGE PHOTOS

THE “RIGHT” FILE FORMAT While most experts will tell you to prioritize high-quality formats like TIFF or PNG, I’m here to tell you…if you don’t know the difference, stick with the highest-quality, highest-resolution JPG you can find. Your hard drive (or cloud storage) will thank you.
DIGITAL “NEGATIVES” Once you have the best file available, treat it like you would a photo negative: Don’t crop, resize, or save over the original. Only make crops and edits to duplicates.
FILE NAMES + CAPTIONS Take file names and captions with a grain of salt. These archives have been curated by different individuals over the years, leading to all kinds of inaccuracies. Do your best, but never fear: There’s some stranger on the internet who will point out whatever you don’t know or don’t have time to find.
DUPLICATES HAPPEN Be ready to encounter a lot of duplicates. It's common to find the same photo saved under different names or in various resolutions. Personally, I use iPhoto to identify duplicates. It’s far from perfect, but so are we.
GET ORGANIZED + SORTED I recommend developing a system for sorting photos early on. Nothing fancy. Whatever works for you. Organize by date, location, subject matter, or any other criteria that makes sense to you. This sorting will save you time and effort in the long run. I rename filenames (slightly) before adding photos to iPhoto/Photos and use Albums and Captions whenever possible…though I’m far from consistent about either.
GIVING CREDIT + KEEPING TRACK: Whenever possible (and wherever available), do your best to maintain the photos’ relevant subject(s), title, and who made/took the work. At a minimum. Less information is usually better, unless you want to use the photos as a basis for historical essays and such. Sadly, too many photos are missing this information and isn’t always available anywhere else.
GOOGLE ISN’T THE ONLY OPTION If needed, utilize reverse image search tools to uncover more about the photos you find. These tools can help you identify the context, origins, and related images that may not be immediately apparent.
ON WASCALLY WABBIT HOLES Knowing that every picture is worth at least 1K words, it's easy to fall down rabbit holes during photo research. One image can lead you to countless related topics and tangents. While this can be fascinating, try to stay focused on your main goals to avoid getting overwhelmed.
BALANCE ART AND HISTORY For me, striking the right balance between appreciating the artistic quality of the photos and understanding their historical significance is key. Each photo is a work of art in itself, but many are more than just a portrait or snapshot. A few are historical documents that deserve to be shared with others.

MY JOURNEY'S HIGHLIGHTS

So far in my deep dive, I unearthed some remarkable images.

From sports photography of the early 20th century to formal portraits from the 1800s, each photo added a new layer to my understanding of history.

A selection of my vintage photographic gold can be enjoyed below.

CONNECTING PAST AND PRESENT

As I continue sifting and sorting through the archive, I find myself creating connections between the past and the present.

Captured in the blink of an eye, most are far more than ephemera and relics of the past; they provide visual clues and proof to our shared human heritage and history, reminding us of where we come from and how we’ve evolved.

For me, finding and sorting vintage photos online is a labor of love. It requires patience, organization, and a discerning eye, but the rewards are priceless.

Whether photo hunting is your thing or not, I hope you enjoy some of my gold below.

Thanks for reading!
Clint