The Boat Lullabies

This presents an interesting study in color vs. b&w photography. In black and white, these photos would have been evocative, nostalgic, poignant. In color--if these colors can be called colors--these photos are eerily depressing. In black and white, I would have thought, "What a colorful bunch of ladies kicking up their heals at a reunion!" In color, I think, "How drab everything was back then."
--Jeannie

Jeannie,
Really? I have the opposite reaction. I really love the colors in old color photography. While black and white does have its charm, there is just something so beautiful and vital about the saturated colors in photos from this era.
!-Nolan

Nolan, I love your perspective! Thank you for your response. I will try to see these colors as "vital" and "saturated"--I must admit, these photos are haunting. I'm sure I'm just projecting, perhaps subconsciously remembering something from my childhood (a homemade dress made for me by my grandmother and entered in a Grange fair sewing contest does come to mind as I type this)--but gosh, these colors take me to a sad place!
--Jeannie

there were the same colors in (west) germany. the pictures of my mother look like that. the same hopeless fear and tragedy in their faces. in my mind the color frames this time of social rigor perfect. black and white would have made it romantic. try the photoshop test ...
-- thorsten

I'd love to find out any information about these women. I'm a member of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity, and I'm curious as to if these are pictures from way back when we had "female brothers" haha. They do have the same colors.

Any info would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Tyler