Sunday, October 18, 2009

Cooper Chapters - My dad "Ike"


This is one rare time when my dad visited North Dakota with us. Part of the picture didn't scan in because it was so white at the top, with the man standing closest to my dad, and it showed him pitching a soft ball. But with the poor quality, my scanner just didn't pick that part of the picture up. The fellow out in the back field with his hands on his knees, is my cousin "Bunty". Uncle Herb is pitching, and I can't identify the other person. I don't know the year this was taken, but must have been in the late 40's or early 50's, as my dad looks so young. But then again, it could be earlier, before I was born. I was born in 1947, and he and my mother were married after he got back from WWII. I don't know why he wasn't playing - he had been a really good athlete in high school.

What do you think of his hair cut? A white shirt and dress pants and shoes. Pretty dapper! I think he wore a white shirt a lot. And the little "box camera" sitting there on the ground. I think this was the case for the camera, and I remember using the camera as a child learning to take pictures. This case was brown, kind of a card board with a cloth covering. The camera itself was like a box too, but right now I can't remember exactly how it worked. I know I've seen some like it in antique stores; maybe I should buy the next one I see. Boy, hasn't photography come a long way????

In checking the picture out closer, I don't see where they had any bases made up, or maybe they were just pitching the ball and practice hitting. I remember in later years when us little kids were big enough to play, that we all played and ran bases. I think that would be the only place I've ever played ball. I am just no good at softball. My eyes can't follow the ball; let alone my hitting it with a bat!


Thanks Connie (Far Side of Fifty) for suggestion of putting a darker paper behind picture before scanning. It worked great. Now when I scan and print to give pictures to the kids, I'll know what to do.

4 comments:

Leah said...

I like these posts that give us some insight to our ancestors....Interesting picture - he looks very handsome!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Hey, Great insight you are leaving for the girls!! Okay, If you put a dark piece of paper behind the photos then the whole thing will scan. Then you can crop out the colored paper part! I thought that the box might be a radio..that he was sitting listening to a ball game or something.
He is very handsome, they did wear lots of white shirts back then..I love the socks..and they look like they match! :)

City girl turned Country Girl said...

Very interesting that camera!!! Wow! Love the old pictures where everything seems so vintage!

g said...

Boy...you hit the nail on the head, photography has come SO FAR. I remember the box camera, looking down from the top of the camera, trying to find the subject; with the shutter "lever" being on the side.
Look at those arms--hmm, I guess none of us are what we used to be. Young!