P3D Re: value of everyday images

[revchas@xxxxxxxx (Charlie Hotchkiss)]

On Fri, 14 Nov 1997 10:50:15 -0700 fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr.
George A. Themelis) writes:

>I would like to add my voice in agreement with Ron Labbe.  That's not 
>true.  There are people who are interested in buying those pictures, 
>especially if they are stereo pictures taken some time ago.  These are
pictures 
>of no interest to museums, no interest to members of the immediate
family of 
>the photographer, but of interest to me, Ron and other collectors.

I've been reading this thread and frequently I have noticed sentiments
like those expressed by Dr. T, above, that the immediate family had no
interest  one's photos.   I don't understand this.  My father was an avid
photographer and left us with many albums and reels of 8mm film.  He
started taking pictures in the mid 1920's and continued until the early
90s.  His photos are family history and a documentation of his times. 
The Worlds Fairs, the wars, nightclubs, and his fellow pioneer pilots are
all there.  Along with my mother and brother and aunts and uncles and
nieces and nephews.  Altogether about four generations of the family.
  I've learned that I am the image of my great great grandfather and,
probably to his chagrin, my nephew Cyan looks just like I did at his age.
 My oldest niece is taking charge of the collection now, and I hope her
kids and their cousins will value it too.  
I don't collect anything.  I have two of everything;  two cameras, two
projectors, two viewers and two holmes -type print viewers, they don't
make most of the stuff anymore so a back-up is sensible. I take pictures
and they mount up, but that is not exactly collecting.  I think  I
understand the urge to collect, but I don't know if the hands of a
collector are the best place for family pictures.  I can't think of a way
to put a price on such things.  Presumably a collector wants to see an
appreciation of value, so I don't imagine he or she would be willing to
pay much for my family photos or anybody elses.  Our library wouldn't pay
anything for them, but they would catalog them and try to preserve them
for future researchers.  If the time comes that no one in the family is
interested in them, I hope they would be donated to some institution
where others would get a chance to see them rather than to become chattel
for collectors to sell back and forth, lost to those who might be
interested in the times they represent.  As Mary Ann Sell wrote, "In a
museum collection, thousands of people can enjoy the images that it took
your time and effort to create.  They will not just be looked at once or
twice then put away in a closet."
I'm still learning to be a good stereo photographer.  My family and
friends are very good about watching my slide shows and profess to enjoy
them.  I have done theme shows to present to local organizations, to good
effect.
The younger members of the family are fascinated with the whole thing and
frequently borrow a camera for their own shooting.  When my time comes to
shuffle off I think there will be a number of family members who would
rather have my pictures than a few bucks.
I mean a few dollars, It's deer season down here and I don't want to get
anyone confused.

Charlie Hotchkiss



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