Monday 23 December 2013

Aren't you just the Cutest Thing..


The title of most adorable photograph in my collection must surely go to this image of a little blonde girl with her dog and two puppies. Perhaps one of the more unusual elements of this photograph is the range of expressions that have been captured in the exposure.

From the cheeky, smile-like expression of the mother dog, with her tongue hanging out & the puzzled look on the little girls face:


To the contented puppy, and the other who cannot stifle a big yawn (having your portrait taking is obviously a tiring business!)



The photograph was taken in San Jose, California by Alonzo Gardner Rifenburg. A record of Alonzo in California's voting register of 1896 (probably a simmlar period in time to when this photograph was taken) provides a fascinating decription of the photographer:

Occupation: Photographer, 
Age: 49, 
Height: 5 ft 7 1/4 inches,  
Colour of Hair: Gray, 
Colour of Eyes: Hazel


San Jose in 1875


Sources:

Alonzo Gardner Rifenburg in (California State Library, California History Section;) Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290.