Then and Now: Gale Spring

I've long been interested in postcards of local scenes. I have some of Syracuse, though my concentration is on the Oneida Community, Kenwood, Sherrill and Oneida, scenes of my youth and a decade in mid-life. 

The best postcards, and the most expensive, are real photographs. Often only published and sold in limited editions, they are becoming rarer and dearer. I once had my hands on a photo postcard of a border collie on a tightrope. The dealer wanted $50 and this was 10 years ago. I felt that was just too much. I regret that decision. 

Easier to find are hand tinted cards. These started out as photographs, they have a painterly quality which can be quite beautiful and they sometimes have interesting details.  

Today I begin a project of posting park scenes in Syracuse and modern photos of the same scene. I have discovered that the greater challenge than finding the right spot to stand is finding the right lens. I believe the photographers also used step ladders on occasion.