Have you ever looked at an old photograph and wondered where it was taken? What something is in a picture? Or whose face it is staring back at you?
What’s That Picture? is a site for anyone who wants hints, tips and practical help to find out where, what, or who is featured in an old picture.
Here you’ll find Recent Discoveries, new Mysteries, and coming soon some helpful hints and tips to help you identify and date your own photographs. There’s also the In Focus section, shining a spotlight on wonderful vintage images from around the world.
Recent posts
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-05-17
- Old photo shopping in Amsterdam. Nov much to be found. Picked up a nice Ambrotype with good provenance. But €5 for a tatty CdV? I think not! #
- The nameless faces of Amsterdam – framed photos in an antiques dealer's display case #1 http://t.co/mlHzYxivPm #
- The nameless faces of Amsterdam – framed photos in an antique dealer's display case #2 http://t.co/nR7MISSEiJ #
- found this tentatively named 1850s ambrotype in Amsterdam. Boer Ritter connections http://t.co/I8OuyZKFSi #
- found this tentatively named 1850s ambrotype in Amsterdam. Boer Ritter connections http://t.co/PrHkv8fE0m #
- sample of 3D printed photograph from @thecuratorship made from stereo photo – fascinating object http://t.co/z7xHMUvmfg #
- .@KewDC have you seen this image featuring JD Hooker and Asa Gray? Wonderful! http://t.co/eVIcrGjWhR #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-05-10
- .@PhotoFramed @guardian lovely example – a unique process with a captivating charm. I own just the one #autochrome – http://t.co/pmNwdNQWrQ in reply to PhotoFramed #
- .@amandarandall5 @JayneShrimpton @PhotoFramed @guardian The Rothschild autochromes are also wonderful http://t.co/I0SJcqcfp8 in reply to amandarandall5 #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-05-03
- A bit of vintage photo forensics … hidden writing on a card mount revealed by changing the lighting http://t.co/IVds31F58a #
- New photo: Horses in the stable block of an estate, ca 1890: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
This seems a… http://t.co/TZv3j8ZF5W #
- New photo: Fine portrait of a horse by F Humphrey, Brockford, Suffolk: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
- New photo: Vintage photograph forensics …: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Looking at the original imag… http://t.co/oOD1KIiQlS #
- Excellent info on tracing car registration marks via @Chirpy10 – thank you. http://t.co/ASq9fftTcf and http://t.co/txZiWLWK5h #
- Old photographs of Kew's museums discovered. More sought to help research the history of these fascinating places http://t.co/lmoHbHkzGf #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-04-26
- Stunning 1949 picture and perfect Street View overlay in Haarlem, Holland via @historypin http://t.co/sN81RCqMXp #
- Really excited to see 'The Story of Kew Gardens in Photographs' book is out, and only £15 http://t.co/F0ZnVeDoEb HT @KewDC #
- New photo: Damn, just fancied myself a bit of grilled duck!: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Couldn't res… http://t.co/O175apC4f0 #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-04-19
- Inspired by the #GLAMWiki conference I have released >100 vintage images under a CC0 license #wikipedia #experiment http://t.co/rYsjRwbXrq #
- Stunning #Flickr set of early UK railway images "Pre-Grouping Locos" http://t.co/Q8O9b7PVVo #
- Great video about the @historypin app in use in London, Ontario (skip to 1 min) http://t.co/AMPOB1fm6A – if you haven't tried it you should #
- Love the timeline interface for searching the @dpla collections e.g. here's a search for 'daguerre' & '1839' http://t.co/EkBte0NxAN #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-04-12
- FOUND – 125 years of National Geographic, explored through previously unpublished photographs http://t.co/NCWfdhd9RG #
- Nice new website: Visualising China – Bringing Chinese history to life http://t.co/xNuZ75Gbfr #
- Exhibition: Dress to Impress. Fashion in early photography. Annan, Scotland from 22 June http://t.co/NfJrn3po1l cc @jayneshrimpton #
- New website: South East Archive of Seaside Photography http://t.co/rM9i3t1Xc0 #
- Some of the world’s oldest photography collection (from @EastmanHouse) is now on Google Art Project http://t.co/2xfRKsiLim #
- .@margotnote "attended meeting of the Manuscript Society … met some famous archivists" 1953 http://t.co/iqDTsOLzzP #
- New photo: "attended meeting of the Manuscript Society … met some famous archivists": whatsthatpicture poste… http://t.co/R35PXx2Zwk #
- New photo: Postcard: William L Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: whatsthatpicture posted a … http://t.co/Iy85fXWNbK #
- There are now 157 themed galleries on http://t.co/ThGBOGzk3p (as well as all sorts of opther great stuff) http://t.co/tedFgkL97G #
- Interested to hear the views of @jayneshrimpton and others on these distinctive ladies' working uniforms http://t.co/cYNwNSIt29 #
- .@typejunky thanks for the RT and cc to @sommecourt – do you think they may be war-related? http://t.co/cYNwNSIt29 in reply to typejunky #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-04-05
- .@elafarrell @JayneShrimpton If you want some examples of how well Flickr can work solving mysteries check out e.g. http://t.co/evnaacTRBo in reply to elafarrell #
- .@elafarrell @JayneShrimpton and loads more examples in the aptly named 'Astonishing power of Flickr' group http://t.co/YcmP1a8F5x in reply to elafarrell #
- .@elafarrell well, @JayneShrimpton is definitely your person for British Working Dress, she's written a book – http://t.co/GTFABeCXJI in reply to elafarrell #
- New photo: Vroolijk Paaschfeest: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Happy Easter!
An early Dutch/Belgian Eas… http://t.co/zmOd7dx9aq # - Family picnic at The Rodney, Easter Monday 1 April 1907 #otdih http://t.co/auI4WULA1Y #
- New photo: Balloon sculpture by Olaf Lipro: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
When I was working at Kew Gar… http://t.co/3GCvgPaWEI #
- New photo: Balloon sculpture by Olaf Lipro: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
When I was working at Kew Gar… http://t.co/KC8ek5jGI1 #
- New photo: Balloon sculpture by Olaf Lipro: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
When I was working at Kew Gar… http://t.co/tWMoZ3ppuy #
- I do love these weekly photo dating case studies from Gary Clark at PhotoTree – http://t.co/qOLvZyLx46 #
- Stepping back in time in the Palm House at Kew Gardens thanks to @historypin and Google Street View http://t.co/CebGEfjH5f #
- It seems they were complaining even in the days before it cost just a penny to get into @kewgardens http://t.co/RyfX6g32fJ #
- .@Podgeosaurus here's a picture of Kew's Corsican pine before the plane crashed into it, from an early postcard http://t.co/pFIg5GFJAh in reply to Podgeosaurus #
- RT @JayneShrimpton: Amazing! #WW1 images found by @thephotopalace inside old camera – http://t.co/HYQvSJUu9u.. via @PhotoRepair #
- .@thephotopalace Anton, I loved the article about discovering images in that stereo camera. Bet you had fun rummaging through all that kit! #
- .@thephotopalace you said you had trouble viewing negatives. If you have a digital camera, try this trick http://t.co/1Vsm6Xn8ac #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-03-29
- Another great identification trail on this #Flickr pic – location *and* possibly photographer http://t.co/fT8DOVmK65 #
- I really can't believe that it has taken me until now to get along to the Photographs Gallery at @v_and_a http://t.co/eHCauwOw6x #
- Revolutionary Voices – such a great project from @PhotoDetective. I've pledge. Will you help make the film a reality? http://t.co/SBZw8nHTrQ #
- .@KewDC @Podgeosaurus @CamDigLib Do we know if photographs, like the one mentioned at http://t.co/8KRPpffJ2F are still in existance? in reply to Podgeosaurus #
- .@kewgardens @heritagelottery excellent news about Temperate House. Here is that same view just after it was opened http://t.co/BhzdMlHudF in reply to kewgardens #
- .@KewDC here's that 1860s image of the Palm House I mentioned. I wonder who the gents are? http://t.co/J6Kp745xNp cc @BillJBaker in reply to KewDC #
- New photo: Inside the Palm House, Kew Gardens, 1860s – stereoview: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Who sa… http://t.co/y280ZAbsei #
- New photo: Inside the Palm House, Kew Gardens, 1860s – stereoview (detail): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/EifrtxB6TF # - New photo: Inside the Palm House, Kew Gardens, 1860s – stereoview: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Who sa… http://t.co/pT8LPMfsEM #
- You can simulate 3D by 'wiggling' old stereoviews – this example gives a nice demonstration http://t.co/mscdT7O07v #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-03-22
- New photo: Viewing glass plate negatives: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
This is actually a digitally ma… http://t.co/EXGOFdk7iG #
- New photo: Two negatives do make a positive!: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Using a cameraphone to view… http://t.co/75PgaMGGj7 #
Weekly twitter digest: 2013-03-15
- Any handwriting experts out there care to have a go at this mystery, taken in Colombo, Ceylon, 7 Sept 1889 http://t.co/2R2WbaNvP2 #
- Take a step back to the 1840s (yes, '40s) with these early calotype negatives from @univofstandrews http://t.co/AXhFAoTZxv #
- Another mystery inscription. Who is this Scottish professor? http://t.co/vpYBavMJbw #
- Unknown portrait of Scottish soldier by W L H Skeen, Colombo, Ceylon, from mystery album http://t.co/45rXt82ap2 #
- Sometimes your Daguerreotype boyfriend might be a Daguerreotype girlfriend. Interesting info about women in Civil War http://t.co/9vv3nllmwg #
- Anyone expert on identifying Indian temples/mosques? http://t.co/N5jv5jIKYt #
- Some great old images relating to the history of @I_W_M (also click on 'Origins of IWM' top-left) http://t.co/PCKzeKbRH0 #
