My mother was the grand master of cutting people's heads off in photographs. So I could have shown lots of examples of her photographic work. But then I remembered an instructional leaflet that our company had published years ago. This is what I've decided to post even though it's really embarrassing.
We've published lots of how to do it books during the years and that always involved doing cover photographs. We usually hired models for the covers. But somehow, this particular time we were in a hurry, the photographer didn't have time to wait, no models were available. I don't remember exactly why, but Barbara, Patty (an employee) and I had to step in that day and model these lace decorated sweatshirts (yes, believe it or not this was a craze back in the 80s).
None of us wanted to model. We whined and complained about it. Our solution was to:
We just merely chopped off our heads:
You just never know where chopping off heads will lead!
For more posts along these same lines see Sepia Saturday.
I really like that headless cover. I think it is more successful without the heads.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when headless ladies were in fashion in France. And after seeing the guillotine I thought you were going to show us the real thing. But you gave it a nice twist instead for which I am grateful!
ReplyDeleteWell, that's using your head! Good job. I remember those sweatshirts, and I probably made at least one.
ReplyDeleteChina, huh? That was using your head!
ReplyDeleteIt does focus our attention on the lace instead of the faces.
ReplyDelete"How to get ahead by losing your head" or "How I lost my head and went to China". A great tale.
ReplyDeleteits really striking and how great was it you got a free trip. Did you ever find the next craze?
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed how different bloggers interpret the photo prompt and your post had fascinating links from your mother's photographic "skills", to the historic portraits and to the lace collar models - it ceertainly put the focus on the lace, and we were not distracted by any attractive face above! A very enjoyable read.
ReplyDeleteThere is a picture going round Facebook of a guillotine with a comment about royals going topless!
ReplyDeleteIt was a stroke of genius to cut off your heads; the result is very effective.
I think it was a brilliant idea, as a way to focus on the lace. And a trip to China--sounds like a pretty good deal.
ReplyDeleteI remember those lace collars and had a small one that I wore with a dress in the 80s! Can't imagine lace on a sweatshirt though.
ReplyDeleteDid You Know That The Guillotine was invented not in France but in my hometown of Halifax , England? {wikipedia} .As the wikipedia page describes ,people in Yorkshire could have their heads chopped off for stealing cloth......which in a roundabout & macabre way ties in with your published photographs!
ReplyDeleteThat was a very neat solution. Decapitation so that the observer concentrated on the product. It obviously paid off in your case.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! And I like the sweatshirt collars. I do believe I have a relative who would go nuts for this.
ReplyDeleteI wish the one time I ended up in a book my head would have been cut off. I was shown showing how to change a flat tire. I thought my boss was only going to shoot my hands so I was smiling at him. The whole picture went into the textbook and I could only imagine what students said when they came to me. I'm sure I was the butt of many jokes. With luck none of these books exist anymore. Your chance for fame was lovely, mine was a nightmare.
That is one funny story to connect to a photo prompt! It's amazing how every weekend Alan's photo choice inspires such a kaleidoscope of family stories, personal memories, history lessons, AND always the best humor.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! And I don't think there's any need to be embarressed. Your leaflet looks great!
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, the white one looks familiar.
ReplyDeleteI think my mom wore something like that, back in the days...
:)~
HUGZ