African, American and Autralasian Animals

This a plate from a great book I have called "The World’s Inhabitants or Mankind, Animals and Plants" by G.T. Bettany. M.A. 800 Illustrations. 1889. It is a very interesting book with many images that turn up in various collages.

Google to digitise ancient Italian books

Dante's Divine Comedy will be among the ancient works available online. From the BBC's website

Jimmie Graham Photos 2 & 3 Years

More photo gems... What a great toy!

Slow Exposure Turkey Dinner

I love the transparent image of this guy in front of this huge turkey. Made me smile.

Recent Photo Finds

I came across these interesting photos while going through some old albums. I love the image of the two guys sitting on the Model-T's bumper.

People don't write like this anymore!

Antique Doll Hand

I received an amazing present today - this cracked antique doll's hand. It will be perfect to use in one of the palmistry collages.

Happy Valentines Day!

Silent Film, Winter, Vulcan Alberta, 1950's

Here is a short 16mm film shot by my wife's grandfather in Vulcan Alberta sometime in the mid 50's. There is no sound. We have others we digitized, I will post more soon.

Antique Canadian Hockey Team Photograph

I found this wonderful image in a suitcase. I have scanned it from a small negative, 2-1/4" square. I wish I knew where in Canada it was taken. I love what the kids are wearing.

The Serpentine, London - Postcard from 1907

Such a strange postcard. It has been coloured using solid silver ink. I really like this effect of adding floods of colour on top of an image. Gold leaf would be interesting too.

The Brother Quay Animation - From The Street of Crocodiles

Amazing animation! From 1986. I love their aesthetic. Probably where my love of old doll heads comes from.

Anna May Wong Cigarette Card - 1929

A very interesting card from a series of 48 cigarette cards, "shots from films". Godfrey Phillips Ltd. and Associated Companies. Nice hat!

New - Queen of Hearts Collages

Here is a new collage idea I have been working with based on the face cards in a pack of playing cards. I have begun the series with the Queen of Hearts. The second Queen I added in a border of sorts and changed the upside down fork into a knife. I also thinks the knife and fork look better not cut off.

Pioneer Photographs

What can I say about these incredible Photographs? Amazing finds indeed. I am working on a collage of this portrait as a Jack in a playing card. I'll post updates on this later...

Gold Panning Horse Train

This beautifully faded image of horses was found in a very old album from early last century. It's  from a sequence of photos documenting the search for gold. This photograph is like gold to me.

Beautiful examples of vintage photograph card backs

These examples of Victorian photograph card backs are so beautiful. I love them! The possibilities are endless. I look for cards that have a history to tell. Cards that are burnt, or faded, written on or have incredible logos and typography very much appeal to me.

Vatican Passport from 1833

Here is another Vatican passport from my collection. Front and back. Dated around 1833.

Glass Plate Montage

I found this photograph of my wife's father when he was a baby. I thought it looked very creepy and would be appropriate combined with an image of a glass plate negative.

Photo Montages from trip to France

Antique Doll Heads

I have acquired a few old doll's heads. The rougher looking the better for telling a story. Here are some from my collection. The collage Madonna has a couple of dolls included which relate so well to the antique photograph of the child.

Vatican Passport from 1837

I bought this amazing document in Florence. A Vatican passport from the time of Pope Gregory XVI (1765 – 1846). I have used a portion of this in the collage Dr. Henry Landor. The reverse side is equally as interesting with all the stamps and writing.

Sailors

Here are a couple more photographs from my Livingston collection. Check out the guy's camera.

Fishing Flies

Here is a page out of an old fishing manual. I love the rusted out staple holes.

Cafe

Glass Plate Images

Blast Off Photo Montage

My father took photos in the 60's of various space flights on television. Here is a simple montage using one of his photographs.

Indian Head Ephemera Collage

Here is another example of a collage using an interesting old photograph along with another old receipt, this one from 1911.

1920's Motorbike Photograph and Ephemera Collage

Another great image from the collection of negatives. You can see the photographer's shadow! And the photograph used in a collage called A.W. Sherwood, based on an old lumber receipt from 1914.

Model T Double Exposure

I was given a box of old B&W negatives by an antique dealer friend of mine. It is just a fantastic collection. The photos tell of a man who works on a steam ship, travels to various American ports and comes to Vancouver. Later, in there are photos of him and a woman in a small cabin up the coast with a dog. Amazing! In that collection was this double exposure of two women in a Model T.