Clues Inside Photos

Have you found some photos that have no family names or places recorded on the back?  One time I received a whole family album with not one name in it. 

If you have a group of photos that appear to have been taken in the same general location, you might be able to string them together to come up with a place.   Get out your magnifying glass and look closely or scan the photo and enlarge it. 

1.  Can you spot a street sign or address?

2.  Is there a business name?

3.  Does the vegetation appear to be pine forests or palm trees?  Can you spot a mountain or desert?

4.  Is the home style saltbox, colonial, or Victorian?

5.  Can you date the clothing, hairstyles, hats, shoes?

6.  Do you see electric light bulbs or gas lamps?

7.  Are there cars in the photo?  Can you date them?

8.  Is the photo black and white or color?  Color prints began in the 1940s.

9.  Some photos have the photographer’s name and town stamped on the back. 

Once you have a list of clues, try a Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Earth (download required) to see if you can use the clues to determine the location. 

One caution:  With modern technology, grandma’s  picture may have been superimposed into a family photo taken AFTER her death.  

Now that you’ve had a little primer, analyze the photos on this blog and see if you can determine where I’ve been recently.  Double click on the photos to see them enlarged.   

Did you figure it out?

Did you guess Newport Beach, California?  You are right!  

I grew up in Newport.   It was fun to go home again.  Bruce and I even pedaled our bikes to the Balboa Ferry, took the ferry to Balboa Island, and devoured a delicious frozen banana dipped in chocolate.   

What clues have you found in photos of your ancestors?