The Fishing Trip, Vintage Photo Contest
This picture dates back to 1937, before Vietnam was invaded by the Japonese, the beginning of a war state that would last more than 30 years.It may have been taken in Cap Saint Jacques, a fashionable resort were a mixed society - meaning the French and the locals - fled the heat from Saigon.
Amongst his numerous children - he finally had 11 - my grandfather had picked that day my 2 years old daddy, with his nanny, for his first fishing lesson.
I never knew my Vietnamese grandfather who died in 1975, since my father, after completing his studies in France and marrying my French mother in the 50's, never went back to Vietnam.
According to my father's telling, he had a very bad temper, spoiled by the use of opium, and spent his time hunting, fishing and collecting orchids. A long gone way of living.
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post a commentvery inspiring!
great picture. great story.
What a wonderful photo, the history is so intriguing. It looks like a still from a film.
I am enjoying these so much - what a wonderful idea!
What a great photo, with a great story.
I really "adore" this one and Valeria Frias ! It's such a so great insight this vintage photo contest !!!Sunny Side
I finally had to write and say how much I am enjoying this series. What a wonderful, wonderful idea! I always look forward to your photos, and these images, with their heartfelt commmentary, are an extra special treat. Thanks for bringing them to us.
Clara
This is a wonderful photo. I like the way this family looks so cool but comfortable enough to squat and fish. I think I will do this test next time I'm in the dressing room. :) The story about the opium and the father turned away with dark sunglasses makes me wonder where is thoughts are. Thanks for keeping these stories circulating and taking us back to these forgotten places.
Besides all the beauty within these vintage pictures, what is really moving is all the love with which they are sent
Oh, these vintage photos are just so, so splendid! And a reminder, too, to seek out our heritage and roots? One thing that strikes me is that many are of - not sure of the politically correct term - people of colour, or with a foreign background? People a bit outside the box? Perhaps because being on the margin and already a bit "different" it's easier to be even more - not "outlandish", but perhaps - just more "so", and trendsetting? Or is it a strong sense of family or group belonging that gives this marvellous confidence and presence? (seems to be a problem with sending this - shall try again)
he had a very bad temper, spoiled by the use of opium, and spent his time hunting, fishing and collecting orchids
Beautiful. Like a character from a novel.
What an incredible photo, it's so rare to have a picture around that time. This brings back so many memories of those hot summer days in Vietnam for me.
This picture is absolutely gorgeous. It is indeed a moment lost in time. Vietnam is no longer the country depicted.
this contest is such a fantastic idea!! i feel it reflects the heart of what you do here at the sartorialist. i'm getting so much out of this, i'm wondering if the celine book is enough of a prize... Thank you so much to those who contributed and Scott for keeping up the great eye. i can't wait to see more.
~Julie
Such an intriguing yet poignant story. Pretty incredible. "A long gone way of living" is a line that will stick with me for a while.
What a meaningful story....again, I love these vintage photos....thankn you! smiles.
WOW what an amazing image. I LOVE vintage images.
Beautiful story :)
i love the white trouser suit he is wearing sans shoes... the hat is equally amazing. The history that goes along with the image is fascinating and truly moving, its amazing how lifestyles, places and generations change over time.
I love the story behind that picture. Where did you find all these? I can never seem to find them in my photo albumS ):
WANICULLEN
www.wani-djdanger.blogspot.com
www.tableaupanorama.blogspot.com
i love how "fluid" he looks.
and what an odd dichotomy:
barefoot but with a homburg.
looks like a great jacket.
wish i could spend my days collecting orchids!
what I really like about this contest is that it combines fashion with history and both of them are so interesting and yeah I just love to see old photos from everywhere in the world.
Dear Scott,
Your blog is truly formidable, elegant and inspirational!
I wish to ask your advice concerning leather gloves, which brand to you recommend? I'm searching for the highest quality of ladies gloves.
Thank you!
These vintage photos are truly amazing. There's such simplicity and elegance in their natural ways and beauty.
This is my favorite so far.
1. The body language of her grandfather is beautiful - look at his feet!
2. His hat and sunglasses are very cool.
3. But most of all I love the fact that this contestant gives us a not so idyllic story, but therefore much more personal. The way she tells it shows the importance of this moment captured.
Despite his personal problems he took his son for one of his passions left: fishing. He shares this with him. A beautiful memory despite the drama I would say.
Thank you.
Wow, now that's fishing in style!.. Incredible story too.
Amazing photo!
I WON!! I WON!!!! Thanks soooooo much!!
Just by virture of being able to have a small window into the lives of people and cultures that I normally would not have access to...interestingly......they seem very familiar.....very human.
Great/Scott the blog is really evolving in a tremendous way.........We all win.
(what was the prize again)???
Gladman
This is beautiful, really enjoying these and they're really touching.
tweet tweet tweet
x
This is typical Vietnamese sitting!
That picture got me relaxed for a second.
Scott- love how you are not only choosing to post beautiful and alluring photographs, but those that are so diverse in locality. From Vietnam to Cuba to Texas, it's so refreshing to see that even in the distant past, style transcended place and time.
I love his hat and I like that they are fishing. These action photos are wonderful and the story behind them is as well. xo
www.FashionSnag.com
I forgot something to say. Like someone already noticed this is a story for a novel.
For example his bad temper which was spoiled by the use of opium. His hobbies hunting, fishing...but then the delicate thing about it which gives shows the personality of the true person is the collecting of the orchids.
Beautiful beautiful. I already read it twice. And I had to publish a second comment because I had to tell this.
Thank you again
Scott, you should do a fashionable babies photo thing next. That would be a huge hit. Look at how cute that kid is fishing.
This is my most favourite photo and story so far!
Lovely photo
xx
cayliek.blogspot.com
This photo contest is wonderful.
wow - amazing capture of everyday life!
makes me realise how important family photos are!!
& that I need to get my act together and stop downloading all my images and start printing them for photo albums again!!
This photo intrigues me.. the chosen attire for the action, goes way beyond any tangible sense of cool these days. I'm in love with it.
there is a lovelly baby =)
all of the vintage photos demonstrate style as a supporting character, the star is the person, the time, the place, the story. Style complements and supports this story, but it functions to set the stage for the humanity within and without.
My favorite so far. A really interesting story comes through the photo even without the words. Very relaxed, but very serious at the same time.
this is my favourite vintage photo!
shuyi
when i was a child, my favorite thing to do was look at my dad's photo album of ww2 pacific theater photos. i always had to ask permissiion and dad would supervise and answer a little girls' innocent questions. like "why were those planes crashing into your ship", and "what's a hula girl? or, I love your sailor suit!" i just couldn't believe my dad that mowed the lawn, did something so fiercly brave, and, well, went way out-of-town!
scott, that photo album did for me what these photos are doing for the world right here on your amazing site. providing a lifelong fascination with history, travel and how cultures connect. many entrents so far, mention wars, cross-cultural connections...like the french occupation of vietnam (as was the norm of most european countries of the era). the former ussr,and what a story this one...so poignantly put.
many young citizens of the usa,probably because of the biggness of our country, don't often know about this history of the world and how it affected peoples hearts, lives and yes, fashions. And, although perhaps unintentional, this is by far the best possible way to teach history...through heartwarming, and often wrenching moving narratives provided by loved ones of real peoples lives and circumstances around the world.
My God Scott/Garance, with this interactive project... and these fascinating, heartfelt personal storeies and comments/photos of peoples lives and cultural history from this not so far flung world, (so far, cuba, argentina, algeirs, ussr, the wild west, california, vietnam, france) and you've only just begun! I honestly think world peace might just break out....because out of the little "street fashion site that could", peoples curiosity, minds and hearts were opened to a whole new world. Magic! annabella
ps....please keep the commentaries coming....would love to read about the outerwear photos...if there were any.
love the story!!! and the picture!!!
http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/
These photographs people are sending in (along with the stories) are wonderful. I'm so glad you decided to do this...there's a Sepia Saturday (or vice versa) group on the web who may be sending in some pix. Always intriguing.
I love this shot. I love them all. Good luck choosing!
Sidney Foulkes, the grandfather, looks amazing.
nghe buon the! I'm also vietnamese, but I can't put myself in his position. many vietnamese dont want to go back to vietnam...
this photo is gorgeous.
Love this picture, in many different ways
It is so rare because in this era usually the people would look directly into the lens whenever they took pictures, the way the characters in this photo ignored the camera shaped the photo's stillness but naturally lively. It really captured a moment that has been lost, a spirit of the past.
The look of the nanny, in her light, Southern Indochina summer clothes, the boys with his easy going manner, and the man, seriously focus on his activity,with his typical Vietnamese body, however he does not look odd in this seemly formal and serious suit, But his barefoot tells everything about the weather,his habit and his identity. it is absolutely a graceful touch.
The lifestyle that has been gone!I think that this family belonged to a bourgeois society, its men were confused between Confucius beliefs + French Influence that shape them a somber and thoughtful manner. It was so poignant yet poetic. I feel sad that Vietnam is no longer the country depicted in this picture.
One question, is the information given historically correct? Vietnam was occupied by the Japanese only for a short while in 1940. After that came the re-invasion of the French followed by the American war last 30 years?
It was a great photo. Even before fishing really the bonding moments of the family. It is fun and exciting to do. Now days, going to a fishing charter are an adventure for many people. It’s really a nice thing to do especially during weekends.