I had a hard time finding portraits that were also candid. Throughout the archive, most photos containing a person involved adults and some sense of rigidity within the posing. While the photo on the left was most likely posed in a way, the expressions and personalities of the children are still very present, which made the photo somewhat transcendent in time. I think sometimes people from the past can feel so different from who people are now, but little kids for the most part have always just been little kids. Ignorant to the societal, and political norms and constraints that manipulate the adults presentations of self. I particularly loved the puzzlement on their faces. To me, it demonstrates a lack of familiarity with what is occurring. There is not much one can see of their surroundings besides the tiles on the stairs but context allows us to know that to have a photographer present most likely involved some sort of financial security or wealth. At the same time however, I would assume the photo was taken for sentimental purposes, for the eyes of family members and no one else. The framing and lines of the photo reminds me of something I would take or photos my dad took of me as a toddler. It’s refreshing that the photos are within a space that is likely their home and there is no substantial attempt at displays of opulence or luxury, and the kid’s expressions give the impression that this was not a common occurrence. Perhaps the intention of the photo is what allowed this to be such a free photo, as there is no point in performing for a nonexistent audience (though this logic does not always result in a lack of manipulated/intentional presentation).
I also took particular notice at the way the light of the background and their attire enhances the children’s skin tone but not in a manner that washes them out at all, which I found particularly of note considering how there was such a significant lack of knowledge and technology at the time for photographing dark skin. My immediate thought would be that these photos are from the 1950s or earlier, but the photo technique according to the archive was used from the 60s-80s in the Yucatan.
