History Archives - Shadows and Light

Video: Family Portrait Snapshot from Late 1920s, and Boy Wearing Lucky Lindy Aviator Cap

Fine art photographer discusses a vernacular family portrait snapshot from late 1920s or early 1930s, which shows three generations of family with a young boy wearing his "Lucky Lindy" aviator cap

Black and White Photographs of an Abandoned Small-Town Motel

Join fine art photographer Keith Dotson on an impromptu visit to an abandoned 1950s motel designed to look like an English village.

Photo and History of the Preston-Crockett House in Southwestern Virginia

Photo and history of the endangered Preston-Crockett House at Seven Mile Ford on I-81 in Virginia

Three Men and a Garden: About an Antique Gelatin Silver Portrait

In this video, fine art photographer Keith Dotson examines a nice antique gelatin silver photograph from 1913

Illustrated Reference List of Logos for Historic Architectural Ironworks Companies

A reference list with photographs of logos from the many ironwork foundries that shaped the look of American main street storefronts in the late 1800s and early 1900s This blog …

Okaton and Cottonwood: A Photographic Visit to Two South Dakota ‘Ghost Towns’

Join fine art photographer Keith Dotson on a visit to two South Dakota "ghost towns" at Okaton and Cottonwood

Flipping through an Anonymous Family Photo Album from 1942

The Litle Tramp: I love this great snapshot of a little boy wearing a Charlie Chaplin costume -- even the makeup!

Vintage Negatives from Tulsa Found in Antique Shop

Any guesses as to the dates of these images? I love to dig through piles of old photographs at antique malls and estate sales. In this case, I found several …

Does this Antique Photo Show the Passaic River Flood of 1903?

Let’s research this 1903 photograph to see what we can learn Taken Oct. 12, 1903 I recently acquired this sepia-toned print mounted on a gray card. The condition isn’t great. …