One of the Earliest Known Photos of Guys Sitting Around and Drinking Beer (Circa 1845)

[Recursion]

http://www.openculture.com/2013/09/earliest-known-photos-of-guys-drinking-beer.html

Several years ago, Flickr introduced a series of nineteenth century photos from the National Galleries of Scotland. There are 7 sets of photos, showcasing 107 images in total. One set features shots of “Great Scots,” like the famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson. Another set highlights the photographic work of David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, who, between 1843 and 1848, took some of the earliest portraits of people living their lives in Scotland. In the picture above (view it in a larger format here), we see David Octavius Hill himself enjoying a beer in Edinburgh with James Ballantine and Dr. George Bell.

It is generally accepted that “Boulevard du Temple”, a daguerreotype made by Louis Daguerre in 1838, was the earliest photograph to show people in any form. But in Daguerre’s famous image, people were hardly the focus. Rather, they were almost accidental parts of the background. By contrast, the Met Museum will tell you, Hill and Adamson produced in the 1840s “the first substantial body of self-consciously artistic work using the newly invented medium of photography.” Two young girls together. An elderly man playing the harp. A photographer and his friends sitting down for a beer. They’re all intimate scenes from mid-nineteenth century Scottish life.

[Tobin S.]

1. Amazing. Almost 170 years ago.

And they are smiling which is unusual for early photos.

[bluesbassman]

3. Well they were drinking beer!

Usually puts a smile on my face!

Cool photo.

[Dash87]

10. Probably because this looks like an informal, impromptu photo.

The formal photo with poses always seemed to have people with stonefaces

[pinboy3niner]

2. Proving once again that the more things change, the more they stay the same

That pic could have been me and my buddies on a recent night.

[B Calm]

4. I tried and failed to out drink two Scottish merchant marines once, never again!

[SwissTony]

5. Scots drink beer? I never knew!

my mother used to use whisky to relieve teething pains in all her 5 kids.

I belong to Glasgow
Dear old Glasgow town
Well what's the matter with Glasgow
For it's goin' 'roon and 'roon
I'm only a common old working chap
As anyone here can see
But when I get a couple of drinks on a Saturday
Glasgow belongs to me...

[KurtNYC]

6. Guy in the middle is on a cell phone

guy behind him is trying to listen in.

[BlueJazz]

8. "Good evening sir..how are you?..um..I'm from Scot-on-the-lake insurance company. Would you like....

[BlueJazz]

7. In the larger size you can see, on the side of the table, a boy/man playing a flute and flags ....

...on each side.

[malthaussen]

9. That is an impressive exposure.

They're in a pub, the light level must be execrable. How long would they have had to stay still to get such a crisp exposure?

-- Mal

[Locut0s]

11. Wow fascinating!...

I love the history of photography. Such a clear window onto a slice of life moment over 150 year ago! The glasses they are using to drink beer from are interesting looking, they look more like champagne glasses of today.

[UtahLib]

12. Thank you so much

for introducing me to that site. I am of Scottish ancestry and interested in everything I can glean concerning Scotland. Genealogical work by family members inspired me to visit Scotland twice and I plan to return within the next year because I find it to be such a magical and mystical country. If possible, I would spend my remaining years exploring Scotland.

Again, thank you.

[Bucky]

13. People in the 19th C seemed to have really greasy hair

I sposed it's cause they mostly used hair gel to keep it from frizzing out in the days before daily shampooing.