Somewhere in Germany in 1956, my father took this slide.
I remember he hired a driver to take us around Germany so I am presuming this is where it was taken.
But, honestly, it may be Switzerland as well. He loved Switzerland and could have rented a car there, too.
What I remember about the German segment is the driver himself who talked about the war damage which believe it or not, even at 11 years of age, I was highly interested in.
I wrote about this interest in World War II a while back in recalling my first flight at the age of 8. You can see a photo of my Dad when he was in his seventies and read the reminiscence HERE.
It is an unexpected joy to update my father’s images to this digital world and to write his name in the lower right hand corner.
Leave it to me to find yet another way to get all wobbly.
I inherited his love of technology but not his innate competence. I’ve had to persevere and often have made some laugh out loud attempts to problem solve the inevitable tech-gone-wrong days.
But, ways of seeing? I think we’ve got a straight out swap-thing goin’ on.
It can only be DNA that accounts for my photo series called, “Behind the Wheel”. Click HERE to see the portfolio of 65 images I call “Driver’s Ed for Photographers”.
Apparently, things in the road appeal to fathers and daughters.
Sweet.
But, I’ll tell you this.
Swiss Chard would never-ever-in- a–gazillion-million-years been on his “To Photograph” list nor his shopping list. His love of all things Swiss did not extend to produce. Nothing green ever crossed his plate.
Veggies are my way of seeing– and, now, eating.
Evolution at its organic best here at SFAR.
©Pat Coakley 2010
PHOTOGRAPHY CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION
**Select images from this blog and my wider archive are available for sale and download at www.patcoakley.com
I can’t see the slide!
P.S. The driver’s name was Henri–it had to be Switzerland, right?
Oh, Al, you can’t see it?? Try pressing the “reload” button on the screen. Yes, Henri sounds right!! Maybe he drove us through Switzerland, too. I just remember him talking about the war damage as we went through the cities as well as smaller towns. I wore your bracelet today to lunch with Tina!!! She loved it, too!
I can see it now, and is it ever a beauty. I cannot believe his eye for angles and texture. You got the artist’s eye from him, and your ear for language from Gram, I think.
I am enjoying this project, Al! I have one coming up of your Dad standing by the car in a tie and jacket. Tourist garb sure has changed!
Nice shot and it’s looks like we all now know where you got your photogrphic eye from.
If I was asked where the shot was taken I would’ve said Ireland. Not that I’ve been there but it just looks that way to me.
On a side note, I was born in 1956.
Greetings, Professor! Let’s hear it for 1956! We lost the Andrea Doria but we got Razzbuffnik! I have been in Ireland and I can see why you would have guessed it! But, I think my niece is right…it’s probably Switzerland.
What a wonderful photo. I would have enjoyed the experience of being surrounded by those sheep on the road… the smell, the sounds. And then after reading about your father’s disdain for swiss chard and other vegetables, I wonder if he was imagining dinner on the hoof as they made their way past.
Don, rib lamb chops were one of his favorites! I never thought of that!
what a treasure. btw, i love the photo of your dad in his seventies and yes that must be where you got your gorgeous hair. and the idea of the photograph with the car, amazing that you both have that perspective!
i love the sheep spilling all over the road, its not something you see every day, and the sky, so like your expressive skies. actually the sky kind of shook me deeply. the idea that something so fluid could be captured and preserved for so many years and still be as real and fresh as todays sky.
Leave it to you, Kathi, to be able to articulate what shakes me deeply about these slides. They are as real as today but oh so long ago. Kills me, I tell ya’. Sometimes I scan with a tissue box next to the scanner