JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
Here's an unexpected and fine detail, found in the 19th century photograph described below:
There's a seldom-used category on this blog concentrating on the concentrated viewing of antique images--that is, using your paper microscope to find the bits and bobs within complex imagery. Sometimes the found landscapes and portraits are purely serendipitous, and other times--mainly in engravings and woodcuts--there are details manufactured by an amused and perhaps bored artist, looking for a little entertainment and fun by burying an unusual vignette or detail in the mass of a large image. Today's example is simply a photograph of the busy Westminster road, Piccadilly, made around 1880-1885--the image is fine enough to withstand some relatively deep probing, even with a 3200 dpi scan. The image as it stands is very attractive, but once you start a strong look at it there's a lot more going on. (This works out even better under a microscope, but I don't have an optical attachment for it for my camera.)
For example, its easy to overlook the street sweepers (at lower right), the pair of them working side-by-side in the midst of the bustling road traffic:
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