Although it tends to be tedious, time consuming and repetitive, one element I truly love about photography is copywork.
Basically I have a stand that mounts a camera pointed straight down, which I use to photograph, digitize and archive old images. It is exceptionally faster than scanning, with very little sacrifice in quality. This winter I’ve been digitizing images from my grandma’s archive (on my dad’s side of the family).
I never met my grandpa, or saw many photos of him before this project. So it’s been a blessing to get a window into the world of my ancestors. As well as a blast to see the changes and similarities around Alaska since the 1950s.
Both my dad’s parents served during WWII. My grandpa was stationed at Ladd Army Airfield in Fairbanks, Alaska, where they moved and started a potato farm after the war.
I’ll be posting highlights here going forward, loosely grouped by themes.
My grandma, Julie Wood (center), and grandpa, Russel Wood (right), at the potato conveyor belt, likely in the 1960s. I assume the man on the left is some sort of inspector. After WWII they moved to Fairbanks , Alaska to start a potato farm.
The young Wood Family poses for a picture in the cabbage patch, circa 1965.
Hilling potatoes during a sunny hot day in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Circa 1960 vegetable lineup on the rear of end of a station wagon from Fairbanks, Alaska. Note the enormity of the produce — turnips, kohlrabi, cabbage, celery and carrots. Interior Alaska harbors exceptional growing conditions for a few months each year, with near 24-hour daylight.