So Put On Your Sunnies And Find The Ultimate Memory Collection Miscellany Here at Pulp.
That feeling when it’s both brand new and old school. Retro and modern. For both Grandpa and Newborn. But what is it? It’s the always-in-style photo album. When your iCloud storage story isn’t giving a happy ending (i.e. “storage is full” energy), there are options. But first, in authentic Pulp Blog Style, cast aside your sun spectacles, pop into your cossie, slap on the sunscreen and let’s bellyflop into the history of the photo album. The first splash is surprisingly nerdy…
Wait, Are You Telling Me Photo Albums Began as Research Journals?
Yuppers, the OG way to look at images will awaken your inner alpha geek. You see, the beginnings of it started in the 1830s and 40s, when inventors collated diaries of their research -including photographs- to document their experiments. It was an efficient way to put all their ideas and observations in one place in an organized way. Begone, adjectives! Visual thinkers and learners unite! From here there was a groovy transition to photographs as trading cards.
Hmm, awkward Segue. So How Are Photographs as Trading Cards Relevant Here?
In 1854, a while after the scientists had appropriated the “album” concept, a French man with a long name, André- Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, invented the ‘carte de visite’ (‘visit card’). These were photographs the size of a visiting card which were mounted on thick paper. They are described -incredibly - as an early form of social media because they were commonly traded between friends and family as a form of appreciation and connection. This format was cheap and accessible to the broad public (i.e. the mainstream), and became so popular that the practice became somewhat viral back in the day. There was also a particular interest in collecting and trading cards with pictures of “prominent persons” (celebrities!) Ahem, now we’re in danger of cross-pollinating our histories … Apologies. Tracing the historic journey of collectible cards will need to wait for another day.
Hang On A Sec, What About Family Photos?
OK, yes, let’s focus on the family stuff. The aforementioned cards were also used to collect pictures of your family and friends. Because, sometimes, as we all know, families are vast and confusing. Thus, the trading card idea was useful to keep track of who's who in the Family Tree as well as being a permanent material reminder of their existence. Especially if they had ‘ kicked the bucket’, so to speak. With full respect, of course.
The Marie Kondo-style addition of the neat'n'tidy album to keep the pictures super organised was a level-up game changer and became a major part of how photographs were experienced. The earliest albums featured thick black pages (to more beautifully offset the photographs), alongside thinner translucent rice-paper pages to keep the dust and fingerprints off the precious images.
This was an elegant, gentle and visceral encounter with images. Without the need for opposable thumb scrolling. No shade. Just sayin’ … So how can we get back to the “good ol’ days” and take in images at a slower velocity in the same way? Hint: you can buy them here at Pulp!!
SemiKolon: Your Answer to the Question ‘But What are the Best Photo Albums?’
Image Lovers read up. Small and medium photo albums from Semikolon are classically enticing. If anyone out there is working towards reducing screen time and connecting with a more gentle practice of viewing photographs, this is your sign. Print your gorgeous photos, arrange collections according to your own unique creativity. Give your collection themes, and place them lovingly in an album with Semikolon Corners. The Classic Medium Finestra in Moss, Forest, Azzuro and Burgundy - 80 pages for your best pics - would be a perfect choice. The Mini Mucho Spiral Bound album is also lovely (and features the vintage-style black pages). A smaller version is also available in 9 colourways.
They are an obviously excellent way to shift from a swiping/scrolling mentality to a page-turning one. Brains and eyes celebrate! Document experiments, stockpile game cards, assemble photos of family and friends and gather your artwork. Collect everything and stick it all in a high-quality photo album.
History plunge complete. Here's a towel and some aloe vera.