Details

Main Street, Du Quoin, Illinois, 1963
Photograph by Al Kennedy

The detail in old photographs is amazing sometimes. This picture, taken by Al Kennedy in my backyard in 1963, was printed from a 4 X 5 negative. My dad (standing, far right) had just built the swimming pool for campers who attended his Egyptian Music Camp. At least, that was his excuse. When I look at this photo, I don't really notice the main subject - swimmers posing for the camera. What I see are wonderful details: the Coke machine we had in our carport (also, allegedly, for campers), the Motorola radio on the patio table, an ashtray with my father's pipes, the slip-on "tennis shoes" my mom is wearing, two children walking down the sidewalk in front of our house. (Who are they?) And I remember the way my dad would stand when he was talking. It's all there. 1963. For more photos and information about Egyptian Music Camp, join the Egyptian Music Camp page on facebook.