Great Photograph of Circus Madness

This is a public domain photograph from the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Color Photographs Collection in the Library of Congress.

As far are great public domain stock images go, this is one of the best. Jack Delano, working for the FSA, captured a carnival barker surrounded by his circus accoutrement. A sign to the left of the podium reads, “See Teddy the Wrestling Bear,” while one above implies that a 618 lb. snake is waiting inside. This is a colorful stock image with great potential. A live pelican also makes an appearance in this photograph.

This photo was taken by Jack Delano, who was working as an agent of the United States government. Because this image was taken by an employee of the federal government, it is in the public domain.

42 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

1. Walden
   03.12.10

   The shot presents an instant set of oddities, perfectly capturing an odd scene of a circus. In the background, colorful signs promote the giant snake up for viewing, and the manager out front (a strange cross between a man on African safari and a bookish scholar) takes a break to drink from a glass bottle. Seemingly out of place, a pelican sits on top of a sign proclaiming “Teddy the Wresting Bear.” The photograph would suggest this is an older scene, especially with the five cent admission into the tent, but the colors are crisp and the image does not have the recognizable blur caused by mid-century cameras with their slower shudder speeds. Like the pelican, it speaks of something amiss. I think perhaps this is a movie scene captured and placed into the green border to give a sense of being old, or perhaps it is even a purposeful tableau set up for the picture to be taken. Overall, the image just seems odd, and I am tempted to spend much more time staring at it in order to figure out just what is trying to be put over on me: just like I would spend time staring at the giant snake to see if it was indeed real.

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2. Luis
   03.12.10

   This photo really is really beautiful by the concept, by the definition and for the details of the image. The clothes since the pants until the hat of the person, the color and the fabrics of the carp, the images of the announcements and the eroded signboard, simply are exquisite. It makes me fell nostalgic when thinking about those old and traditional the 60’s circus where the main goal was to amuse people more than to take their money. The capture of the image is perfect since is not needed to see more to say so much of it. If I was in front of this carnival I would not doubt in entering and to discover that mysteries are waiting for, is so mystical that until a little fear inspires me. I would hope to see a dark scene inside where the shades are the greatest spectators of the spectacle and could wait for clowns with eroded and sad faces. This type of spectacles is pleasant since they helped to unite to the families with a merely traditional spectacle, healthy and funny where the adults amused themselves the same like the children who still could be surprised with beautiful and simple things. This circus madness say more than one thousand words.

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