Photographer and vintage photo collector Giuseppe Savini went around Bologna, Italy finding the spots where his collection of vintage photos were taken. It amazes me that he actually found these spots based on what was in the photos alone. Not only did it probably take him a lot of time and energy- but also he attention to detail in finding these locations is like detective work 101.

I love old photos- knowing that other people stood where you stood and enjoyed the same things you did-just in a different time is kinda eerie and cool all at the same time. I mean- I know it is common sense- people live and die and time goes on. But when you actually see proof of it- the reality of it hits me hard.

The sad thing to me is that in his flicker account he wrote,

“Questa è una serie di foto che ho fatto a Bologna.
Pensavo fosse una buona idea…poi mi hanno detto che un lavoro simile era già stato fatto…e allora ho abbandonato tutto.”

“This is a series of photos I took in Bologna.
I thought it was a good idea … then I was told that similar work had already been done … and then I gave up everything.”

II know the title to this post is a little harsh but it is sad to think that people stop themselves from doing certain things that inspire them because people have heard or know that there is something similar out there that has already been done. But what is funny to me is that EVERYTHING has already been done so it is pointless to just stop based on this fact. Ideas, songs, movies, art…it has all been done- BUT the big difference is that it hasn’t… really; meaning that everyone has different quirks, tastes, abilities…just because something similar out there exists doesn’t mean you should give up what you are inspired to do.

I wish that Savini would continue his work- he is bringing life back to these old photos- photos that we may have never seen unless he acted upon taking the new images. Yes, this concept has already been done before- but not with these photos.

Just like with hair- we have already seen things done over and over again. But what makes it unique is what each individual brings to the table- the color, the cut, the lighting, the photography, the feeling you get when you look at something, the lyrics to a song we feel we have heard before…

I guess these pictures and the quote by Savini made me want to not only share something old mixed with something new- but to also ask that people don’t give up on what inspires them just because they are being held back by what has already been done- these photos are a good representation and metaphor for that as well..

…mixing old with new and getting something unique out of it.