There may or may not be a method to this madness.

beggars-opera:

beggars-opera:

I got the idea in my head to look up some obviously not postmortem photography to do a field guide of sorts, and the misinformation out there is making me bash my head against the wall

This is literally Lewis Carroll???

Beggars-Opera’s Handy Dandy Field Guide to Victorian Photos of Dead People:

Photography was an important tool in the 19th century to capture images of people who could not afford a formal portrait, and before affordable, portable cameras became a thing, a person may only be photographed after they died. These were shared as mementos with friends and family, and were not seen as creepy because these folks were much more accustomed to death than we are today.

Photography was also a new and arduous process, however, so modern folk often see people looking sickly or uncomfortable and assume that they are dead. This is often not the case. Please consult this list before passing judgement.

Is your person actively in a coffin or lying stiffly on a couch? This person is probably dead.

Is your person a baby with their eyes closed? This person is possibly dead, but watch out, they could also be sleeping. Babies do that.

Is your person cadaverous, but still has some light in their eyes? This person is actively dying and their family brought the photographer in while they still could.

Is this person standing stiffly and awkwardly, with a stand visible in the background? This person is alive and opted to have the photographer give them aid in standing still. Without modern embalming, a stand is not enough to prop up a lifeless body.

Is your person missing a head? This person is alive and had a sense of humor. Mabel paid extra for this. You go, Mabel.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

(via omgthatdress)