Your views on date and ages please

[ScouseBoy]

Why have none of them got necks showing?

They have got their heads stuck through holes in  a photographers prop.

[JustLooking]

If you zoom in on this photo...the girl's head is pixelated where as the other heads aren't...this leads me to believe that her head as been replaced and   resized to fit the body...Just my opinion...For what it's worth.

Nice work Jim...she seems to fit in better now 

Carol

Agree with Carol - it's very obvious

This at about 300%

JL

[maidmarion]

Hi
I must admit I did think all the heads looked kind of wrong but at least I've been proved partially correct on this one!

[kath davis]

Well - what can I say?  I take an hour out in the winter sunshine and you all pull my lovely family to pieces.  But how interesting.   I am now looking for a family where the eldest has a pixelated head - should be easy to spot! would that be under "lunatic, idiot or imbecile column" on the census form?
Seriously though, thank you to everyone. I do agree about the head - it is an original photo, only seen the light of day a few times in the last 100 years - the last time to have a scan! I had just assumed they were using head supports, as they do look a little un-natural.  I shall be looking at other photos a little more closely in future - I can't think this is the only time a head has been superimposed. It must have been very difficult to do, presumably they would have to work with the negatives?
The ageing process could be useful, trouble is I have looked at these photos so many times, they all look familiar.
Again thanks to all for an interesting discussion
Kath

[Nick29]

I notice that the photographer on the 1891 census described his occupation as 'photographer and card cutter'.

I wonder if this could involve some 'cut and paste' work of the old-fashioned variety ? 

[Nick29]

If you zoom in on this photo...the girl's head is pixelated where as the other heads aren't...this leads me to believe that her head as been replaced and   resized to fit the body...Just my opinion...For what it's worth.

Nice work Jim...she seems to fit in better now 

Carol

I don't think pixels had been invented in 1891, had they ?   

[ScouseBoy]

Please compare this photo with other photographs of children. I am sure other photos will display more neck.

[jim1]

The 2 older boys are wearing Eton collars which came to the top of the neck.
The next one is wearing a Jolly Tar where the front came to the lower neck
but he has his head tilted forward.The baby is wearing a frilly collar which
came up to the top of the neck.
The oldest girl is wearing a mantle which sat on the shoulders & therefore
came to the lower neck which as you can see doesn't in this.
So everything looks normal except the oldest child.

I am now looking for a family where the eldest has a pixelated head

[mrwilson]

The oldest girl is wearing a mantle which sat on the shoulders & therefore came to the lower neck which as you can see doesn't in this.

If this is correct she would have a very very long neck! Distance between shoulder and chin is proportionate.

Heads through holes? I don't think so.. always see evidence of holes and what 19th c photographer would have a prop for five kids of their ages?

There's so many factors or combination of that could be attributed to the photo being the way it is.. camera, lense, lighting, flash (probably on left of camera), shadows, colours (eg; white collars/dark clothing), various subject distances (which only the oldest girl is in focus), paper, processing chemicals, scan, white balance , etc;

I think imaginations are running wild. 

mrwilson