What am I seeing here?

[SWMODave]

This photo is online in numerous places with different descriptions but most agree it is a wedding on a plantation. While it is not my intention to take away from the story this photo gives, my eyes were drawn to something that didn't make sense and the longer I stare at it, the less sense it makes. Hopefully a different pair of eyes can explain why I am seeing it. In the front right, look at the standing woman with the small child at her feet.

Is this just a photo effect or am I looking at a man's face with a mustache?
Or is it an obvious woman and I have just convinced myself otherwise?

You can click the photo to blow it up to original sze - it really is an amazing photo - the stories it could tell us!!


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[Podad]

I see a lady with a bonnet or similar on her head. There is some distortion at her lower facial area. Could be a scarf ???

 

[Northern Light]

That is what I was thinking, perhaps a ribbon or scarf for her bonnet. Great picture!

 

[DaveBrt]

Interesting that the bride and her party are not the focus of the picture.

 

[Seduzal]

Nice photo. @SWMODave Can you post a link for the photo? Thank you

 

[TerryB]

I was more interested to see soldiers in the background and a couple of kids wearing forage caps.

 

[JOHN42768]

Appears to be a very large gathering for the wedding

 

[chubachus]

The following sources say the photo was taken at a contraband camp at a former female seminary in Baton Rouge, c. 1863:

http://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/lsu-sc-gsc:11
https://www.gettyimages.dk/detail/n...les-and-children-in-their-news-photo/96818995
https://www.historicnorthampton.org/chaotic-freedom1.html

I do not see any reputable sources saying it was taken during a wedding.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, it's terribly casual for a wedding? If that take is dependent on the light colored cloth a woman is wearing instead of a hat, there are at least three wearing the same thing. As usual, smitten by blurs where children are struggling to stay still- love those! We've been fortunate camera's became swifter or none of us would have a good shot of our kids. Kids and squirming, not much changes.

IMO, she's wearing a scarf, maybe fringed? Woman in dark calico, sitting in the half circle is wearing one, too.

 

[donna]

Interesting photo. Thanks for posting.

I think she has scarf.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I downloaded it and blew it up...I could see under her nose to her top lip as well as her left jawline and to me she's clearly holding something in her mouth. It's not hair...it's of a lumpy texture. It's obvious she's holding a tray in her left hand, can't see if she's got anything in her right hand. I'd even venture to guess that's a tilted empty bowl on her head...no other women have anything else like it on their heads including the extra long headscarf down her back. Seems to me she's in charge of carrying things important to whatever is going on and she's standing away from the others and is waiting to do what she is supposed to do, whatever that is, next. Perhaps some kind of ritual, why else are all those adults sitting around watching those boys sitting on the ground in a circle? The one boy leaning over appears to be holding something down. Perhaps a small animal sacrifice like a chicken? I would think if the main focus was not on the boys the photographer would've included it in the shot. In fact the woman to the left of the woman sitting on the box is kneeling down to get a better look at the boys and whatever is going on. One of links posted above states the photo is "Female Seminary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana circa 1863" and we all have heard about Creole voodoo.