Photoshop -3.0

December 30, 2006 8:46 PM

"Tall-tale postcards emerged around the turn of the 20th century, when postcards came to function as surrogates for travel. People soon realized that postcards could be used to create or sustain a certain utopian myth about a town or region, and crafty photographers began to physically manipulate their photographs. Nowhere did these modified images, or "tall-tale postcards" as they came to be called, become more prevalent than in rural communities that hoped to forge an identity as places of agricultural abundance to encourage settlement and growth. Food sources specific to the region — vegetables, fruits, or fish — were the most common subjects."
posted by jonson (20 comments total)

My favorite has always been "Man With A Big Cock".

I suppose that makes me gay.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:51 PM on December 30, 2006

Allman Bros. "Eat A Peach"

I was really expecting a jackalope in there somewhere
posted by Frank Grimes at 8:55 PM on December 30, 2006

lol... Great thread title... I was going to comment, "This must be the grandfather of photoshopping" before I saw the title... I'm partial to the Kansas Air Ship card.
posted by amyms at 8:58 PM on December 30, 2006

See, the things I never knew about my home state.

Though I suppose I should mention that someone was just talking about how his corn really was that big. Who knows...
posted by niles at 9:03 PM on December 30, 2006

amyms - that Kansas one seems to run counter to the theme of promoting tourism! Who in their right mind would want to travel to a place where the insects fly off with the toddlers?
posted by jonson at 9:09 PM on December 30, 2006

Being from Wyoming/Colorado, I'm most partial to the legendary jackalope.

(Nice post -- thanks, jonson!)
posted by scody at 9:16 PM on December 30, 2006

jonson: Tourists? Here? In Kansas?... Surely you jest!
posted by amyms at 9:16 PM on December 30, 2006

Jackalopes
posted by Brian B. at 9:22 PM on December 30, 2006

Fur bearing trout, (also known as Beaver Trout) possess thick coats of fur that help to keep them warm in the mountain lakes above timberline where they live. I saw some live in an aquarium at a bbq place in Colorado 1960.
posted by hortense at 9:45 PM on December 30, 2006

These postcards are hilarious jonson. Taking such mundane vegetables as sugar beets or potatoes and making them gigantic, surrealistic.

I didn't realise before that the "tall tale" was a fundamental element of American folk literature.

That Wisconsin Historical Society has some interesting galleries. Like the portraits of Native Americans.
posted by nickyskye at 9:53 PM on December 30, 2006

For any fans of this subject, I strongly encourage you to pick up David Wiesner's June 29, 1999. It's a children's book featuring tons of the most amazing illustrations - essentially, giant (house-sized & larger) vegetables start floating down from the heavens and landing all over the U.S.
posted by jonson at 9:57 PM on December 30, 2006

In re: jonson's recommendation, David Wiesner's June 29, 1999... That looks like a very cool book... Here's a site with some of the illustrations...

June 29, 1999
posted by amyms at 10:09 PM on December 30, 2006

Hooray WI State Historical Society! I worked across the plaza from it for four years, on the fourth floor of Memorial Library.

Also, what a cool exhibit.
posted by kavasa at 10:32 PM on December 30, 2006

jonson, what's with you and the giant produce this week? I don't know whether to get the munchies or the surface-to-air missiles.
Nice post!
posted by maryh at 11:45 PM on December 30, 2006

Great post! I'll be forwarding this link to friends.
posted by watsondog at 12:26 AM on December 31, 2006

Anyone else notice the Grasshoppers have disappeared?
posted by sourwookie at 1:01 AM on December 31, 2006

long horse!
posted by moonbird at 5:22 AM on December 31, 2006

Nice find, thanks Jonson!
posted by carter at 6:54 AM on December 31, 2006

But seriously, has anyone checked out the Photoshop CS3 beta? I'm having a hard time figuring out how this new selection tool works.

(ps - the tall tale page needs a line added abuot how the tall tale isn't just a feature of American folklore)
posted by illovich at 10:11 AM on December 31, 2006

I simply love the faded radiation symbol/warning on the barn door in that giant cock postcard...
posted by porpoise at 11:35 AM on December 31, 2006