Friday, November 15, 2013

More Photographs My Father Left Behind

Yesterday I told of how I had come into possession of a box of my late father's photographs, and I posted a number of photographs that my father had taken, both for his own enjoyment and in his official capacity as a US Navy photographer. Here are a few more, the majority now in color, that he took in the late 1960's.

                                 Japanese vista, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969 

                            Hikers along Mount Fuji, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969

                 Sunset from the summit of Mount Fuji, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969


                                  Japanese fishermen, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969 

                       Japanese Fishermen at work, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969 

                                Japanese Inn, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969

I really like the ones taken in Japan, as it's easy to see where I get my penchant for hiking and taking landscape photographs.


            On the flight deck off the coast of Japan, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969

      Navy helicopter touching down on the flight deck, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969

These two from the flightdeck of a US Navy aircraft carrier are not only of historic interest, they are also well composed.


                     Japanese-American child, taken by Robert A. Long, Japan 1969    

                       Japanese-American child, taken by Robert A. Long Japan 1969 

Okay, here is where the box of photographs got interesting for me. The two photos above are of several taken of a young Japanese-American girl. There is nothing written on the back of the photographs to indicate who the girl is or why the picture was taken, but the girl...looks very much like my sisters did at that age.

It is in no way a stretch to imagine my 4 (confirmed 4, could be 5) times married father having a child with a woman in Japan. He had a bunch of kids (6 with my Mom alone, his first wife), and was not known for his, uhm, regard for birth control.

On another post I may place all of the photographs I have of this young girl alongside photos of my siblings at around the same age, It will be...thought provoking...


            Photograph of Robert A. Long, taken by unknown photographer, 1969, location unknown

This was the second photograph of my father that I ever saw. He looks to be a Petty Officer 2nd Class from what I can see of the rating badge on his left sleeve. The armband on his right sleeve identifies him as an official US Navy photographer. 

My younger brother Tom resembles my father closely, especially in stature.

             My father's 2nd wife with their(?) son, taken by Robert A. Long, location unknown, 1969

 My father's pregnant 2nd wife with unk. persons, taken by Robert A. Long, location unknown, Dec 1969

The two photographs above are of the family my father started with his second wife. I have no idea who they are other than that, or where the pictures may have been taken. 

I do know, however, that the seascape hanging above the fireplace is a Robert Wood print. 

                Photograph of Robert A. Long, photographer unknown, location unknown, 1970

This is the third photograph of my father I have ever seen. My younger brother could use this picture for his driver's license.

                  My uncle, Donald Long, taken by Robert A. Long, location unknown, Dec 1969

This last picture of my Uncle Don I post only because of how much I resemble him in build/stature. I even used to comb my hair like that - when I had enough hair to comb, that is.


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