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Photographer Photographs Her Friends In 2000 And Then In 2017 Again, Shows How Differently People Age
Blink, a day passes, blink, a year, two, ten. Time is an unstoppable force we have to live with and to highlight its passage, photographer Josephine Sittenfeld has recreated the portraits of her college classmates she took in 2000.
During those days, Sittenfeld was a junior at Princeton University. She took portrait photography shots of her friends on medium-format film, and the pictures eventually ended up collecting dust in her parents' closet. But last spring, as her fifteen-year college reunion was approaching, she remembered the cool photos and decided to do a then and now follow-up during the event.
The result is "Reunion," a series of before-and-after shots that have almost the same feel as class gatherings themselves. The photo series shows a fast-forwarded transformation of the individuals rather than a gradual long-term change. "At twenty, I felt something intangible, indescribable, full of energy," Sittenfeld's former roommate said during the friends' reunion. "Only now am I able to describe it—the ultimate sensing of life ahead." In the later shots, people in front of the lens look less resistant to their intimacy. Shoulders back, bodies less tense. Could it be because of the reminiscence of everything that came before, or is it how aging gracefully looks?
More info: josittenfeld.com | Instagram (h/t thenewyorker)
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#1
Sophie
Cristina Poncea 8 years ago
She looks feminine, delicate and strong at the same time. I find her really beautiful.
Chai Mo 8 years ago
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#2
Ellie Kemper From "The Office"
#3
Larry
Friedlander Rosenzweig 8 years ago
Beautiful Daddy & daughter (I’m guessing w/ typical gender stereotyping using the bright pink socks)!
#4
Becky
Chocolate Quente e Biscoitos 8 years ago
She's much much prettier now, and looks waaaay happier too
#5
Aili
Jane Foe 8 years ago
In 17 years she aged like maybe 3 :D. I love this!! She's so beautiful :)
Stephanie Anderson 8 years ago
All these recent photos were taken on the Princeton campus. They were taken at the photographer's class reunion. I think this one is on the steps of the Woodrow Wilson School.
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#6
Ethan
#7
Anna
Deneille Smith 8 years ago
This is why we should all really be wondering what kind of Cult the Hollywood money buys, this is natural Hollywood is NOT natural aging its weird !
#8
Tenley And Ryan
Beverly Palmacci 8 years ago
Not sure if they were married in 2000, but the matching shirts in 2017 leave no doubt.
layne 8 years ago
Couldn't you see it coming even then? They both already assigned to it even in 2000.
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KK 8 years ago
They do look uncomfy in the second pic. Her expression, his shoulders.... what happened :O?
Zenozenobee 8 years ago
I think they just trying to redo the exact pose of the first pic. But the first one had been taken probably in a move wich make it akward to remake ;)
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Adrian Hammersmith 8 years ago
It's like they're starring in a Greta Gerwig film. :) Americans seem to have this ability to look like that.
Jean Schweibish 8 years ago
I'm always amazed at how some people just look a lot older than their numerical age.
#9
Eveline
Mr.Fly 8 years ago
The before and after could work as daughter and mother.
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#10
Olympia
Alexavia Natolochny 8 years ago
It looks like she used to be a student and now she's the principal standing in the high school bathroom, interesting how vulnerable she looks in the first picture in combination with the setting..
#11
Craig, Denise, Amy And Jess
velocirrober 8 years ago
Hard to tan inside the clo... Hmm... never mind... these jokes never do well here.
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Marylou Sakosky 8 years ago
You folks talk like you really know these folks..am i missing something ?
Tiari 8 years ago
They are wearing the same checkered shirts like Tenley & Ryan, I wonder what's the story behind this.
Patrick Lopez 8 years ago
Apparently all these pictures were taken at a class reunion, and the shirt were a gift to all the attendees/graduates, from the school. It's probably the schools colors.
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Liz dJ 8 years ago
To me it seems like Craig spots a cute animal next to him, like a cat or dog. Or a kid 😅
Suzanne Marriott 8 years ago
He's turning his head to show off his man-bun!
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#12
Chris, Connor Sam And Seth
KK 8 years ago
I think the people that are missing most likley just moved away or the contact was lost. There are people missing in the other pics too.
Annie Horton 8 years ago
This just goes to show you Connor. You should keep in touch with your friends. Now the whole world thinks you're either dead or callous. (and if dead, RIP)
Sanna Lääperi 8 years ago
Everyone is thinking worst...maybe he is travelling to Hawaii with his wife to spend a time of his lifetime 😊.
Patricia Stilwell 8 years ago
Dude, everything is different! Couch, exit sign, artwork...no Connor...
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#13
Ethan, Ellie And Christina
Beverly Palmacci 8 years ago
Hey, there's Ethan again! He still looks very different to me. Christina is fighting her natural curls and her face has gotten leaner, but she is quite recognizable.
Suzanne Marriott 8 years ago
Ellie looks like she didn't really want to be in the first pic to begin with.
Honolulu Storm 8 years ago
Their face softened with age. Before he had bags under his eyes and her features were too sharp.
scrappyrat 8 years ago
Christina *definitely* had a nose job. There is no way it changed *that* much without assistance.
#14
Chris
Mark Creggy 8 years ago
He is in the group photo with exit sign, sat on the sofa. Hasn't got the hat on
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#15
Josephine
Lance Maltby 8 years ago
Looks like she went from depressed and lost in the world, to somewhat in control but institutionalized.
#16
Ann
Beverly Palmacci 8 years ago
She has a stylish, unique , maybe even international look in the first photo that was lost in the second.
Lynn Bull 8 years ago
I think age has "softened" her...in a good way as she looks less "uptight" (not even sure that's the right word).
Brandon Paltoo 8 years ago
He life got hard after the first photo, he eyes look tired and sad.
Jace 8 years ago
It's the eye makeup in the second photo. Eye makeup sucks on almost everyone, yet people keep slapping it on...
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#17
Katie And Amanda
Karel Sch. 8 years ago
Or maybe she just was lazy to take picture in 2017 and will wait until next shot in 2034
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Danaya Blanks 8 years ago
Or maybe Katie passed...:( I've had quite a few friends from 17 years ago pass.
Karel Sch. 8 years ago
Yeah, maybe photographer died and Katie has to push trigger on camera :-D
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Johan En Amanda Stapelberg 8 years ago
The photographer should say whee the missing people are, and let people guess
#18
Jess
Friedlander Rosenzweig 8 years ago
I agree with you Jess. Hope 2018 is a great year for all of us!
Evan Graham 8 years ago
Absolutely mesmerizing, just how slightly different people look after 17 years. We all could have raided our own old photo stashes to see the phenomenon for ourselves, of course, but somehow it seems so much more magical with photos of complete strangers.
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What do you think ?
Heather Moss 8 years ago
I really enjoyed this. I love seeing how people age. I'd love to see a follow up that shows aging in people with much harder lives than Princeton grads, though.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
These photos should be accompanied by a story. It's amazing how some of the classmates aged so much and others look almost the same. Also those missing people... I do hope they manage to contact them as well and see how they are doing. They were probably unable/didn't want to come but this doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't be interested in that project.
Sonja Alcock 8 years ago
I am doing this with the little kids in my Sunday School class. They have changed so much in a year and they can see how much they have done so by the pictures I've taken. Children change more rapidly that we adults, but in this series you really can see the difference 7 years makes.
Full Name 8 years ago
This must be your first trip the internet. Welcome.
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Elina Kuusisto 8 years ago
I love this so much! Beautiful photos by themselves, and the project is so interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Lindsay Taylor 8 years ago
This is super cool to see. Most of them look so much the same! It's like they barely changed, just put on more mature clothes, haha :)
Heather Moss 8 years ago
I really enjoyed this. I love seeing how people age. I'd love to see a follow up that shows aging in people with much harder lives than Princeton grads, though.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
These photos should be accompanied by a story. It's amazing how some of the classmates aged so much and others look almost the same. Also those missing people... I do hope they manage to contact them as well and see how they are doing. They were probably unable/didn't want to come but this doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't be interested in that project.
Sonja Alcock 8 years ago
I am doing this with the little kids in my Sunday School class. They have changed so much in a year and they can see how much they have done so by the pictures I've taken. Children change more rapidly that we adults, but in this series you really can see the difference 7 years makes.
Full Name 8 years ago
This must be your first trip the internet. Welcome.
Load More Replies... Elina Kuusisto 8 years ago
I love this so much! Beautiful photos by themselves, and the project is so interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Lindsay Taylor 8 years ago
This is super cool to see. Most of them look so much the same! It's like they barely changed, just put on more mature clothes, haha :)
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