So many things change when a person ages. Wrinkles, changing hairlines, graying hair, the list goes on... But one thing that always stays the same is a person's identity.
For his latest project called "Faces Of Century", photographer Jan Langer captured over a dozen Czech centenarians and compared their pictures of when they were young, and when they were over 100 years old. "This set of comparative photos explores the similarities and the differences in appearance and in physiognomy," Langer writes about his project. "The characteristics of personality change throughout life but it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." See the portraits below.
More info: janlanger.net (h/t)
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Marie Burešová, 23 Years Old (Wedding), 101 Years Old
Antonín Kovář, 25 Years Old (Bandmaster Of His Own Band), 102 Years Old
Vlasta Čížková, 23 Years Old (Finished Girl High School), 101 Years Old
Marie Fejfarová, Her Personal History Was Burnt; On The Right 101 Years Old
Antonín Baldrman, 17 Years Old (Skilled Locksmith), 101 Years Old
Prokop Vejdělek, 22 Years Old (Oath Of Enlistment), 101 Years Old
Bedřiška Köhlerová, 26 Years Old (Wedding), 103 Years Old
Anna Pochobradská, Around 30 Years Old, 100 Years Old
Ludmila Vysloužilová, 23 Years Old (Gift For Her Fiancé), 101 Years Old
Stanislav Spáčil, 17 Years Old (Skilled Electrician), 102 Years Old
Vincenc Jetelina, 30 Years Old (Finished His House), 105 Years Old
Good think: he hadn't lost any hair in the last 75 year. So there is still hope for me. ;_;
Doesn't look anywhere near 105 years of age. I would have said 80-85 at most.
I'm afraid he outlived all of his family, maybe even his children.
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I enjoyed this article. I can easily ignite myself telling most of them, "Gee, you don't look your age." Anyway, the only things about the article that baffle me re the following statements: "it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." and "The characteristics of personality change throughout life but it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." What do they mean. More particularly, what do they have to do with the photographs? They seem to me to be a new category: Absolutely meaningless attempts at profundity.
I just don't understand how I can make the typos that I constantly do. Anyway, "ignite" should have been "imagine." Since there is no EDIT button, I might as well go on to say that "re" should have been "are," there should have been a question mark after "What do they mean?"
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This is such an intense set of images, such a difference to me of the young vs old. Inthe young he looks matter of fact. It is the old that pulls at my heart such sad looking eyes, tired and the confidence that those young eyes held seems to have gone. Icannot wonder what hapenned overthose 75 years.
I heard somewhere that ears are a good identifier; do they change over the years or has Panda messed up matching photos.
at 30 looked well appointed in his dress and demeanor ... serious but I thank he had good humor / probably a hard worker - at 105 he looked like all the years in between he worked very hard ; however for 105 years of age looked great / but very 'tired' from life itself
Ludvík Chybík, 20 Years Old (Skilled Confectioner), 102 Years Old
Anna Vašinová, 22 Years Old (After Wedding), 102 Years Old
I can’t imagine the emotions that must stir in thinking about their childhood versus now: when most people probably lived in poverty, horses were a primary means of transportation, men and women met at dances, courted before marriage, dressed well … to today, when people can make money off social media, technology is in abundance, vehicles are measured in horse power, people can meet strangers for hookups on tinder. And yet, many things haven’t changed: Racial and religious intolerance, greed and power hungry political leaders, and wars leading news paper headlines.
Just imagine what they have managed to live through, to reach this point in their lives. WWII, Soviet occupation, and hard knocks. They deserve special credit.
lol the gopniks upset all upset. Of course it was an occupation, f*****g morons. (not you, the gopniks)
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These are cool. You don't have to be famous to be awesome like these sweet old people!
It's true what they say, your ears and nose never stop growing and your lips get thinner with age. Most make-up artists forget this bit when they "age" an actor for a film. Lovely spotted wrinkled skin with this tiny nose. Always looks out of place.
I don't think they are growing continously, rather your face becomes thinner this is why they look bigger when you are getting old. :)
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I would love to sit and chat with them , imagine what they went through . Everyone could right a book about their life , I bet they could write a novel
Sublime....and depressing at the same time. Makes me reflect on my own lifetime, how my feelings and thoughts have evolved throughtout the years; how my views on life, love and goals have changed and are still changing. But it also depresses me on how, finally, we all end like this, until we are definitely gone..... nothing is "for ever". Everything has an end.....
Absolutely LOVED these, thanks for sharing, mad me cry a bit , don't know why
This is extremely depressing to me. Our physical identities change dramatically. I never got used to the changes inflicted upon me in my 30s. I'm not at all content with how my life has gone (mostly due to the meddling of other people; you think these people look embittered, just wait till I'm on my death bed at 70-something). As a consequence, the notion that I'm going to watch my body grow progressively less "me" until i die some day (not far enough away)... it's a thing i'm thinking about somewhat regularly as i continue to be trapped in a life situation i hate and have no way of changing (poverty and disability go hand-in-hand).
Hope I die young (and now all the haters will wish me just that, so the joke's on you)
My grandma was born in 1899, came to Nebraska in a covered wagon, saw the development of the airplane, auto, TV, computers, spacecraft, babysat her great-great grandchildren, and died at 104.
Its amazing how age changes people. Technology will soon make this a thing of the past. We have come a long way toward controlling the aging aspect of humanity. Hopefully, soon, we can live as long as we want/need and never have all the issues with typical aging. Will reduce the burden on families and life in general.
Did anyone notice how much bigger the ears and nose got for most of the people as they got older.
These make me sad...100+ is such a long time..Memories, faces, feelings mix and are forgotten. I don't know if I want to live so long as to start forgetting
I won't say they were unhappy. It was common for that era to look serious and well dressed, since photography wasn't as accessible and cheap as nowadays. So they had to make it count with that one photo.
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Czech peps are powerful, creative, strong human beings. My grand grandma died in the age of 97 and second 94. Both beautiful, inspiring lads
How gravity and the path of life carves all beings, it's tragic and beautiful at the same time...
I can’t imagine the emotions that must stir in thinking about their childhood versus now: when most people probably lived in poverty, horses were a primary means of transportation, men and women met at dances, courted before marriage, dressed well … to today, when people can make money off social media, technology is in abundance, vehicles are measured in horse power, people can meet strangers for hookups on tinder. And yet, many things haven’t changed: Racial and religious intolerance, greed and power hungry political leaders, and wars leading news paper headlines.
Just imagine what they have managed to live through, to reach this point in their lives. WWII, Soviet occupation, and hard knocks. They deserve special credit.
lol the gopniks upset all upset. Of course it was an occupation, f*****g morons. (not you, the gopniks)
Load More Replies... These are cool. You don't have to be famous to be awesome like these sweet old people!
It's true what they say, your ears and nose never stop growing and your lips get thinner with age. Most make-up artists forget this bit when they "age" an actor for a film. Lovely spotted wrinkled skin with this tiny nose. Always looks out of place.
I don't think they are growing continously, rather your face becomes thinner this is why they look bigger when you are getting old. :)
Load More Replies... I would love to sit and chat with them , imagine what they went through . Everyone could right a book about their life , I bet they could write a novel
Sublime....and depressing at the same time. Makes me reflect on my own lifetime, how my feelings and thoughts have evolved throughtout the years; how my views on life, love and goals have changed and are still changing. But it also depresses me on how, finally, we all end like this, until we are definitely gone..... nothing is "for ever". Everything has an end.....
Absolutely LOVED these, thanks for sharing, mad me cry a bit , don't know why
This is extremely depressing to me. Our physical identities change dramatically. I never got used to the changes inflicted upon me in my 30s. I'm not at all content with how my life has gone (mostly due to the meddling of other people; you think these people look embittered, just wait till I'm on my death bed at 70-something). As a consequence, the notion that I'm going to watch my body grow progressively less "me" until i die some day (not far enough away)... it's a thing i'm thinking about somewhat regularly as i continue to be trapped in a life situation i hate and have no way of changing (poverty and disability go hand-in-hand).
Hope I die young (and now all the haters will wish me just that, so the joke's on you)
My grandma was born in 1899, came to Nebraska in a covered wagon, saw the development of the airplane, auto, TV, computers, spacecraft, babysat her great-great grandchildren, and died at 104.
Its amazing how age changes people. Technology will soon make this a thing of the past. We have come a long way toward controlling the aging aspect of humanity. Hopefully, soon, we can live as long as we want/need and never have all the issues with typical aging. Will reduce the burden on families and life in general.
Did anyone notice how much bigger the ears and nose got for most of the people as they got older.
These make me sad...100+ is such a long time..Memories, faces, feelings mix and are forgotten. I don't know if I want to live so long as to start forgetting
I won't say they were unhappy. It was common for that era to look serious and well dressed, since photography wasn't as accessible and cheap as nowadays. So they had to make it count with that one photo.
Load More Replies... Czech peps are powerful, creative, strong human beings. My grand grandma died in the age of 97 and second 94. Both beautiful, inspiring lads
How gravity and the path of life carves all beings, it's tragic and beautiful at the same time...
