This post is in response to the Photography 101 prompt “architecture.”
Which do you prefer – black and white or color?
(Click an image to view it larger or as a slide show.)
Early in the twentieth century you could order most all the essentials for modern living from the extremely popular Sears, Roebuck and Company Catalogue. It was like the Amazon.com of 1910. From the catalogue, you could order clothing, livestock, sporting goods, sewing supplies, appliances, medicinal remedies and more… even Kit Homes.
A Kit Home came with plans for assembly along with most of the materials needed to build a house. I took these photos of a Sears Kit home, in Sugar Loaf, NY. If I’m not mistaken, this one is model number 118 which was eventually called The Clyde. It was first offered in the Sears, Roebuck Catalogue in 1908.
I found a photo of a catalogue page offering this model here.
I also found a couple of blog posts about this particular model on oklahomahousesbymail.com, and on searshomes.org.
In my opinion, the Sears Kit Homes were the forerunners of modern prefabricated structures and Ikea furniture!
Through the Lens of my Life 
I believe there’s a Mail-Order Homes tour here in Milwaukee, but I don’t think they are as fancy as this one. Mostly bungalows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There were a number of different styles and sizes available, something for every budget.
LikeLike
I am a fan of the color photos here. I think the color is part of the charm of the house!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! I think sometimes color is distracting and black and white can focus your eye more on form and structure, but the color on this home enhances the form and structure, and definitely adds charm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good question – I prefer the colour ones too, although the top right (wide angle) shot in the black and white version is also very strong.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I think it’s interesting that you like the black and white version of the wide angle shot just as much as the color… maybe it’s because the color version doesn’t feature much color and so there’s not as big a difference between the two?
LikeLike
Your images are all gorgeous! You could sell real estate 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s funny that you mention real estate… a realtor actually passed on her business card to my mom when she mentioned that I took photographs. Her selling area was about an hour away without traffic, at the time I was occupied with other things, and I didn’t have the camera that I do now. Perhaps I missed an opportunity, but I don’t think I could have handled it at the time. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person