Family Photo Friday – George Henry Standing

This photo of my great grandfather George Henry Standing (1878-1943) had me reaching back through time. I had heard a number of family stories about the man but I had no idea what he looked like and what he was really like as a man. He died eleven years before I was born and I don’t remember seeing any family photos of him.

That changed last week when my aunt sent me some photos. In this one George Standing is on his horse at The Channon ( a small village near Lismore NSW.) while holding a grandson, George Robertson. The Channon Store is in the background, exactly as I remember it from endless childhood summer holidays.

I peered at the photo, enlarging it, while experimenting with contrasts and effects. I was looking for family likenesses and trying to make connections. I quickly found that this simple photo of a grandfather and his grandchild brought those family stories – about George Standing the farmer and family man – to life.

That is the beauty of a family photo.

Postscript

George Henry Standing was the grandson of the convict Henry Standen/Standing – featured in the post Trove Tuesday – Henry Standen was “capitally convicted…”