A Great Image

[River City John]

What I dearly love about this photo is that no two hats are the same, - life shapes the man same as the man shapes his hat. That, plus for all their earnest effort to try and "clean up" for this momentous photo of record, they just can't escape that scruffy look. I maintain that when I go to a shoot, despite even the best effort at authenticity, everyone looks too pristine.

[Major 2]

Great photo John



 

[Coffinmaker]

  PLUS ONE for the Major   

Most all are wearing waist coats and some, some form of coat and one dude inna back is actually wearing a "Townie" type suit coat.  I'm betting "Survey Party" rather than miners though.

[Mogorilla]

John, catch me on day two of any multi day shoot and i would fit in with that crew.   I remember a line from Silverado, "my head spent x years training that hat".  Well any hat i would wear for any length of time measured in years would not be fit for proper company.  Ha. 

[River City John]

PLUS ONE for the Major   

Most all are wearing waist coats and some, some form of coat and one dude inna back is actually wearing a "Townie" type suit coat.  I'm betting "Survey Party" rather than miners though.

You well may be correct, Coffinmaker.

[Abilene]

Back then, nobody said "say cheese"     A few look pretty grim.

[Niederlander]

Spend a week outside living in the same clothes, in all weather, and you'll fit right in with them.  Sort of like old westerns.  They always looked like they came right out of a 1950's western wear store.

[Kent Shootwell]

And not a gun among them.

[Coffinmaker]

Trust me.  Guns were close by, probably in one of the wagons.  Or in the big tent.  Of their hats, at that time, in that place, a Hat wasn't a fashion statement.  The hat was a necessity.  Unlike the many hats we see in CAS that come straight out of the "B" westerns of Hollyweird.  Although, many of the "townie" hats are close to authentic in look.

[Johnson Barr]

Several white foreheads. Photographer must have requested a 'hat tilt back' for facial visibility. Not much shadowing. Sun must have been nearly over head. Stove pipe in the tent most likely makes it the cook tent.
Fella with no hat maybe the cook? Possibly a noon meal break.   

[Hair Trigger Jim]

Can anybody tell what's in the lower left corner?  Some type of bag?

[Cap'n Redneck]

@ Hair Trigger Jim:  looks to me like a "leather doctor's bag"...

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co178965/leather-doctors-bag-with-contents-english-1890-1930

[Kent Shootwell]

Thanks for posting River City John. It fun looking at details, I also note there's not a pot belly on anyone!

[Tascosa Joe]

I didn't have a pot belly when I was 40 or under either.   

[DeaconKC]

Indeed, thanks for posting a great picture.