Looking into the Past by Jason E. Powell

"Looking Into the Past" is a project by self proclaimed "cameraist", Jason E. Powell.

The concept is to photograph an old photo in the original location the photo was taken while fitting that photograph into the original scene.

Each photograph citing the similarities and differences between the past and the current state of that particular landmark.

Summertime at Tidal Basin



This is pretty much how it is today, albeit with some minor cosmetic changes and the lack of this particular tree. Although the weather is challenging in the summer, Washington can be gorgeous this time of year.

Doing the Charleston at the Cannon House Office Building



Here’s something you don’t see every day, do you?

Capitol Cornucopia



This is just adorable.

Union Station Square



US Capitol Under Construction



The source image is really cool. It was hard to line this up, I’m guessing because the original photographer shot from a construction platform or something that isn’t there any more. I got as close as I could, though.

16th Street NW, Washington, DC.



Well, this scene hasn’t changed much at all. The house on the left used to have a balcony on the second floor instead of a full closed floor, but other than that, everything is the same.

Main Street, Annapolis, MD.



I love the way this turned out, particularly with the Mini lining up perfectly with the original image’s Cadillac.

Beneath the Eiffel Tower



This is the Eiffel Tower as it looked around the Exposition Universelle of 1900. There seem to be more tourists today, and I suspect an awful lot more caricaturists offering to draw you for the low price of 10 Euro.

Child as ‘Liberty’



In commemoration of Independence Day, here is one of my all-time favorites. The original photo was taken in 1916 during a Fourth of July celebration, and I think it’s the most adorable photo taken that year. This is at the Peace Monument near the Capitol, and although a few things have changed (the sidewalk and the edging surrounding the monument), this is still prettly close to what it looked like. Obviously, everything else in the scene is different.

Girl Turns Away from Watching the World Trade Center Burn



At this point on that day, both planes had hit in New York, and the Pentagon was just about to be hit (or had just been hit – I can’t tell the specific time from this photo). It was clear America was under attack by terrorists. What must this little girl have been feeling?


Check his website: http://jasonepowell.com
and flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonepowell/