Capt. Smith's demeanor

[Doug Criner]

In his photos, Smith appears a bit dour, distant, stern, etc. - lacking of friendliness or personality. Maybe that's how passenger ship captains then were expected to look? Or maybe it was just the culture and sign of the times?

 

[Adam Went]

Hi Doug,

I've not seen too many photos of people from that era where they were smiling to be honest. It wasn't a "say cheese for the camera" thing. Smith was a popular captain, especially amongs the first class passengers, so I doubt if he was lacking in social grace.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

[Doug Criner]

I've gone back to some photos of Smith. I think I was influenced by his beard and drooping mustache, which to my modern eyes, gives him the appearance of a scowl. Nowadays, not a particularly good look. But I shouldn't have drawn my original conclusion.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Guys, I'd chalk it up to culture. Take a look at a lot of period photographs and you'll see much the same thing.

 

[Augusto Félix Solari]

According to Walter Lord, he wasn't short of a charachter, only allowing company, while smoking, if it only promised to stand completely still so not to disturb the cloud of smoke floating above his head.

 

[Adam Went]

Augusto,

After all of those decades at sea, who could blame him for developing a few eccentricities like that? ;-)

And Doug, yes I think you're right. The beard wouldn't have helped.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

[Colin W. Montgomery]

As a student of the history of photography, I believe it is a misnomer that it was rare to smile in a photograph in Titanic's time. I have seem many daguerreotypes of the 1840s and '50s showing persons smiling.

Incidentally, I never smile in photos. Unless instructed to do so.

Colin

 

[Michael McAuley]

This has nothing to do with the Titanic, but there is a hilarious subplot in the movie A Million Ways To Die In The West about whether or not people should smile in photographs.

 

[Aly Jones]

What would Smith look like without a beard? More professional? Other sea captains at that time had no beards.