Is this an original press photo or a wirephoto?
 

Hi all,

I just picked up this photo of William "Kaayo" Lam, my favorite player in the long history of our football program at the University of Colorado. The photo is so new to me that the only scans I have are ones that still have the watermark of the seller, however I am just so excited about it...

It is an Associated Press photo from the week of the Buffs 1935 season finale against the University of Denver in which Lam only needed four yards to break the then colligate rushing record for a single season set previously by Beattie Feathers of Tennessee. The photo is incredible and regardless of its source is one I am excited to have found, however I was still curious as to whether or not it is Type-1 or wirephoto. The image itself isn't as clear as other Type-1 photos I have seen and I know lack of clarity or blurriness is a characteristic of wirephotos but Lam is in motion so that may be a variable in regards to the sharpness of the shot. I also noticed the paper caption pasted on the back which I know is characteristic of Type-1 photos. Needless to say I am a bit confused!

Looking for any and all opinions! Thank you!

https://i.ibb.co/gZzZKYQ/s-l1600-1.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/zfLR5qV/s-l1600.jpg

Trying to keep it simple...this is a most likely a Type 1 Press photo. If it were a wire photo it would have the caption on the front as part of the photo.


Jeff G.

Thanks Jeff! Exciting to know! I don't see much from the career of Kayo Lam, so having an original photo from his record breaking year is a treat!

The photographer may have been slow on releasing the shutter on his graphlex or he missed his focus point. It is still a nice 'in action' posed photo.

To your original question: All wire photos are press photos, not all press photos are wire photos.

Type 1. Cool story. Not even sure wirephotos had come in by '35.

.

Thanks for the opinions! I'm thrilled it's a Tyoe-1 photo! If anyone else collects press photos and happens to have any CU football photos, please feel free to send me a PM, its always tough to find early photos from our program, so to see anything, such as this phot of Lam is always a treat!

I don't know if you've seen this or if it's of interest, but here is the image and caption in use. It looks like that newspaper fixed his hair though :) and highlighted other features, which was typical. An interesting fellow that I didn't know much about. I'd say he probably had a shot of beating out Berwanger for the Heisman in 1935, huh? Unfortunetly for him, in 1935 the Heisman was only open to those east of the Mississippi River. Thanks for sharing. These old football photos are great and pretty reasonable.

INCREDIBLE! Thank you for finding that! I think Lam most definitley had a case for the 1935 Heisman as did his backfield mate Byron White later in 1937. It's awesome that this photo made it to the papers!

I think it's original/type I. An action photo being a bit out of focus isn't abnormal.

I've done some more digging through newspaper archives and this image shows up quite a bit in papers the week of the Buffs Thanksgiving tilt and in the ensuing weeks as there was a push for Lam to be voted an All-American.

https://i.ibb.co/JHMMnrV/Screen-Shot...9-00-55-PM.png

very cool photo and story and amazing that the picture can be matched to the printed version