Trends of the Decades - The 1960s
Frequently referred to as the decade that shook the nation, the 1960s rolled in on a psychedelic technicolour rainbow of flower power, rebellion, and flared trousers.
Four lads from Liverpool dragged ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll into new dimensions of sound, the feminism ideology opened more doors for women in the workplace, and mankind took one giant leap upon the surface of the moon.
Oh, and as if the nation needed any more lifting, there was the little matter of a World Cup to be played on home soil. Spoiler alert, this blog will reveal the eventual winner of that tournament.
The Tempest Photography Timeline
Life for Tempest Photography echoed the positivity of the times. After initially struggling during the early stages of life in Cornwall, the business had sailed into calmer seas and was riding high.
The Trevethoe House base underwent consistent expansion and continued to cement its place as means of employment for the local community.
Photography in the ‘60s
Access to cameras and the ability to capture photographs expanded considerably during the 1960s. Camera companies such as Polaroid now had multiple hardware options on the market. For the first time, photography was entering the mainstream.
And it was also giving birth to such legendary photographers of the era as David Bailey and Terence Donovan. By tapping firmly into the cult of celebrity, these visionary snappers were stepping from behind the lens, directly into the spotlight as celebrities themselves.
The Big Moments
Although they had played together in the years prior, it was in 1960 that McCartney, Lennon and co, first performed as The Beatles and so began a journey that was to change the musical landscape for generations to come.
In 1963, Doctor Who premiered on TV screens and wowed audiences with its masterclass in sci-fi storytelling and art class special effects.
A Geoff Hurst hat-trick at Wembley delivered England its first, and currently last, World Cup victory in 1966. But as a humble nation, we don’t like to talk about it.
The unmistakable outline of Concorde – the world’s first supersonic aircraft – took its maiden flight in 1969, travelling from London to New York in just three hours!
NASA’s Apollo 11 mission saw Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first people to walk on the moon as the USA took a lead in the space race.
The Soundtrack
Music in the sixties saw seismic changes. Freedom and love flavoured the sounds of bands and artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. Elsewhere, Bob Marley’s sweet reggae rebellion blended with The Beach Boys’ harmonies, and the soulful sounds of The Supremes, to make the decade one of the most intoxicating musical eras to date.
Our Favourites:
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
The Beatles – A Day in the Life
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
Marvin Gaye – I Heard it Through the Grapevine
The Mamas and the Papas – California Dreamin’
If there was a word to capture the feel of the decade, that word would be freedom. It was a time that seemed to be firmly in touch with its wild side. It was boundary pushing, experimental and exciting. It wore its hair long and its trousers flared. The swinging sixties were cool, but as seems to be echoed throughout human history, the decade to come was going to prove a whole lot tougher.
We’re off to the 70s.
See you there!