Things stayed roughly the same for next few decades. The other radical change was the transition to color probably in the late 1970s which substantially increased the identifying accuracy of the photograph. Glue has been replaced with a full lamination of the photo page, which might be seen as a very low tech art glazing. The head size, expression, and direction of gaze had been molded into the standardized style still in use today. As was common for a brief period of portraiture in the 1960 (reviving an historic tradition), the subject is angled to the lens and looking off-camera.īy the mid 1980s this effect had been corrected. The smile is gone and the cropping has tightened on the face. This passport from a few years later is more typical. He was allowed a smile, perhaps in deference to his contributions to general happiness, or else through sheer force of character. Walt Disney's passport from 1965 is interesting. Photos were glued instead of stapled.īy the 1930s the emphasis shifted to the face as the utilitarian nature of the passport picture began to usurp the received importance of background. I think the staples along with the beautifully handwritten information give these old documents a very physical and authentic presence.īy the 1920s, the softly diffused border made way for a completely filled rectangle which carried the photo into a slightly more documentary tradition. The photos were loosely attached with staples and stamped along with the document to discourage forgery. They identified, but in an idealized fashion. The shots were of course black and white and bore the somewhat fantasized tint of the period's studio portraits. Photographic prints were in wide circulation by this time and so they became an essential ingedient. Passports have been in use for centuries but weren't commonly required until 1918 when they became mandatory for international travel. Even with these restrictions, or maybe because of them, each passport photo offers insight into its era. Because nothing else about the photo is meant to be important, passport photos have become standardized to the same size, shape, background, and facial expression. It's sole purpose has always been to objectively depict a visage. Together with the mugshot, the passport snapshot was the earliest application of photography as purely personal identifier. Visit for actual processing time.My recent business with passports has gotten me thinking more closely about them, specifically about the central ingredient: the photograph. *Processing times are estimates and may vary depending on the season. $75 ($15 + $60 fee for expedited service) $90 ($30 + $60 fee for expedited service)Įxpedited passport card: age 15 and younger $160 ($100 + $60 fee for expedited service)Įxpedited passport card: age 16 and older $190 ($130 + $60 fee for expedited service)Įxpedited passport book: age 15 and younger ProductĮxpedited passport book: age 16 and older A separate check, payable to the Department of State, is required for each application. Department of State passport fees are payable by check or money order ONLY. Amounts vary depending on the product you need.
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