Sometimes the world seems glum. This feeling happens to everyone sometimes, but don't worry — It always passes.
Often, it just takes seeing the humor in the world to snap you out of your funk. If you look carefully, there's something funny happening just about everywhere.
French photographer René Maltête (1930-2000) knew this well. He spent his career capturing everyday scenes but with a twist. His photos show classic mid-century scenes of those days gone by. We don't know who the people in the photos are, but, like the mystery woman on the beach, they embody the feeling of the times along with a truly timeless sense of humor.
Take a look at the photos below, and see how a perfectly timed photo can bring a smile to faces around the world for years to come.
Maltête's photos capture everyday scenes, but their charm is the subtle humor found in each one.
Part of their charm is also the way he was able to capture them.
Talk about being in the right places at the right times!
The sign reads, "The majority is you," which of course makes this picture much more amusing.
These perfect, subtly funny images make the world seem like a funnier, more absurd place.
Maltête could find humor in the most mundane places.
Some of them do have a slightly darker undertone, but they still manage to stay amusing — and relatable.
Sometimes they seem to tell a story about their subject.
Sometimes they explore a human emotion or experience.
And sometimes they're just funny!
Maltête started experimenting with photography at the age of 16.
In 1951, he started working in photography professionally, but often had to support himself through odd jobs and menial work.
He published his first book of photographs in 1960.
Other people slowly began recognizing the humor and wit of his photos, and his work appeared in various magazines, including Life and Punch.
In addition to photography, Maltête also wrote poetry and humor pieces.
He was also passionate about the environment.
And it's not just the funny side of life that Maltête captured; his photos have an endearing sweetness.
Looking at them today, you can see how timeless they really are.
You can see many more of Maltête's photos on his website, run by his son, Robin. You can also purchase a book of his photos on Amazon.
If you know anyone who loves photography with some vintage flair and a healthy dose of humor, introduce them to René Maltête by SHARING this article!
