Perplexity 0, ChatGPT4o-mini 1

Myrt's GRIP homework to accomplish photo analysis comparison informs which LLM she will use for the next few weeks, until LLMs note an update.

PERPLEXITY (paid account) All Ol’ Myrt did was drag and drop this image in the chat at Perplexity (Pro), my preferred LLM, to receive the analysis below.

Image Content and Composition

This black-and-white photograph depicts a large group of people, likely an extended family or community group, posed outdoors in front of a house. The group consists of men, women, and children of various ages, arranged in two rows: adults and older children standing in the back, with younger children and a few adults seated or kneeling in the front. An early automobile is visible on the left side, and the group is gathered under large trees, with a wooden house and another structure in the background.

Time Period

Several visual cues suggest the image dates from the late 1910s to the 1920s:

• The style of the automobile, with its boxy shape and spoked wheels, is typical of cars produced in the 1920s.

• The clothing worn by the adults and children aligns with fashion trends from the 1920s, including knee-length dresses for women, cloche hats, and the use of knickerbockers and short pants for boys.

• The photograph is black-and-white, which was standard for family photography during this era.

Clothing Styles

• Women: The women are wearing dresses that fall below the knee, with loose fits and dropped waists, which were fashionable in the 1920s. Some women wear hats, and one wears a patterned dress, reflecting the era's shift toward more practical and less restrictive clothing.

• Men: The men are dressed in suits with ties and vests, and a few wear hats, consistent with formal attire of the early 20th century.

• Children: The children’s clothing includes short pants, knee socks, and simple dresses. Boys are seen in caps and knickers, while girls wear dresses similar in style to the women’s but shorter.

Architecture

The house in the background is a wood-frame structure with horizontal siding and a steeply pitched roof, typical of early 20th-century American residential architecture. The house appears modest, with a visible chimney and a porch or entryway partially obscured by the group. The presence of mature trees and a picket fence in the background suggests a rural or small-town setting.

Other Observations

• The group appears to be assembled for a special occasion, possibly a family reunion or anniversary, given the size and diversity of ages present.

• The people are posed formally, indicating the photograph was planned and likely taken by a professional or serious amateur photographer.

• The overall setting, including the car and the house, suggests a middle-class rural or small-town American family in the early 20th century.

• The shadows and lighting indicate the photo was taken outdoors during daylight, likely in the late morning or afternoon.

Summary

This image is a historical family or community group portrait from the 1920s, taken outdoors in front of a typical American home of the period. The clothing, automobile, and architecture all point to a rural or small-town setting in the United States during this era, capturing a moment of family or communal gathering and celebration.

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ChatGPT40-mini (pro account)

Perhaps more impressive than Pererplexi’s attempt above, is ChatGPT4o-mini.

1. Subject & Composition

• Family Gathering: A multi-generational group—likely commemorating a 50th wedding anniversary (per the filename)—poses outdoors. At center back are an older woman and man (presumably the couple), surrounded by adult children, in-laws, and grandchildren.

• Automobile & Outdoors: The family stands on a lawn in front of a house and beside an early automobile, suggesting they wanted the car—a symbol of modernity—to be part of the occasion.

2. Time Period Estimate

• Automobile Style: The car’s tall, boxy body, narrow wheels, and running board point to a mid- to late-1920s model.

• Photographic Quality: Sharp focus, high contrast and lack of motion blur suggest a professional (or very steady amateur) camera from the 1920s.

• Clothing & Accessories: Fashion details (see next section) further anchor the image to roughly 1923–1928.

3. Clothing Styles & Accessories

Older Generation• Dark bowler and fedora hats
• Three-piece wool suits with vests
• Starched white collars, neckties
• High-necked, long‐sleeve dresses in dark fabrics
• Lace collars or jabots
• Hair coiffed in tight buns or waves

Younger Adults
• Suits with narrower lapels
• Round eyeglasses
• Fedora hats tilted low• Drop‐waist dresses reaching mid-calf
• Simpler collars, some with decorative trims
• Bobbed or softly waved hair• Girl in sailor-style dress (popular 1920s)
• Boys in knickerbockers or short pants with knee socks and flat caps

Notable Trends:

• Women’s dresses already moving toward looser, simpler 1920s silhouettes (drop waists, less restrictive sleeves).
• Children’s sailor dresses and knicker‐style shorts were hallmarks of 1920s youth fashion.

4. Architecture & Setting

• House:

  • Simple, wood-frame “vernacular” farmhouse or bungalow, clad in horizontal clapboards.

  • Steeply pitched, side-gable roof with a central chimney (likely brick).

  • Modest footprint—typical rural American homes of the 1910s–’20s.

• Yard & Fence:

  • A white picket fence peeks in at right, reinforcing a sentimental “home and family” theme.

  • Large deciduous trees overhead, dappled sunlight and shadows add depth.

5. Other Observations

• Photographic Intent: The inclusion of the automobile and entire extended family suggests both pride in progress (the car) and in lineage.

• Social Context: Many rural American families in this era commemorated milestone anniversaries with formal portraits, often blending traditional (long‐skirted dresses) and modern (shorter hems, new camera technologies) elements.

• Emotional Tone: Despite the formal poses, you can sense warmth—children cluster around seated adults, and several faces show soft smiles rather than stern looks.

Conclusion:

This is a beautifully staged 1920s family portrait, capturing three generations against the backdrop of a modest American farmhouse and its new automobile—blending tradition and modernity in a single commemorative image.

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My Thoughts

From this point on, for at least the next few weeks, I’ll use ChatGPT40-mini for photo analysis, as it returns without prompting, what I consider to be a better description than provided was generated by Perplexity.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your (not so) retired friend in genealogy.

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