Trends of the Decades - The 1990s
Here come the nineties. Wearing Converse trainers, a lumberjack shirt, and the undeniable swagger of youthful rebellion. Smells like teen spirit, right?
Ah, the ‘90s. Delivered us the dawn of the internet, witnessed Harry Potter wizarding his way into the public consciousness, saw us all make some new ‘Friends’, and brought girl power striding in on the songs of The Spice Girls. What a time to be alive!
The Tempest Photography Timeline
For Tempest, the 1990s saw the company begin taking on military assignments. Cadets and officers alike came before the camera to mark milestones in their careers. There were also some royal appointments as our services were called upon by Buckingham Palace. These new-formed relationships remain strong to this day.
Photography in the ‘90s
For photography, the decade embraced the grunge aesthetic as photographers opted for shots that captured real life over the glamour of previous decades. Also stepping in time with the rise of technology, the ‘90s saw digital photography quickly become the standard in production and shooting. Allowing for instant photos and advanced editing features made the medium a tantalising one for photographers everywhere.
The Big Moments
The decade began with the release of Nelson Mandela. Having served 27 years in prison, Mr Mandela walked free and proved instrumental in ending apartheid in South Africa. One year later he was elected as President of the country.
The Nintendo Gameboy became a global phenomenon riding on the back of the growing desire for gaming on the move, and a little gem of a game called Tetris. The simple puzzler delivered millions of tumbling blocks across the world and swallowed countless hours in return. A good deal if you ask me!
1995 brings the launch of the online auction site, eBay, and suddenly all the tat gathered in lofts across the planet became priceless antiques and valuable collectables.
The ‘90s saw the rise of iconic film director, Quentin Tarantino, whose brand of sharp dialogue, bloody action, and intelligent storytelling made him quickly revered in movie circles.
It was a good time to be a kid as toys became ever more advanced and exciting. PlayStation emerged, Tickle Me Elmo got tickled, and Furby was everyone’s fuzzy friend. On the flip side, a lot of Tamagotchi pets died. RIP virtual pets.
The Soundtrack
The 90s brought fuzzy guitar feedback from Seattle, merged with warring Britpop bands, dropped some cool hip-hop beats, and then pepped the whole lot up with some pop pizazz! It was a lively old time for music and delivered multiple songs that were destined to ‘Live Forever’ among the ‘Common People’ and beyond, as Groove was definitely in the heart.
Our Favourites:
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Pearl Jam – Alive
Spice Girls – Wannabe
Oasis – Wonderwall
Beastie Boys – Sabotage
Underworld – Born Slippy
If the 1990s was all teenage angst and tech, the dawn of a new millennium was about to land, and things felt exciting. That’s if we made it past the millennium bug of course!
See you there!