Unlocking the Secrets: Unrevealed Film of the Bay Area’s Iconic Past by a Mysterious Photographer

SAN FRANCISCO – A mystery has lingered unresolved for many years. The origins of a bag filled with undeveloped film are unclear, yet there is a strong desire to uncover the person who stood behind the camera. Some developed film showcases iconic scenes from the Bay Area during the flower power era. 

In the 1980s, a bag containing numerous colored slides and hundreds of unprocessed rolls of film was auctioned off publicly. The individual who acquired it subsequently sold it to a collector, and currently, two historians from the Bay Area are in possession of it. 

Uncredited images provided by SpeakLocal. 

They are gradually working to piece together the mystery of the individual behind the camera.

The collection is dated between 1966 and 1970, capturing remarkable moments in history. 

Uncredited images provided by SpeakLocal. 

Professional photographer Bill Delzel was enlisted to assist and mentions that the collection holds 5,717 photographs, with approximately half being black and white. 

“Everything from the civil rights movement to the Summer of Love, the Black Panther movement, and the United Farm Workers movement. That photographer was everywhere,” stated Delzel. 

Within these images lie crucial answers, and they have shared the visuals with over two million individuals.   

In these visuals, people have rediscovered themselves. A woman spotted herself at six years old, managing her sister’s stroller during a United Farm Workers gathering.  

Poster artist Stanley Mouse was identified in another image, strolling through Golden Gate Park to attend a Grateful Dead concert.  

Uncredited images provided by SpeakLocal. 

Another image features photojournalist Michael Zagaris at a City Hall rally alongside Muhammad Ali.

However, one particular image offers the most significant clue. It displays a plate glass window, with a reflection of the individual taking the photograph visible in it.

“There’s a reflective shadow of the photographer seen within a plate glass window. You can distinguish a silhouette,” explains Delzel. Although it may not be much to rely on, he believes he can discern bracelets and loose-fitting garments.

Uncredited images provided by SpeakLocal. 

Hence, a call for assistance is now being made.

Delzel launched a Kickstarter initiative titled Who Shot Me – Stories Unprocessed, which concludes on January 15. If they can achieve their objective, they intend to send the remaining rolls to a Film Rescue Lab in Canada, seeking to uncover the identity of this photographer. Delzel emphasized that establishing ownership is vital for public access to these materials.

If successful, they aim to share these images globally through public exhibitions and make them accessible to educational institutions. He hopes they can ultimately unveil the mystery concealed within these photographs and provide credit where it is warranted.