Woman recreates portraits of her ancestors going back 200 years

Photographer Christine McConnell decided to embark on a new project recently.

Her mother had given her a dress that had been tucked away in the wardrobe for nearly 25 years but that she had been photographed in at the age of 32.

"I was also 32 at the time" she explained on a blog for Bored Panda. "And as a photographer, the thought occurred to me to recreate (what was to me) a famous family picture."

After doing some research and finding pictures of some of her female ancestors - dating back 200 years - McConnell recreated lots of "famous family pictures" with some striking results...

Christine (born 1981)

Mother Kathryn (born 1957)

Grandmother Mildred (born 1928)

Great-grandmother Attie Mae (born 1898)

Great-great-grandmother Jane (born 1858)

Great-great-great-grandmother Martha (born 1821)

Speaking i100.co.uk McConnell says her biggest takeaway from the project is how she can see different features of her own face in each of the women.

It's shown me how strange genetics are and how lucky I am to be here at all. So many people and so many choices had to come about and even the slightest change would have meant me never existing. I find that fascinating.

• Christine McConnell

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