A Dilemma … Restoration of Old Photographs … "To What End/Purpose?"
As a restorer of old photographs, I can tell you that not all of those in need of restoration … can be brought "all the way back" so-to-speak, and some … "brought back," only just barely.
Photos that are faded, creased, with pieces missing, out-of-focus, stained … I've had requests to restore every conceivable flaw a photo can encounter … and particularly if a photo is, i.e., the "only remaining picture of a departed family member, pet, home, auto, etc.," saying things like, "I'll do what I can, but, there's not much I can do," makes me sad.
And then, there are the successes! No down sides there, right?
Well, that all depends as to WHAT END/PURPOSE is designated for the finished restoration.
F'rinstance … Grandma and Grandpa on a carousel in 1907 … "like new" is the preference.
But for publishers … the objectives vary, and with variations, sometimes come desired "less than like new" results; really.
If a photo from 100+ years ago is going into a publication like Reminisce magazine, a few dinks and dings in an old photo may be just the right ingredients to put reminiscence into its desired perspective.
So, in summary, I will state that, with photo restorations, getting started can be the easy part, while, WHEN TO STOP may be based upon parameters other than "perfection."
Below is a photo from 1897 … this is the latest iteration of restoration … third one. I no longer have the original slide, so, if someone wants a more time-worn version, I'd have to create a convincing UN-RESTORATION (yes! I've done that upon publisher request). This one is not for a publisher, it's for public consumption as a PRINT (with various options … canvas to T-Shirt to Tote Bag, Pillow and more).
The original was Black & White, somewhat faded and without the double-border I added.
© A. Mac/A.G.
Atlantic City, N.J. (Most Likely), C. 1910
© A. Mac/A.G.
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, 1903
© A. Mac/A.G.
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I will be doing more of these using the techniques I've recently experimented with.
Very nice Mac. All of your restorations are great, no matter how far you take them (or don't take them). Naturally, my greatest interest is in analyzing the historical content rather than the picture itself, although they are also beautiful as pictures. Obviously, that's because most of my training and experience is in history and the historical analysis of artifacts. I actually find that to be fun and it keeps my mind working.
I also like to watch the interaction between a talented photographer and a great restorer. Of course, I've seen your restoration abilities and talent make the work of even an average photographer look better than the original.
Thanks for your kind words, TTGA.
I'm always looking at yard, garage and estate sales in search of old slides … what I typically find is that the sellers, for some reason, throw away the slides and try and sell the projectors and trays.
In the digital age, projectors are dinosaurs replaced by film scanners and monitors instead of projection screens.
Very frustrating.
I found my Daddy's old slides, but they are packed, and I have no idea where... Either still in the house, or in storage... If I ever unearth them again, I'll try to send them to you. Not that you would be interested in old slides of my family, but he did sell some of his photos of a horrible plane crash up by Tell City, IN to Life magazine... I have no slides from Uncle Louie's-- they were all gone by the time I was cleaning out his house. No negatives survived, either, I'm sorry to say...
NOTE: I still have our old projector, also packed, but I wanted to keep it to view the slides. Yeah, I'm a pack rat...
I treasure the photos you have restored for me!!! To see my Grandpa's face, long before I could have known him, and their homes, long before I could have gone to see them, is fantastic! I thank you again!!!
PS, did you know that the body of the article is showing up on my screen, on what I think is Greek? Maybe that's intentional, but I have no idea what it says...
Are you writing in a foreign language now, Mac?
Beautiful photo...
Maybe you can restore me, I'm really old.
You should see some of the photos on Larry Hamptons article. Outstanding.
Can't understand the foreign language thing … anyone else seeing that? I have notice that the type face has changed across the site … I don't care for the font.
Im the meantime, check out the beach scene … note the bathing suits.
What beach scene? It's not showing up, either... Maybe it just hasn't had time to load...
The beach scene should be visible.
Ahhh, NOW I see it! It's lovely and very interesting! Somewhere, I have old pictures of my grandparents and friends on a sandbar in the Ohio River, in their bathing suits, on a picnic in the 1920s... So funny! But, they were cute!!! Grandpa and Uncle Louie in their 'muscle' shirts... Grandma and Aunt Lois in skirts... Standard bathing suit wear for the era. If I can find them, I'll try to scan them in and send them to you! Something more than Grandma and Grandpa sitting in the boat... Maybe there is something interesting there!
Mac, the whole introduction is written in Cyrillic...I'm not kidding.
Let me check the font on the intro.
Otherwise, the comments are in various fonts … what gives?
NO idea, but I'm seeing what Kavika is seeing... It looks fascinating and I wish I could read it. I can spell out the words, but have no idea what their words are, how to pronounce them, or their meaning...
Mac, it just changed to English.
Dowser are you seeing the intro in English now?
Yes, thankfully!!!
Great intro, A. Mac!
Mac, it just changed to English.
No idea what's happening.
I'm bet that there are trolls in the coding. Little bastards.
YAY! It changed for me, too! I bet it was just another glitch... Now, I'll go up and read it!
Love you, dear A. Mac!!!
Just posted a third image … I have found a way to clean up 100+ years of dirt (in some instances … though not all); I also feel that changing the original black and white to sepia tone, reinforces the the "vintage" feel.
It's just beautiful! Somehow, in black/white/sepia, you get to appreciate the architecture more than in color... Although I'm I'm sure it is beautiful in color, as well...
Neat picture!
It's just beautiful! Somehow, in black/white/sepia, you get to appreciate the architecture more than in color... Although I'm sure it is beautiful in color, as well...
Neat picture!
This is really crazy Mac, now your font on your comment is different than everyone else's...
BTW, I can see all three photos and they are great.
Good night and much appreciation for the kind words.
I hope the font craziness is resolve and we return to what was the default type face all along.
More restorations to come.