I"ve only got one photograph of my grandad. He died at Gallipoli in the first world war when my dad was two. The photo is a bit the worse for wear. I got it about 25 or 26 years ago and it hasn't got any worse since the day I got it.
It isn't a great photo, but then it dates back about 95 years.
As you can see, it's a bit knackered - the sellotape has been there as long as I have known this photograph. So, I thought I'd have a go at doing some work on it. I didn't use a tutorial or a book, I just tried various things that I already know and took my time doing it.
This is the result:
I've got to say that I'm quite chuffed with it. I know, I have no way of knowing that his eyes were blue - I use my son's eye colour, and my dad's were the same colour as well. I guess a purist may say that I shouldn't have coloured it. I haven't, the original is still here with me. I like what I've done and I think my son will like it when he sees it as well.
7 comments:
that is such a kool piece of history!
but personally, i like the unphotoshopped image more :)
Interesting preference Mars, I'm guessing that it is the colour you don't like 'cos old photos shouldn't be in colour. I've also done a sepia version since you comment which gets rid of the rips and the sellotape marks and brings out the face more but at the same time stays more true to the original so that it looks as though it has been restored rather than coloured.
Cheers
DB
I tend to agree with mars on this Billy. I think the original photo shows so much more of grandad's character. However, it's wonderful that computer technology allows us to 'play' with things like this.
I also think yer grandad looks a tad like George Harrison :-)
Looks a lot like you and the sprog actually!
But the colorized version loks so... Monty Python-esque. I expect a big foot to come squishing down...
I love old photos the way they are, the character and "life" it's lived shown with wear around the corners.
We have several old sepia photos of my great grandparents, which are luckily in good condition; they look somehow regal in sepia. One was damaged, and we took it to someone professional who just restored it to its former glory so it may live for many generations to come and not deteriorate further.
I don't know where you could have that done there or even where I live, but places like that are abound in the USA and in the UK, I imagine. Cost was extremely reasonable and a good investment.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Beatiful photo and retouching job. I've been thinking about doing this with some old photos, but need to become a bit more proficient with PhotoShop.
I've been making the rounds of greek blogs, just kind of seeing who all is out there (I've got a greek recipe blog) and I clicked on a link to you because "Waiting for Skopelos" just sounded so beautiful and poignant. Good luck to you!
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