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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: David Posnett on Sunday 18 December 11 19:09 GMT (UK)
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I have the linked photo mounted on card, that has been exposed to light (I guess). I've tried the usual auto-correct tools on this image, but it still does not look any good. Can you help? You all did a fantastic job on my other treasured picture. My grandmother is the babe in arms!
I can rescan if required, the file is huge, so I have attached a link. Not sure how you'd send me a better version.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150425539467217&set=a.10150425538912217.354967.588067216&type=3&theater
Any help greatly appreciated.
David
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Hi David :)
According to my software, the photo is only 72 DPI :-\ For the best restoration, a DPI of 300 or above is preferred.
If you are unsure of how to go about scanning and resizing, there are tutorials at the top of the Resources board:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,426.0.html
I've taken the liberty of attaching your photo here to save others some time :)
Cheers
Prue
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Thank you Prue, maybe I uploaded the wrong version. I'll look at the guide and try again!
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Thinking about it, David, it probably wasn't you, as I think Facebook automatically downsizes/drops the resolution on pics uploaded to it.
You're better off uploading directly to Rootschat :)
Cheers
Prue
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Thanks to the excellent instructions, I have resized the original scan.
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I'd also like to say how fantastic I have found this site so far, everyone is so helpful.
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Some thoughts on this photo, possibly random :)
See how the center of the photo is darker? And there are almost straight lines marking the colour differential, most notably on the boy's legs? Possibly this photo was on the bottom of a pile of smaller photos for some years, fading the edges and leaving a darker spot in the center.
The bright white of the ladies' blouses, and the baby's robe, have created a local overexposure effect around them, a feature of what to us seem like long shutter exposure times. Common in baby christening photos....I think Prue calls it "baby blur" :)
The mother's hairstyle is a wonderful example of the Pompadour style that was in vogue in the late Victorian/early Edwardian eras. The hair was rolled over padding to give the effect.
Well, just random thoughts ;D
Cheers,
China
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I wondered about my g.grandmothers hairstyle, so thank you for that. And also the baby blur, I assumed the pic had got damaged, rather than not being great at the time. There are photos of the mum and dad taken at the same time, dated 31st Jan 1908. My Nan (the babe in arms) died this year aged 103 - so she did really well!
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Oh that looks great, thanks japeflakes!
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one from me
Irene
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Very nice Irene, thank you.
I'll get them all printed off, thank you all.
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Couple from me.
Terry
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Wow, I can now see my gran a little clearer. Thank you. It is amazing to think that she died aged 103 this year, and I have a pic of her aged 3 months old. Humbling somehow.
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You are very welcome, it's a lovely photo..... and I'll bet your gran had some great memories and stories for you after 103 years :)
Terry
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Hi David........Another to add to the list.
Carolyn :)
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It's amazing how different the picture looks with a frame, thank you Carolyn.
I wonder what sort of price the photo would have cost at the time. There are 2 or 3 others taken at the same time, of the parents both together and individually.
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Photos were affordable, and often ordered in sets of multiples. There's a very nice post on the subject here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,430761.msg2953509.html#msg2953509
The photos were often distributed to friends as well as family....before the days of government-run welfare services, friends and family were hugely important. The original "social networking" :) This causes no end of confusion to us family researchers today....someone will post a photo for dating in hopes of figuring out which ancestor it was. But it may not be a relative at all.
Cheers,
China
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One from me :)
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China, I love the thread about the photo process, it makes interesting reading. I had no idea cameras could have had multiple lenses. I guess that's why we set a 'set', all made on the same plate - shame to waste one of the positions.
Thank you Bob Edwards (my mother's maiden name (the Edwards bit, not the Bob)!) From a tatty photo to a smart looking item :0)
David