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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Ranolki on Friday 24 February 23 20:58 GMT (UK)

Title: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Ranolki on Friday 24 February 23 20:58 GMT (UK)
I believe this is a photo of my great grandfather's sister Myra, who was born in 1878 but died in 1899.  My great grandfather was very close to her, which would possibly account for it being in an old wallet of his.

Is anyone able to give a clue as to the era from the very limited clues with the clothing etc so that we can be a little more sure that it's likely to be her?  And possibly take away a little of the dirt?  Thank you...
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around 1885?
Post by: Ranolki on Friday 24 February 23 21:03 GMT (UK)
The photo looks distorted in that post so I've adjusted it slightly!
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: loord74 on Sunday 26 February 23 12:24 GMT (UK)
my attempt
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Ranolki on Sunday 26 February 23 14:11 GMT (UK)
That's absolutely beautiful, thank you!
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 14:36 GMT (UK)
I have started cleaning this one with a more natural and authentic approach suited to the Edwardian era, but as you prefer the plastic, "Taken Yesterday" look, I won't spend any more time on it  ::)
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: loord74 on Sunday 26 February 23 15:18 GMT (UK)
I have started cleaning this one with a more natural and authentic approach suited to the Edwardian era, but as you prefer the plastic, "Taken Yesterday" look, I won't spend any more time on it  ::)
Carol

plastic??, it is natural restoration using more than three techniques with more than of two hours manual restoration on Photoshop... UN-expected provocative speech, simply take it or leave it But don't direct any Criticizing speech, I'm a volunteer here since four years and trying to make people happy
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: hepburn on Sunday 26 February 23 15:32 GMT (UK)
I think it's gorgeous! :) :)
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: John-76 on Sunday 26 February 23 16:05 GMT (UK)
With all due respect Loord74 I have to agree on principle with treetotal. The facial complexion characteristics show no depth or shadowing. The young lady's clothing is just blurred to the point of nothing, no detail at all. I use no AI just photoshop, and that fact coupled with my old age necessitates many hours on most of my restorations.
My comments are not personal Loord74. Don’t feel slighted, I’ve been accused of plagerism on the forum! It took a while, but I got over it. ;)
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 16:12 GMT (UK)
The important thing here, is that the original poster likes it. My main point, was to the poster, who liked it, and not Rami. The photograph is at least 120 years old!
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: John-76 on Sunday 26 February 23 16:47 GMT (UK)
Agreed! If the poster likes it then it’s settled! I’m just a crotchety old guy who likes to complain!  ???
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 26 February 23 16:56 GMT (UK)
All the photographs are really lovely ,a beautiful child and the original poster now has two versions .
Something I could not do myself so much respect to those who can.
Thanks for sharing.
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 17:28 GMT (UK)
Agreed! If the poster likes it then it’s settled! I’m just a crotchety old guy who likes to complain!  ???

No John..I think your words were accurate and truthful.
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: loord74 on Sunday 26 February 23 17:33 GMT (UK)
Well, directing criticism also to the owner of the image because he expressed admiration goes against logic, I personally do not want to discuss much about this subject. The goal of restoring images is to reach a picture as if it (was taken yesterday), and I think that is the (golden goal), and for this reason Adobe Photoshop and others are keen on Developing its software and techniques in removing blemishes and frills, increasing image sharpness and accuracy, and correcting shadows and colors. Without exaggeration, I learn something new every day by following lessons here and there. Using Adobe, you can sharpen the edges to the maximum degree possible, and then smooth these edges using other tools. Why we are Against development and raising efficiency..Personally, I do not hesitate to inquire how anything was done because every day we learn something new.I used topaz gigapixel just to increase photo size without loosing quality, Use the smudge tool on 2 separate layers - 1 set to Darken and 1 set to Lighten, Fix the details like blotchy faces, reflections, missing chunks and blurred details using Frequency Separation, I will attach AI enhanced photo to compare with previous restoration .
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: loord74 on Sunday 26 February 23 17:36 GMT (UK)
here is AI enhancement just to compare with my previous restoration
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: jbml on Sunday 26 February 23 17:52 GMT (UK)
Surely there's no one goal of restoration ... different people want different things.

Personally I adore the original, age degredation and all; and I really like the first restored image.

As for the AI one, though ... I grew up in a black-and-white era and am comfortable with monochrome photography, whether sepia or greyscale or whatever. Then we started getting colour (but boy was it expensive ... although after a bit it became more expensive to have black and white processed due to economies of scale). So I am entirely comfortable with both colour and monochrome. But what I cannot ever get my head around is black-and-white-with-bits-of-colour. To me, it just doesn't compute.

But it works for some people ... and if that's what you like and want, then your goal in restoration may be to produce just that.

She was an incredibly charming looking girl, whichever way you prefer to view her.
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Uhnnohn on Sunday 26 February 23 19:47 GMT (UK)
A smudge here and there
Still looks old, but a bit better
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Sunday 26 February 23 19:54 GMT (UK)
Oh, I do like that one  :)

It's of it's age.
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Ranolki on Sunday 26 February 23 21:15 GMT (UK)
I have started cleaning this one with a more natural and authentic approach suited to the Edwardian era, but as you prefer the plastic, "Taken Yesterday" look, I won't spend any more time on it  ::)
Carol


I'm sorry to have started all this!  I DO love the original restoration.  In fact I appreciate the work involved with every one of them.  I would love to see the more natural idea you mention though, if you would please finish it?  It's likely to be used in a book so an authentic "true to the original" style may be appropriate too. Thank you.

So that I can be slightly more confident that this IS Myra, would it be reasonable to assume this could have been from as early as the mid 1880s from the clothing?  Or more likely to be Edwardian?  I have a photo of a great grandmother as a child (around 1890) and this seems quite similar.

Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Sunday 26 February 23 22:48 GMT (UK)
To me, it looks Edwardian to early 1910s.

Here's a small one that is probably similar to the original.  It reminds me of those individual school photos.

Gadget

added - one with some colour
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 22:56 GMT (UK)
A smudge here and there
Still looks old, but a bit better

That's a really lovely one.
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 22:57 GMT (UK)
To me, it looks Edwardian to early 1910s.

Here's a small one that is probably similar to the original.  It reminds me of those individual school photos.

Gadget

I like that a lot, really natural.
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: McGroger on Sunday 26 February 23 23:00 GMT (UK)
Something a bit different. :)
Peter
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 26 February 23 23:10 GMT (UK)
To me, it looks Edwardian to early 1910s.

Here's a small one that is probably similar to the original.  It reminds me of those individual school photos.

Gadget

I mentioned earlier about it being Edwardian. It can't be Maya as she was born in 1878 and died in 1899. She looks to be about 8 or 9 I think.

Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Sunday 26 February 23 23:34 GMT (UK)
Something a bit different. :)
Peter

I thought that you didn't use colour, Peter - fun, interesting and different  :D

The intro pic on the latest PSCC version 24.2 is worth looking at. I can't put it up as it's copyright.
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: McGroger on Monday 27 February 23 02:32 GMT (UK)
No colouring on my behalf, Gadget; just blended a couple of filters on PSE: Old Paper and Old Tint. ;)
Peter
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 27 February 23 11:58 GMT (UK)
I believe this is a photo of my great grandfather's sister Myra, who was born in 1878 but died in 1899.  My great grandfather was very close to her, which would possibly account for it being in an old wallet of his.


Are you sure that you have the right person, this photo of her looks to be Edwardian. Is there any information on the photo, any photographer's name to date it more accurately? Are we seeing all the photograph, or is there more of it?


Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 27 February 23 13:12 GMT (UK)
I agree with Carol (see my reply #18)

I have a photo of my mother in 1913 (aged 4)  with hair just like that and wearing a smock like that. She was the youngest daughter  (oldest was b. 1895) .  I don't think even 'pass me downs' would account for such a gap

Gadget
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 27 February 23 13:17 GMT (UK)
I also mentioned that it was Edwardian in reply #4
Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 27 February 23 22:16 GMT (UK)
I believe this is a photo of my great grandfather's sister Myra, who was born in 1878 but died in 1899.  My great grandfather was very close to her, which would possibly account for it being in an old wallet of his.

Was there someone of the next generation?
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Ranolki on Tuesday 28 February 23 08:15 GMT (UK)
We're looking at that now.  On that basis she might have been born in around 1903 which would fit my grandmother.  But she really looks nothing like her and there were two other sisters after her who also don't fit.  It was definitely in my great grandfather's wallet as he had signed the inside cover of it and there were in fact two photos of his sons as little boys in there.  The only other person might be his much younger sister, who he was also close to.  She was born in 1886.  This is probably too early too.  It may remain an enigma at this rate!
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Tuesday 28 February 23 15:47 GMT (UK)
I assume that your great grandfather didn't have any daughters as you've only mention two sons.
The original looks as if it's in some kind or frame or has a border around it. Is there anything on the back?

Gadget
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: japeflakes on Tuesday 28 February 23 16:49 GMT (UK)
1905 ish ?
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Treetotal on Tuesday 28 February 23 22:31 GMT (UK)
To me, it looks Edwardian to early 1910s.

Here's a small one that is probably similar to the original.  It reminds me of those individual school photos.

Gadget

added - one with some colour


I just noticed your colour version Gadget, it wasn't there when I last looked. I really like it, it is so natural looking.

Carol
Title: Re: Photo found in an old wallet. Around Myra 1885?
Post by: Gadget on Tuesday 28 February 23 22:44 GMT (UK)
Thanks, Carol. I put it on just after you posted about the first one so you must have missed it.

I tried to make it as natural as possible with just a pale bluei-sh grey backgound and focused on her face  :)