Restoration Please - Albert & Alice Farmer and Their Children c1926

[Coys1955]

Following on from the photo of my grandparents before their marriage, this is the only surviving photo of them after their marriage with their three children and is in a dreadful state. Judging by the ages of the children (my father is top left and was born in 1923) I estimate it was taken in 1926-7. The picture was taken in front of 8 Chester Road, Seven Kings, Essex where the family lived from at least 1911 until 1984 when my grandmother died. Shockingly the house still had an outside toilet and no bathroom.

I would be very grateful if someone could work their magic on the tear and the unfortunate “flare” covering most of their faces. As I mentioned before I'm not a fan of AI resorations, which I find too perfect.

[McGroger]

My try.
Peter

[Neale1961]

The magician McGroger strikes again.
 With a crack running right through mother, and over-exposed children at the back, I thought this was going to be very tricky. Well it probably was, but Peter makes it look easy.

[McGroger]

Thanks, Neale; much appreciated.
Peter

[Coys1955]

That's amazing Peter, thank you so much.

I wasn't sure what you'd be able to do with that, especially the tear, which seemed to be offset vertically and horizontally.

If my date of 1926  is correct it would put the children (fron left to right) at 5, 3 and 2. Does that sound about right?

[McGroger]

Glad I could help, Coys.

With a photo torn in 2 and not joined back exactly right you can digitally separate the 2 halves again and move the pieces around to fit them a bit better, then "paper over" the remaining tear. Your other photo had a similar mismatch, in a much smaller area--the left hand end of the bench seat.

Those ages for the children seem pretty good to me.

Peter

[Andrew C.]

Brilliant job.

[McGroger]

Thanks, Andrew.
Peter