Our customer Clive visited some time ago and brought one of the most fascinating photographs I have seen since I started restoring photographs in 2009. Not only is the quality of the original photograph stunning, the detail contained in the photograph is amazing and you can see some close up details below. This is Clive’s story:

“So here’s a little bit of a back story on the photo that you restored for me and the family. “The Stadium”

The first time I ever set eyes on the photo I was about 6 years old and my father Bruce was arguing with one of his uncles (Neil Cooke) who wanted to sell the photo to which my father was quite annoyed and gave him £100 saying sold (this was about 1980).

As my sister and I grew up the photo hung in the dining room of my parents house and for many years it would get admired from time to time when the room was used. my Grandmother Ouida Monica Cooke pointed out to us that her father (my great grandfather) Leon Douglas Cooke was one of the 5 ringmasters standing in the centre, (he is second in from the left Top hat on and white waistcoat showing) his wife Iona Cooke (Formally Ginnett’s) is sitting rather sternly on the horse to the left of the photo (4th in from the left, Black jacket, right arm on hip).

The photo was taken at  The British Empire Stadium (Now named Wembley Stadium) some time between 22nd June and 15th August 1925.

For the film lovers among you, the opening scene of the film “THE KING’S SPEECH” starring Colin Firth as King George VI giving his first ever public speech opening the British Empire Exhibition.

The original photo had some minor damage and had also started to fade due to light, I knew that I wanted to get this scanned and digitally preserved but also restored as best as possible and I wasn’t prepared to let any happy snaps have a go, It was with this in mind that I began my search, coming across Richard at Photographs forever (from an online search) and after meeting him I was more than happy to let him do his thing and what a wonderful job he did.

Thank you Richard I will be forever grateful for your work.”

Here are some small sections of this amazing photograph

Robertson and Ginnett’s Gigantic Circus was a significant attraction at the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley Stadium in 1925. This circus was part of the exhibition’s second season, which opened in May 1925 after considerable debate due to the financial challenges faced in the previous year.

The circus featured an impressive spectacle inspired by the famous chariot races held in the Circus Maximus of ancient Rome. Organized by Messrs Ginnett and Robertson, these races involved 400-500 performers in each event, creating a grand and thrilling experience for the audience.

The Ginnett family had a long history in the circus business, with their involvement dating back to the early 1800s. John Frederick Ginnett, a notable circus proprietor, was known for owning a popular circus during his time.

The British Empire Exhibition of 1925, which hosted the Gigantic Circus, was a significant event that aimed to develop imperial trade connections and foster closer political ties between Britain and its territories. Despite the financial challenges faced in the previous year, the exhibition reopened in 1925, partly in an attempt to recoup the government’s investment.

The inclusion of Robertson and Ginnett’s Gigantic Circus at this prestigious event underscores the importance of circus entertainment in early 20th-century British culture and its role in showcasing spectacle and skill at international exhibitions.

The post Historic and Fascinating Circus Photograph at Wembley 100 Years Ago first appeared on Photographs Forever.

Ancestry.com is a leading platform for exploring family history and genealogy, providing a variety of benefits that make it a top choice for individuals wanting to discover their roots.

You can currently have a 14 day free trial so you can see how useful it is for yourself.  CLICK HERE

Here are the 15 most compelling reasons for using Ancestry.com:

1. Extensive Historical Records

Ancestry.com boasts billions of records, including birth, marriage, death, census, immigration, military, and more.

The platform provides access to records from numerous countries, making it easier to trace international family connections.

2. User-Friendly Interface

The website is easy to navigate, making it simple for users, even beginners, to start building their family trees and accessing historical data.

Step-by-step hints and suggestions help guide users in finding relevant information without feeling overwhelmed.

3. DNA Testing Services

DNA provides users with an ethnicity breakdown, offering insights into their genetic origins and heritage.

The service connects users with potential relatives based on shared DNA, helping to uncover extended family members and new branches of the family tree.

4. Family Tree Building Tools

The platform offers tools to create detailed family trees that can include photos, stories, and historical records.

Users can collaborate with family members to build and expand their family tree together.

5. Record Hints and Smart Matches

Ancestry.com suggests potential matches and relevant records for individuals in your family tree, simplifying the research process.

This feature helps users quickly discover new information and verify their research with confidence.

6. Educational Resources and Guidance

Ancestry.com offers tutorials, articles, and videos to help users become more proficient in genealogical research.

Users can join forums and groups to get advice and share discoveries with others interested in genealogy.

7. Integration with Historical Context

The platform provides background information on historical events and trends relevant to specific time periods, giving users a richer understanding of their ancestors’ lives.

Maps, old photographs, and newspaper clippings enhance the storytelling aspect of family history.

8. Mobile App Access

The Ancestry mobile app allows users to continue their research from anywhere, making it convenient to access records and update family trees.

Users can scan and upload family photos directly from their smartphones, preserving them digitally.

9. Preservation of Family Heritage

Ancestry.com allows users to compile and preserve their family stories, photos, and documents in one secure place for future generations.

Family trees can be shared with loved ones, ensuring that the collected history is passed down and enjoyed by the entire family.

10. Comprehensive Subscription Plans

Ancestry.com offers various subscription levels, allowing users to choose plans that fit their research needs and budget.

Higher-tier plans provide more extensive access to global records and databases.

11. Access to Original Documents

Users can view original documents and historical images, making the research experience more authentic and trustworthy.

Seeing the actual records can help verify details and provide deeper insights into family history.

12. Support for Adopted Individuals

Ancestry.com can be particularly helpful for those trying to find biological family members through DNA testing and shared matches.

The platform can aid in providing information that leads to emotional closure or a deeper understanding of personal heritage.

13. Continuous Updates and Expansions

Ancestry.com frequently updates its databases and adds new records, ensuring that users have access to the most comprehensive data possible.

The platform invests in improving its tools and features to enhance user experience and research capabilities.

14. Family Stories and Memoirs

Users can add stories and anecdotes about their relatives, keeping memories alive and connecting generations.

Through these stories, users can learn about family traditions, achievements, and challenges.

15. Trust and Reliability

Ancestry.com is one of the most reputable and widely used genealogy sites, trusted by millions of users for its thoroughness and reliability.

The platform places importance on user privacy and data security, giving users confidence in how their information is handled.

In summary, Ancestry.com provides a comprehensive and engaging way to explore and document family history. Whether for casual interest or deep research, it offers tools and resources that make genealogy accessible and fulfilling.

The post Ancestry.com – The Perfect Place to Create Your Family History first appeared on Photographs Forever.

Photograph preservation can improve a photograph, image quality is not usually the primary purpose. Conservators will try to improve the overall visual appearance, but they would find it impossible to match what can be achieved by digital restoration. Because of the knowledge and skill and time required to carry out the physical preservation, the cost is likely to be prohibitive.

Digital restoration has many advantages including:

• Preservation of the original photograph
• Prevention from further deterioration
• Eliminating scratches, blemishes, tears, folds and fading
• Increase in the level of detail and enhancement of facial detail
• Prints of any size can be made and shared
• The ease of storage of digital files, also able to be shared

The post Photographs – Digital Restoration or Preservation of Original? first appeared on Photographs Forever.

2020 has been a very unusual year in so many ways for all of us. One factor that has occurred to many of us is the importance of the family and close relationships as we have had time to reflect.

I will be moving to a smaller house soon and, as I have to get rid of quite a lot of ‘stuff’,  it has occurred to me that when I look around the house to decide what’s precious, there really is very little that I couldn’t live without. Except photographs. Photographs are one of the very few things that can’t be replaced and they are therefore possibly our most important and valuable possession.

Because we have all had more time on our hands than usual, photograph collections that have been overlooked for years have finally been finding the light of day and getting them scanned and either optimised or fully restored has enabled these very special photographs to be enjoyed so much more. 

So, if you haven’t checked out your own photograph collection yet, there is no better time than the cold dark winter months. Apart from anything else, it is actually a very enjoyable exercise. So make that diary note to do it. You’ll be glad you did. 

The post What’s YOUR Most Important, Irreplaceable Possession? first appeared on Photographs Forever.

I am now very excited to be able to offer you a top quality bespoke framing service. This means I can offer custom size prints, mounts and frames to show off your restored photographs in the best way possible so they can receive the attention and admiration they deserve.

The most popular moulding is the solid wood satin black or mahogany with single or double mounts.

Satin Black Frame

Mahogany frame

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I can also provide multi aperture frames – the one below is 20in x 16in with two landscape format 8in x 6in prints and two portrait format 5in x 7in prints. There are several multi aperture options available and the frames can be any size you choose. Heavier mouldings are available for larger sizes.

I can even show you what your photograph will look like before you order including all the relevant dimensions. This is particularly useful if you want a specific frame size to fit a specific space in your house.

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A representation of your own photo with dimensions added

Further details are available here

The post Top Quality Framing For Your Restored Photograph first appeared on Photographs Forever.

My customer John G had a photograph he had taken of an old oil painting of an early member of his family (centre photo above). The photograph he gave me was not very good quality itself and you can see by the close up of the face on the left that the surface of the painting was also very cracked and damaged.
On the right is the same section after I had digitally restored it.

The post Restoration of Photo of Deteriorating Oil Painting first appeared on Photographs Forever.

My customer Brian C contacted me to restore his Grandfather’s certificate on which the handwritten personal information had badly faded in the frame.  I asked Brian for the story behind his enquiry and he wrote this back to me –  

“The certificate was presented to my Grandfather, an engine driver at Horsham, Sussex when he retired from British Railways in 1964.

It had hung on the wall in his house for many years, in a frame with no mount or seal and in bright sunlight. The effects of this are clear from the pre-restoration pictures.

When he died in 1982, I was given the certificate, which I had properly mounted and framed, however the damage was already done.

I have looked from time to time for somebody to restore it, however those I contacted all said it was too difficult. I saw your website and what you do, the old telegram being the clue, as most of your work is around photographs and I thought I would contact you to see if you could do anything for me. The answer is plain to see – a beautifully restored certificate, which looks like new, and will grace my wall as a nice reminder of my late Grandfather.”

The post Badly Faded Certificate Saved! first appeared on Photographs Forever.

Here is the before and after

Debbie then suggested that her customer added a nameplate with the details and also a genuine cap badge to go into the frame too. This was agreed and Debbie supplied these.

Here is the finished article

The post Framed Tribute to a Decorated Soldier first appeared on Photographs Forever.

Here just a few examples of the many ways I can transform your photographs….

If you have a photograph that has faded in its frame, it can be restored and re-coloured.

Two or more photographs can be combined and you can choose the people you want in the finished photo

Family groups can be ‘adjusted’ to include or exclude people!

Couples can finally be together in the same photograph.

Snapshots of pets can be made into portraits or montages

Treasured photographs that have suffered years of damage can be restored to their original state.

Combine a favourite photograph with a more interesting background.

Create a family montage from a selection of favourite photographs
 

Not sure which photos to use but can see the potential?
A Photographs Forever Gift Voucher of any value could be the answer.

The post 9 Great Ways To Transform Your Photographs first appeared on Photographs Forever.

It’s easiest to break the project into smaller manageable stages….

1. Gather all your photographs together into one place
2. Make a specific time to sit and go through them to separate the worthwhile ones from the not so worthwhile/duplicates/irrelevant ones
3. Put them into some kind of order – this is not critical as it’s very easy to change the order after scanning
4. Have the selected photographs digitally scanned – these can be put into separate “folders” if required
5. After scanning think about captions and or groups for the photos
6. Work out a suitable order for your photographs to go into the new photo-book
7. When your photo-book has been put together you will see a ‘virtual book’ on line for checking and approval
8. Order your photo-book(s) – this can be the relevant size/number of pages to suit the photographs in question.You may find it easier to divide the photos into several smaller books to keep sections separate (dates/places/content)

If there are various family members interested in your project, it is often the case that the overall cost can be shared so each person gets a finished photo-book and the cost of production of the book split several ways.

I hope this is helpful – don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss any aspect further or if you need any further information – I can help you at every stage.
I can also assure you that the final photo-book will be something that you’ll truly treasure and you’ll be so glad you went to the effort to get it made.

The post How To Sort Out Your Photographs first appeared on Photographs Forever.