manipulation | Photographs Forever

A photo tells a 1000 words….

A much faded photo in an old album of photographs of a child born in April 1918 shows that little girl, Hylda, clutching a much loved toy monkey
called Jacko.
Hylda gazed at the photo and recalled that as a small child she listened to the minister of her church in Kingkerswell urging all the children to give a treasured toy as a present to children who would otherwise not receive a Christmas toy. Full of good intentions Hylda gave Jacko away.

Her feelings of good will and self sacrifice lasted a day after which she spent many hours in tears for the loss of her beloved Jacko! Imagine her delight when the beautifully restored photo of Hylda and Jacko came as a special birthday card celebrating her 100th birthday…

Hylda enjoyed wonderful celebrations with her family, and friends and the story of Jacko was once again shared! The photo and the many others now restored remain as memories for
both Hylda and her family

This fantastic photograph of a Victor V Bomber refueling English Electric Lightnings over the Niagara Falls is one that I had the pleasure to restore and colourise recently. I found the correct colouring of all the aircraft from technical drawings I found on Google Images.

I received this photograph as four photographs stuck together and folded as that was the best way with the technology of the time. When it was restored I printed a 40inch wide print.

Here’s the story….

“The Cuillins is a range of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye, we spent many happy family holidays on Skye when I was a child and my Dad, George Smith who was a very talented amateur photographer, spent years perfecting his panorama of “the Cuillins” as we used to call them, he unfortunately passed away in 2015 and we recently went through some of the many images he had painstakingly crafted over the years, including this one which was in fairly bad condition having been folded up & stored in a box in a damp sitting room in a French Farmhouse for the last 10 years; I love this image as it brings back so many wonderful memories of my Dad and the fun we used to have on Skye in the shadow of the Cuillin, I am so grateful to Richard for the amazing restoration and for enabling such a precious memory to be recovered and displayed once again in its full glory.”

I recently received this photograph which had been kept in a photo frame and the entire top surface of the photo had come away from its paper backing and so the image consisted of a large number of very frail flakes that would have blown away in the slightest draught!

It was an important photo and so I was able to digitally painstakingly put it back together and with the help of two other photographs from the same customer I as able to use the persons eyes and add a complete dog!

Here’s the finished photo:

With Christmas now on the horizon here are some ideas for a unique gift that’s ideal for those who can be tricky to find something a bit different.

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.

I received this message from Irene after I has restored her photograph and I was quite touched –

“Thank you so much for your recent work which was excellent as usual. The photograph you restored fits beautifully into the frame and looks wonderful surrounded by a verse from one of my favourite songs. No apologies for the sentimental nature of the words! I’ve sent you a copy so you can see the end result.

There were some lovely surprises with the negatives. Some photographs I have never seen before and others have not been seen by the family for years. I have no idea who the people playing football are! I have included several of the photographs in my writing – which is nearly finished by the way.”

Always very gratifying to receive this kind of message.

There is no better way to remember all the great times in life than through the photographs you have from the past, present and future. Previous generations have very few photographs compared with the number we have today. Photographs are so important yet they often remain locked inside our phones or packed away in a box.

So make the most of your photographs. Here are 8 tips….

Download the photos from your phone – either onto your computer or a cloud-based storage site such as MyKnowHowCloud.com where you can store all your photographs and any other important files.
Make prints and enlargements of the best photographs, frame them and get them out on display so you can enjoy them.
Photographs are a great way to remind you of good times that you’ve had and important events in your life.
Photographs are the best way to remember parents, grandparents and past generations. In many really old photographs the people in them often look very serious in formal poses in studios. These were sometimes the only photographs that existed and they have a special charm and look great when enlarged and framed.
Create a photo book of your favourite memories. Your photos are the record of your life so far. A photo book of your family life in pictures is a wonderful thing to have and will give you and others a huge amount of pleasure.
Taking photographs today is a fantastic way of spending time that costs virtually nothing. It’s creative, social and rewarding. We take as many photos each day now as in the first 74 years of photography. It’s important to remember to do something positive with the photos you take.
If they’re not right, fix them! With the fantastic technology available today virtually any photo that is is in some way not as good as you’d like it to be can be resolved with digital software. You can fix lots of elements yourself with free programs such as Google Picasa.
Use Photographs Forever as a resource for any advice you may need with your photographs. You can call me any time. It is my passion that you make the most of your photographs. Get them on display, and get them scanned so you have digital copies in case the original prints get lost or damaged. If they need improving either do it yourself or let me do it for you. Let there be photographs!

I was asked to to combine three very low quality photographs so that there was a single photograph of the father with his two sons all around the same age.

I had to increase all the file sizes, restore the photographs, remove backgrounds and the lanyard, match the scale of each person, add Dad’s shoulders, find a different background and then put the composite image together to create the final result. Here’s the before and after.

Creating a Composite Image of Dad with his Two Sons at About The Same Age

Here is the original photograph, then the restored and colourised version. I knew what colour the Union Jacks were – all the rest were my best guess!

Photograph Before Restoration

Photograph After Restoration and Colourising

This is a letter I received from Maurice after I had carried out some work and the story behind his photographs

“I was delighted with the work you did for me. You took old faded, a bit ragged looking photos, some showing cracks, and restored them to original condition. Your manipulation, to achieve a full length photo showing only my late wife, from two separate group photos, was unbelievable. I get the feeling that if it can be done, you have the skill and the patience to do it.

There is a saying, “Love the work you do and you will never work again”. I suspect this applies to you. I assume most people having photos restored, are rekindling memories, or trying to extend memories, and the fact that you can help them do that must give you great satisfaction.

My reason? My first wife, the mother of my four sons, died 1981. My second wife died 2015, I was married for approximately 30 years to each of them. Two very special ladies. I feel like I have had two lives. So photos have been resurrected and restored, and photos have been enhanced, and thanks to you are now on display. Thanks once again Richard, I wish you well for the future. Yours sincerely Maurice.”

Here are the photographs Maurice is referring to

Example of Photograph Restoration

Photograph Manipulation Example

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Archive for manipulation – Page 3

100 Year Old Photograph Tells 1000 Words

V-Bomber Refueling Lightnings Above Niagra Falls – Colourised Photograph

4 Photo Panoramic Scene Merged and Restored

Disintegrating Photograph Restored

9 Great Ways To Transform Your Photographs

Sentimental Framed Photograph After Restoration

8 Great Tips to Help You Make The Most of Your Photographs

Dad With His Two Sons Around The Same Age

An Example of Colourising an Old Photograph

Two Special Ladies Remembered

Recent Posts

No Risk Photograph Restoration - Free Advice Call 01825 740986

Archive for manipulation – Page 3

Recent Posts

No Risk Photograph Restoration -
Free Advice Call 01825 740986