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Archive for Photograph restoring

How Stephen Saved The History Of The Titanic…

We’d like to share with you the fascinating story of Stephen Raffield, an avid Titanic historian and collector, who came to us last year with a very special photo album. Stephen and his wife had acquired a personal photograph album of John Kempster’s containing unique, never before seen, historic photographs of both Olympic and Titanic ships. The album was headed for being completely dismantled before they stepped in.

Stephen explains, ‘John Kempster joined Harland and Wolff Belfast in 1900, and was appointed as managing director in 1906 in charge of the electrical plant. Kempster became involved in the construction and launch of both Olympic and Titanic. He was also a very keen photographer and, in 2012, an album of photographs taken and developed by him came to light. A lady walked into a Wiltshire auction house and asked if the album she was holding was worth anything. As well as a number of photographs of the Kempster’s family holiday in America in 1911, the album contained stunning, never seen before, photos of Olympic leaving Belfast for her maiden voyage and also the launch of Titanic and her own departure from Belfast for the first and last time. The photographs are of exquisite quality and finely detailed. The initial plan of the auctioneers was to break up the album and sell off the photographs singly or in small batches. Steve and Jane Raffield, collectors of Titanic memorabilia, were able to negotiate the purchase of the whole album so that this unique record of both Olympic and Titanic at Belfast would be preserved for the future.’

Stephen came to us with the Kempster album.  We scanned the photos in high definition so that each photograph could be safely stored on Stephen’s computer and was also able to appreciate the greater detail of the enlarged images for the first time!

We went on to digitally enhance, and bring out of the photos even more definition by using modern technology, and removing any imperfections from the photos which Kempster himself had developed and printed. We also re-created the album so Stephen could give replica copies to his children.

“The restored photos are simply stunning. The originals are amazing and I didn’t think you could improve much from what are the most detailed photos in the world of the launch of Titanic. Absolutely amazing!”

The original album, photographs and the rest of the Raffield Titanic Collection are currently on display in Brisbane, Australia.

Going, Going, Gone! 

Here is one of the frames we provided showing photographs of the Titanic actually being launched.


It’s very easy to start the process of saving your own precious photos. All you have to do is send us a message!

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DJ David Hamilton’s Autobiography – The Long And Winding Road

We recently helped David by restoring two fading 1970s photographs of him, one for the front cover of his forthcoming autobiography.

David says:

“Due out in July/August is my autobiography, David Hamilton’s Long And Winding Road, My life, loves and lessons learned, published by Austin Macauley and celebrating my 65th year in broadcasting.

Choosing the right pictures for the front cover is vital and the publishers wanted a Then and Now, a shot of me in my Radio 1 days in the 70`s and one in my Boom Radio studio today.

I had in a frame at home a picture in the Radio 1 studio taken in 1975 that had faded, probably from sunlight.   It needed enhancing.   I had heard of Photographs Forever through their advertising on Boom Radio.   Since I live in West Sussex it wasn’t too long a journey to pay them a visit.

Richard was absolutely brilliant, worked his magic on the photo and here it is, looking as good as new.   Well done, Photographs Forever and Thank You.”

Reigate & Banstead Mayors Have Been Restored!

We were asked by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to restore 49 faded framed portraits of their Mayors going back many years. This involved removing the existing photographs from their frames, scanning and digitally restoring each one as well as reintroducing all the red and gold elements of many.  Here is just one of the worse ones showing before and after our restoration.

Photographs Forever Before and After

When all 49 were fully restored we printed them all on archive grade paper (so the fading will no longer be an issue going forward) and replaced them in their original frames.  Here they are safely reinstalled and being regularly enjoyed by all visitors the the Town Hall.

Photographs Forever

April 2024 – 20% off Digital Colourisation

For this month only (April 2024) we are offering a 20% discount on digital colourisation.

We all understand the power a photograph can have to transport us back to moments filled with laughter, love, and nostalgia, and whilst black & white photos are fantastic, sometimes a vibrant colour photograph can make all the difference.

Photographs Forever Colourisation Example

 

Photograph Restoration Colourisation Example

 

Glass Cooker Splashback Project

Brenda C sent us this message to ask if we could help:

I am having new kitchen worktops and was going to have a glass splashback across the cooker wall. I have decided to use two landscape photos placed somehow in the glass splashbacks but details have to be obviously pretty exact.

Would you be interested in creating the photo panorama for the glass manufacturers. It would consist of one landscape view, one central portrait view above the cooker and another landscape view. The photos to be used are of The Solent looking across to the IOW with sailing club yachts. Blue sky with few clouds, blue sea and the yachts have their dark blue spinnaker sails open. Obviously, sky, sea etc have to be in alignment with one another.

We have done this kind of bespoke project before and told Brenda we would be very happy to help. Brenda’s  photos above show the original photographs we were supplied with and the finished result. We increased the proportions to allow for the exact placing of the power point positions which meant more sea was required.

Brenda was very happy with the finished result achieved by us and the glass manufacturing company, and sent us this feedback on the final splashback:

Everyone has loved the splashback with not one negative comment. Most comments are ‘Wow’. I love it and every time I go into the kitchen, it looks so clean and bright. I am also pleased that the upstand removes enough of the sea to balance the yachts being so high. Now you have added my splashback on your new website, I have sent the web page link to many friends.

I don’t know how you did it but it was exactly how I wanted it. I have been trying to find each of the yachts from my photos but have given up trying to find them now!

 

Torn photo restored

As you can see this photo was in a bad way having been sent to us in four pieces. Turned out OK in the end though!

Grenadier Guards Photo Saved!

At some point someone obviously thought it would be a good idea to give some of these characters beards and glasses.

That’s where we were able to be helpful to a very grateful customer.

Here’s the before and after

Luca Joins The Photographs Forever Team

We are very pleased to let you know that Luca Quasimodo has joined Photographs Forever on a full-time basis. He will be creating our photobooks as well as carrying out many other duties so that we can be as efficient with customer photographs and photograph restoration.  Luca has been working for us part time until now. He has a Design Degree from Brighton University.
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Composite Photograph Created From 2 Existing Photographs

Here’s a photograph montage we completed for our client Stephen F

Here’s Stephen’s feedback:
“The photo is of myself and my grandson Dylan and individual photos were taken 15 years apart. Dylan’s father actually asked if I’d got dressed in my old uniform to have that photo taken, he couldn’t believe the one of myself was 15 years old.  I’ve spoken to Dylan and my daughter (his mum) and they are also very happy that you are considering using that photo as they both love it and can’t get over how good it is.”

Ferrari 275 Photograph Restoration and Colourise

We recently restored this photograph of the very handsome Ferrari 275 built around 1966. 

Our customer Claire H says ‘the results were absolutely fabulous, top notch!’

Do you have an important photograph that is looking a bit the worse for wear? Get in touch now!