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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: -Glen- on Tuesday 22 March 11 23:51 GMT (UK)
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Hello,
This photo was taken in 1939 and it's my Great-Great-Grandfather! Does anyone know if anything can be done to restore it at all?
Many thanks in advance,
Glen.
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Hello Glenn, Do you know if your gg grandad was a very small man or does he appear small because he is standing a few steps behind the bride? Most of his suit, especially the bottom half is obliterated in darkness,so it's hard to tell. The only clue is that the bride appears to be holding the train of her dress up and not holding his arm, in which case she could be well in front of him.
Ken
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Think I can just make out the toes of his shoes, and they look to be on the same level....
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Hi Ken, to be honest I'm not sure.
However, I think Paula may be right about those shoes just creeping through! :)
Do you think something can be done with it?
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Trying, I'm trying......... will have to do it a bit at a time, even then, I'm not to good at these sort of pics....
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Good luck Paula. I'll have a try too but it may be a few days as I'm plumbing our new bathroom suite in. It's not easy to make a good job of this photo because the shape of the top of gg grandad's head, his shoulders and the bottom of his suit can't be seen properly, nor can the background although I assume it's inside a church. I can see what you mean about the shoe but his head seems much smaller than the bride's which would indicate that he's walking a couple of feet behind her unless he is a very small person. It really would help to know if he was a small built man. Is there another photo of him?
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We'll just have to see what comes out as we work on it, Ken.
Not expecting much, but always willing to have a try.
Never improve my skills if i don't push them.
What ever, it will have to wait for the morning. Eyeballs about to migrate round the back of my head... think they want to go to sleep.
See you.
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Yes, actually I think I do have another photo of him!
I don't think I'm supposed to attach two photos to one topic? What's the best way to get the other photo to you?
Thanks, Glen.
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It's only if you put two or three photos for repair on a thread that it's a no no, Glen.
one for reference is OK.
must zzzzz
see you
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Ah ok, brilliant. Thanks. I'll attach it here then. He's the chap standing on the left. Don't know who the other two are! And not sure when or where it was taken, so don't know if it was similar age to the wedding pic. I think he's older in the wedding pic.
Speak soon. Night!
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Yes, he does look a little bit younger there, but he is a little short feller all the same.
Hasn't he got a merry face. I think he must have been a dear.
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Yes i think he was!
By all accounts he was a lovely man!
His children and grandchildren were all fond of him, I know that.
Apparently, he used to tell them that he got the boat from Ireland to Liverpool, as a young man, and then made his way to London by walking and hitching rides!
I think he was 'good cop' and his wife 'bad cop'! She was a very stern German lady apparently!
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A stern German lady... bet she was brought up on the book Struwwelpeter...
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they both look alike is your grandad just giving this bride away
sylvia
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That's what I was thinking, Sylvia. A daughter, perhaps?
I have been wondering why he is holding his right hand the way he is... silly me, he's holding a top hat, think I can just see a little bit of the lining.
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He's the Bride's Grandfather. Although he was the 'Father Figure' in her life.
Her own Father 'James Edwin Smith' did a vanishing act when she was two or three years old and was never seen again! In fact, just a few weeks ago, I traced his youngest sister. She is 102 years old!! Even she didn't know where he went to! I included a photograph of him. She said I 'totally turned her world upside down', when she opened the letter and saw the photo of her brother that vanished 90 years ago! Sadly she was unable to help me discover where he went to. It's nice to be in touch with her though! :)
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oops here again
can anyone see the extra people
i think he may be sitting
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Hmm, don't know about that, but as things are going it doesn't look so much like a top hat between his hands, does it.... :(
But there is something there....
WHAT IS IT >:(
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As good as I can get it...
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Different background and a splash of paint
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I don't think I've ever spent as much time on a photo as I have on this one. My wife's been getting irritable with me for spending so long on the computer. I've managed to find him a jacket, trousers, shoes and a hat but what's disappointing is that you can only remove so many specks and blemishes from faces without spoiling a person's character. I could spend another hour or so trying to make the clothes blend in better but I think I'd better leave it.
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Oh nice one.
I know what you mean about the spots...
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Thank you both so much! :)
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My pleasure
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Well done Paula. I know how much work you've put into those. Glen, I'm not at all satisfied with my effort and I'm going to have another go at it. It might be a week or two but I'll be posting another one.
Ken
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That's the thing with difficult ones like this, isn't it, Ken.
They are hard to put down. you always get the feeling that you could do better.
I gave up in the end, cut a lot off and put in a new background...
Ah well, as they say, if you can't win.... cheat ;)
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Sorry for the delayed reply Paula. I've been very busy fitting out our bathroom in my spare time. I've kept having a go at the photo and blended the jacket and trousers better (I think). Judging by the second photo Glenn posted, his great grandfather seems to have lost some weight and grown a bit of hair on top as he got older. I'm still not satisfied but enough is enough.
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I think that is about as good at it will get.
Nice photo, isn't it. He looks so proud.
Love the way you have made the rounded top, it fits so well.
Hope the bathroom has come along well.
Paula
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Congratulaions Guys, /Gals
I reckon this one of your best efforts.
Always follow your endevours and I'm always so impressed.
Spring
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Thanks Spring, it's these hard ones that make restores so interesting.... and buddy frustrating ;D
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Yes Paula, the hard ones make life interesting. I cringed a bit when I first saw this one but after seeing some of the dilapidated photos submitted in the last couple of days, it now seems we've had it easy. Just when you think you've seen the worst photo ever, someone posts an even worse one! :D
And thanks Spring for your kind comments.
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Whew, agree with that, Ken, there are some really 'interesting' ones about at the minute.