1909 Photo - needs help

[lindajay]

I thought I had my family geneology scrapbook as finished as I could get it (http://homepage.mac.com/ddjudd/PhotoAlbum56.html). Then today I got a new photo, taken in 1909, of my great-grandfather/grandmother and their sons and daughters. It looks as if it might have been photocopied at some point, although it is on photographic paper. The quality is poor -- but then, it's just about 100 years old. People on the right-hand side have blown-out highlights. Others have "speckles" over their faces. I'm not expecting miracles, but am not sure how to begin improving it. Any suggestions? I'd be happy to get a full-res copy to anyone wanting to take a stab at it.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1CHSytoXYITQg94b8GepU2rIZJcfT1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1CHSytoXYITQg94b8GepU2rIZJcfT1)

[Wendy]

Hi Linda ..

It does have a photocopied look about it ... but I am wondering if it was not a photocopy but maybe originally some other sort of photographic print ??

Also there is something odd about the posing of it ... one half of the people are looking to one side and the other half looking straight on.

I can't work it out ??

Wendy

[GaryK]

A pre photoshop photo manipulation??:eek:

The families were feuding and this was the only way to get them in the same shot??:D

Maybe I'll make up a whole story as to what was going on.;)

[TonyW]

Gary: I think you're probably right. I bet that was originally two or more photographs that have been merged by cut and paste. That was the original composite technique used in the 19th century:

http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/keys/virtualexhibits/notmanstudio/exploration/animation/composites/

Tony

[Chuck S.]

Ah, a mystery! Looks to me like three groupings: 4 on the left, young woman in the middle, 3 on the right.

Whatever they were watching to their right (viewer's left) it wasn't making them very happy....some miserable rerun on TV, no doubt.

[Wendy]

Chuck ...

They certainly don't look very happy :)

Wendy

[msbrad]

Linda,
I recently restored a damaged photo from 1918. I used a lot of Matt's book. Happy to send the steps I took if you with.
The before, the "so far" and the finished are in this thread (http://http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23321)

m

[Chuck S.]

Linda,
I recently restored a damaged photo from 1918. I used a lot of Matt's book. Happy to send the steps I took if you with.
The before, the "so far" and the finished are in this thread (http://http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23321)

m

Michelle, your thread link didn't work for me. Is it working for you? I think it may have an extra http in it.

[msbrad]

Nope isn't working for me either. Trying again.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23321

Thanks for letting me know.
m

[Wendy]

That works just fine :)

Wendy

[GaryK]

Chuck

I think you are right about the 3 photos.

The lady in the middle looks so sad. :(

[msbrad]

Wendy, you know it always takes me twice!
Thank goodness for people looking out for me here.
m

[lindajay]

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. Michelle, yes, you did a wonderful job on that one. I remember seeing it when you first posted it. I'd be thrilled to get your steps, if you're willing . . .

I, also, thought it was odd that the people were looking different directions, but didn't even think about it maybe being more than one photo, merged. Funny you comment on the young lady in the back center. That's my great-aunt Agnes, and she's the only one I really ever knew of all of these people. She was the sweetest, happiest, most loving lady! She lived to be 96, and was still the one bringing the sunshine into any room she was in. The picture just doesn't do her justice! :rolleyes:

[msbrad]

Linda,
Happy to send it your way. I already have the screen shots (it took 2 , because the layers palette was full). I will try it via pm this afternoon with the steps. If that doesn't work, I'll pm you for an e-mail address. That I know I can do:D
m

[GaryK]

Linda

Funny how it works.. she has a very lovely face in the photo, but to me at least, she looked resigned to a sad situation.
Glad to know I was wrong.:)

[Wendy]

Me too ...

... I much prefer happy endings :)

I suppose one thing to bear in mind is that in those days the exposure took quite a while and it was easier to do that if you didn't smile ..

Wendy

[lindajay]

Michelle, I got it; thank you very much. I'll work with it later.

Yes, Aunt Agnes was a sweetie, and I just felt the need to clear her name - :D. I agree she LOOKS very sad -- and so does her mother, the little lady in the front right. She was from Scotland, and according to my mother, had a most delightful brogue. Wendy, I imagine your explanation is accurate. I have lots of old family photos, and in very few of them do the people have smiles.

[Daviskw]

Hi there

I played and played and played... the more I worked the bigger mess I made....sooo I just gave up and added a border around it.... not the best either....Just could not figure a good way to make it look right...

To get where I got was simple if not too effective;

I added color to the faces by sampling adjacent color.

Then used the healing brush to blend and transfer some texture where there was none... This was only somewhat effective.

I then used the smudge tool to further blend

I added some noise on a 50 % gray later set to overlay... then added a small blur.... masked the layer to apply where I had smudged.

Thats about it except for a noise reduction layer and a little tonning.

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Je8rtGYImvMwF1q6eqA4ZI4gOoN_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Je8rtGYImvMwF1q6eqA4ZI4gOoN)

[lindajay]

Butch, some of those faces look a lot better. I'll incorporate your suggestions along with Michelle's, and see where I can get. I SURELY do appreciate your working on it. And I thank you for sharing your steps.