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Archive for family history – Page 4

British Empire Exhibition 1925 Photograph Restored

Here is a photograph I was asked to digitally restore.  The original photograph is about a metre and a half wide and the photograph is absolutely fascinating as it contains so much detail. It’s a photograph of Robertson and Ginnetts Gigantic Circus at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley Stadium in 1925 featuring my customer’s great grandfather who is the ringmaster!
Here is the whole photograph before restoration, after restoration and then a single detail followed by a detail of that detail! There are literally hundreds of recognisable faces.

Clive T Montage 650

Here are some other close-up sections going along the front row from left to right

Detail 1 650 - Copy

Detail 2 650 - Copy

Photographs Forever - British Empire Exhibition 1925

My customer’s Great Grandfather is the ringmaster on the left with the top hat

Detail 4 650

Detail 5 650

Detail 6 650

The following is an extract from Anne Clendinning, “On The British Empire Exhibition, 1924-25″

The British Empire Exhibition, held in 1924 and 1925, assembled the member nations of the empire to develop imperial trade connections and to cultivate closer political ties between Britain and her territories.

The British Empire Exhibition opened for a second season in May 1925, but only after considerable debate. Despite the enthusiastic press reports and the self-congratulatory comments of the exhibition organizers, the 1924 exhibition was a financial disaster. Executive director Sir William Travers Clark blamed the cold, rainy summer. Although 17 million people had passed through the turnstiles, that figure was much lower than the anticipated 30 million visitors that had been the basis for 1924’s projected returns. If only to try and recoup its investment, the British government agreed to re-open Wembley in 1925.

More recently, the British Empire Exhibition appears in the 2010 film about the Duke of York’s stammer wherein Prince Bertie delivers a painful public address at the exhibition’s closing ceremony in October 1925.

There is another interesting article of the British Empire Exhibition here

An Example of Colourising an Old Photograph

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 Before Restoration

 

Photograph After Restoration and Colourising

Photograph After Restoration and Colourising

Restoration of Family History Photographs Creates Full Gallery

Here is an interesting story from Graham Jones who has carried out a massive amount of research on his family history with great results to show for his hard work. Here it is in his own words:

“Recently I have been working with Richard to create a set of some 20 framed photographs that now form a complete record of my family back to 1850. The initial idea came from a very battered, postcard size photograph dated 1895 that showed my great-grandparents and their eight children. I asked Richard to scan, restore, enlarge to A3 size, title and frame the photograph. The result caused so much interest in my family that apart from ordering a further three copies, the wider project was born. Collectively, the family has pooled our best photographs of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and even two great great grandparents.  Apart from normal restoration and enlargement, Richard has also prepared several composites to splice together the various groupings that we requested. The complete set now forms its own “gallery” in my home and the whole family is delighted with the result” 

Here are some of the photographs in question and the gallery Graham has created

Photograph Restoration/Montage

Photograph Restoration/Montage

Photograph Restoration/Montage

Photograph Restoration/Montage

 

Restored Photograph Gallery

Restored Photograph Gallery

Photograph Restoration Montage – A Special Gift

I recently competed an interesting request to combine two photographs in order to include and exclude all the right people.

Here are the two photographs beside the finished photograph montage . My customer’s touching story is below

Photographs Forever Montage

Photograph Restoration Montage

“Earlier this year my husband and I made the decision to put our house on the market. It wasn’t just any old house. It had belonged to my grandparents since 1957 and we bought it from my mum and her brothers after Grampy passed away in 2008. Over the last few years we renovated the house and garden, but with a growing family we felt it was time for a change.

When we told my parents the news they were so upset at the thought of saying goodbye to the house, that they decided to sell up themselves and buy (back!) number 10!

My husband remembered an old photo of mum and dad outside the house and we thought it could make a wonderful housewarming gift. We trawled through album and eventually we found it! Only it wasn’t quite how we’d pictured it. There were 2 photos of the whole family, neither was perfect and we really only wanted mum, dad and my grandparents in the frame. Enter Photographs Forever! Richard restored one of the photos to it’s original condition and colours, removed the other family members and pets, took Grampy from the other photo and popped him right in behind nanny as if he’d always been there. He even gave him a body! My parents loved their gift, they couldn’t believe that it wasn’t an original photo. It now takes pride of place on their mantle piece. Thank you Richard!”      Lucy D.

New Photograph Restoration Video

Colourise-1

 

Take a look at the new 1 minute video showing some examples of photograph restoration and how to make the most of your precious photographs

CLICK HERE

14th Century Family Tree Artwork

Shirley T brought a small but high quality print to me and asked for it to be scanned and enlarged. The original print is about 8cm (3 inches) square. The final enlargement I supplied was 76cm (30 inches) square. Here is the before, after and the close up of a detail of the tree.

Family Tree Artwork

The Speich family formed a significant presence in the Sernf Valley of Switzerland in the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries but during the latter part of the period economic depression and repeated plagues drastically reduced the population and of course the Speichs.

The difference between the format used by the professional company that compiled the Speich Tree and that found in this Country is that it starts at the centre with the latest members of the family and expands outwards to include the earliest members of the family that could be traced including, where possible, their dates of birth and death, their occupations and their coats of arms.

Shirley’s dad’s uncle commissioned the work which is all hand painted we think about 70 years ago. The tree detail goes back to 14th century!

Wonderful Photograph Restored To Former Glory

I was sent this very old photograph that had been rolled op for many years and had become so dry that became cracked and torn and of very limited use to enjoy. With some care and attention this is now digitally restored to its original condition

 

Dancers-After

100 Photographs Scanned and Optimised for Just 99p each – September Promotion

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Favourite Photographs Scanned and Optimised

 

This is a great opportunity to get a quantity of your favourite photographs scanned and optimised for just 99p each.

The normal cost of this service is £3.50 each or £2.50 each if there are more than ten photographs.

Other Scan/Optimise Packages Available
50 Photographs @ £1.35 each
25 photographs @ £1.75 each

WHY YOU SHOULD I GET MY PHOTOS SCANNED AND OPTIMISED?

  • It brings your photographs to life
  • Share the photos in a single album with other members of the family
  • Make prints and enlargements
  • No longer the only photos in existence!
  • Share your photos with others

You can show the finished images on your computer screen and TV

Mother-before-after1

 This is an example of before and after scan and optimisation

 

RECENT TESTIMONIALS

“My goodness, they look amazing! Very many thanks, how clever you are!” KC

“The photos are fab! You are a genius! Many thanks” PC

“Excellent and thanks! I’m actually really thrilled with them and will promote you to everyone” SW

“I’ve just received the photographs, they are perfect thank you very much indeed, you are a gentleman.
As I said before I shall be back to you in the future with some more work” JC

Organising Your Family Photographs – Family Tree Article October 2013

Family-Tree-Cover-Oct-13I have written an article on organising your family photographs which appears in the October edition of Family Tree Magazine, now available in print or digitally.

Full details of everything in this issue can be found here

Family-Tree-Article

Family Tree – the magazine for family historians

Whether you’re a family history ‘newbie’, or a seasoned genealogist, you can find out more about this fascinating hobby with Family Tree.

On their website you can keep up to date with the latest news and developments, enter competitions and follow our step-by-step guides to getting started, plus find out what’s in the latest issue of Family Tree.

Family Tree magazine will bring you the key records, fascinating websites and expert tips and solutions that will help you trace your family history in Britain, Ireland and from around the globe.

Published every four weeks, the 100-page magazine presents articles in an informative and colourful format from many respected authorities in the family history world. Enjoy discovering your ancestors’ lives with Family Tree.

For Family Tree subscription details click here

Order 2 Photograph Restorations and Get a 3rd FREE – Hurry, July Only

3-For-2-Before-&-After-OFFER-3

 

This is a great way to save money on your photograph restoration so get in touch now!