Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Art Of Coloring Of Vintage Pictures


After the invention of photography it became clear that its main problem is lack of colors. So masters who coul colorize photos for exhibitions and print publications were found really quickly. The history of this craft, that became a high art, deserves a separate large study. Since colored photography was invented people colorize only history photos to "bring" them to a modern audience, enhance the sense of reality. In spite of all the "wonders of Photoshop" today, as before, colorizing the picture to full similarity with the color photography is almost impossible. But some virtuosos are sometimes almost succeed. 

For example, Times Square, New York, 1943


I want to show the most interesting experiments on the coloring of the images presented on the historical photoblog Shorpy.  13 more images after the break...

And let's imagine a civil war in the United States in color


This is a military depot in Nashville, 1864. Yes, it is not very realistic, though beautiful!

Quite a remarkable portrait of Lincoln in 1865


A woodman!

There is also this option

The famous picture of Atlanta 1864. with a shop selling black slaves

1903, shop in New Orleans

1905, the aquarium in Detroit

Terminal in Manhattan in 1907

1911, fire brigade

Imagine how much time should be spent to color a Christmas tree like this

1920, the Mermaid Club in Philadelphia

1943, Indianapolis

Just a brilliant job - Evening Dallas 1942

An absolute masterpiece of coloring - Grand Central Terminal in New York, 1941