20 Comments
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Tony Devlin's avatar

There is a time and place for colorization. These are good examples. I love a stark black and white image, though. If someone chooses to ruin Ansel Adams’ work by adding color, I will be very disappointed.

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India Flint's avatar

That was my first thought, too.

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GardenH03's avatar

These are fantastic. They bring to life past moments of genuinely “real” people. Humanizes everyday events. Thank you.😊

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Diana's avatar

These are amazing photos with amazing stories.

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Mambo Italiano's avatar

Photography tells us so much about the past…

Thanks for your always insightful newsletter!

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Linda Hoffman's avatar

This brought vivid memories of my childhood flooding back. My mom used to color portraits to earn some money and the smell of the paints is one I won’t forget. I was amazed at how she brought those images to life. There were always snips of hair and fabric decorating her space. Thanks!🙏

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Stosh Wychulus's avatar

Love this line , "A photograph is a biography of a moment".

I had colorized some very old family photographs from the 20's & 30's using Marsahall's photo retouch colors, and given them as wedding gifts. But now you can easily do it with Photoshop in just a snap.

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Lizzy Choy's avatar

Amazing

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Gary Michael Dault's avatar

The "creative revival" colouriztion seems to promise sounds swell, but it doesn't work for my aging b&w sensibility. Black and white objects were born that way and for me--despite the admirable subtlety of your argument--so they ought to remain. For me colopurizxation--aftyer the fact---simply reads as enticement, a form of soft sell. I reckon I'm a chromatic Luddite!

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Vicky Cabe Autry's avatar

My dad was a lineman; he pulled too many of his friends and coworkers down, some dead, some for whom living would be a forever altered experience. I had no concept then of the danger, pressure and heartbreak he experienced while making a living to support 5 kids. When I came to understand it better, it altered my perception of my childhood experiences and I was able to understand and appreciate why he was the way he was. This brings it all back. Thank you!

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Donna Christopher's avatar

the CPR photo is exceptional telling us in '67 linemen must have gotten trained in lifesaving.

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Rooster's avatar

James - how can I get a full rez copy of the iron workers? One of them is my Grandpa.

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avi's avatar

I’ve seen some still pictures that have been given some animation… how do they do that

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HBD's avatar

There are apps which allow you to colorize old photos in seconds. I’ve used them on B&W photos of relatives. B&W is abstract and distancing, so the people in them stay in the past. There is an immediacy in color that brings these people into the present. This humanizes them.

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The Savvy Museum Visitor's avatar

Thank you! I enjoyed this!

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Gina Castorina's avatar

Mi piacciono le fotografie moderne ,colorate,con colori chiari e luminosi,che regalano una immagine viva dei soggetti impressi nella foto.sia che ritraggono soggetti animati che bellissimi panorami della natura Amo un po' meno le immagini in bianco e nero,specie se ritraggono personaggi dall' aria triste e povera, sfondi nei quali è evidente la miseria dei luoghi,la deprivazione e la

mancanza.

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Sera's avatar

“ I don’t think I’ve ever seen a truly great color photograph”~Richard Avedon

“Black and whit is the actor’s best friend.”~Orson Welles

“Ted Turner: keep your damn crayons away from my films!”~Orson Welles

“You cannot know a person from a color portrait. Only in black and white is the soul revealed.” ~Barbara Fiorello

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