
Scroll back almost a day or so ago and I am talking to my Dad in Perth (13hrs ahead of me) in what amounts to my wee small hours..... and we are chatting about this that and the next thing.... and amongst other things, he was bemoaning the fact that he had no luck digitally "fixing" an old photograph of his father, and I like the good daughter offered to 'fix' it for him! Ha!
No small feat as this photograph was taken probably late 1913 or early 1914 just at the beginning of World War One!! ...well before the thought of film ratings and ISO settings and almost every image that was shot was a long exposure! Ergo lots of noise. Add the destruction of time to the fragile prints and I sort of wondered at what I had bitten off to chew....
Well challenge accepted and with some judicious cloning at 500%, pixel by pixel, painting in contrast with luminosity layers and the help of Silver Efex Pro2 to get an even B&W color I am almost happy with the retouch and I hope Dad will be too.
And as for the story part...... My Grandfather (on my Dad's side) was an interesting character (you can read about my other Grandfather here) .
This one was a Major in the British Royal Artillery and if you ever saw the movie War Horse then you might have some idea of what I'm talking about as he was responsible for the Cavalry at his post and the care and welfare of the many horses and guns that were sent into battle during WW1 from where he was stationed.
Miraculously he survived the Battle of the Somme but returned home suffering from severe shell shock and took a long time to recuperate.
Sadly as a child I did not get to see him often and by the time I would have been able to have a sensible conversation with him he had passed away. I do wonder though at the stories he might have had to have told.....
So a little toast to "Grandpa S" ...I hope you like your spiffy makeover and yes, I see a chip off the old block here and there....visited in the faces of my sons....