I am back from Scarborough and, as promised, I have an update on the 1904 postcard scene. It took a bit of time to find the best position and the one above is the best I could come up with. The Grand Hotel, the Castle and the hotel on the left all seem to be in the right position and the sea is where the sea should be. I even managed to get a blue sky with a dusting of white clouds, but I had difficulty in recruiting a cast of top-hatted gents bustle-bottomed ladies. I suppose we should be grateful that no car park-fringed supermarkets nor Lego-block towers have appeared over the last 100 years. I will be featuring a few more of my Scarborough photographs over on my Picture Post Blog.
It’s always so reassuring to know that the sea is where it should be - I check it everyday, just to be sure. Looking forward to photos of dear old Scarborough.
ReplyDeleteHello Alan:
ReplyDeleteWe are always most intrigued to see, as you have done here, old photographs set alongside their modern counterparts each showing, wherever possible, the same view. This seems to us a very good match and, apart from the motor cars, and changes in fashion, much remains as it was.
Very good! I think that getting into exactly the same spot to get exactly the same shot is something to do with lens focal lengths, but I'm not sure exactly what!
ReplyDeleteYour sky looks very satisfactory. I'd guess you haven't had the advantage of a retoucher to give it quite that artistically blobby look of the original postcard!
They seem to have added an asphalt walkway, but otherwise it's all pretty much the same. I wonder what the reaction would be if a bunch of top-hatted, bustled, and parasol-carrying beach-goers showed up these days?
ReplyDeleteOccasionally, it is nice and reassuring to see that very little has changed in a place.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting a good modern rendering. It can be devilishly hard to find the right spot after decades of new construction. And once the spot is found, too often the original view is obscured.
ReplyDeleteEven more like Eastbourne - or even Christchurch.
ReplyDeleteSo very lovely! ....and thank goodness the sea is where it should be, because I'd have to be the person to bring it back to where it belongs!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your postcard update! Very well done! I and my grandchildren have played on that beach....
ReplyDeleteGreat set of photos..shame you could not find any ladies with bustles! The main buildings are all still there though
ReplyDeleteThat is a great try. It is wonderful that you have a postcard of the past that does show a place of the same today.
ReplyDeleteIt looks every bit as nice today, although it might benefit from some elegant promenaders (is that a word?)
ReplyDeleteWonderful shot and comparison to the post card image. It's so nice when beautiful places remain the same, unsullied by high-rises, razed architecture, parking garages and the like.
ReplyDeleteI can only applaud your dedication, Alan. And, what a relief to see evidence of that Scarborough stability.
ReplyDeleteah, and without the aid of photo shop! -J
ReplyDeleteOne wonders about the first photo with all the people? Was it staged or is that how they behaved in those days. Your present day photos show a very beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteI love that it's practically the same....and I love that you do this...it's so fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see them together. Reminds of something I saw on the Isle of Man recently. Someone was selling photos he's taken when he'd held an old photo at arms length in front of the lens so that it fitted as closely as possible with the modern scene around it. He'd arranged it so that the old photo took up about 20% of the total frame, I'd guess.
ReplyDeleteps. My 2 eldest sons and I feature in a " new" photo of an old local scene in a book produced by a local man. He asked if we wouldn't mind posing on the bridge and of course we obliged. This was about 25 years ago and he gave us a copy of the book when it was published.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great gift Alan. How wonderful to be able to travel and look for specific things. I wish my hubby would travel with me but looks like that is over. I so enjoy all the little tours I get to make through cyberspace. Thanks
ReplyDeleteQMM
Well done Alan! Hope you took time out for a visit to a pub:)
ReplyDeleteThe blue sky was definitely your greatest achievement! It's been a tad elusive lately!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to more Scarborough photos.
Oh-oh-oh...you know how much I adore then-and-now...this is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteIt looks about the right spot - but rather quieter now. There were a few bustles and top hats in Saltaire at the weekend (to appear on my blog shortly) - I should have sent you some.
ReplyDelete