And as Sepia Saturday is trying something different, I thought I would try something different with my first entry for the August theme. In the past I have occasionally been guilty of getting rid of colour to give my featured photos a feeling of appropriate age. This time I am doing just the opposite.
I am trying to teach myself how to hand-colour old monochrome photographs using Photoshop, and my image this week is part of my learning curve. I have used an old scanned half-plate monochrome glass negative as my practice piece and let my imagination run a little wild with the various colours of the outfits of this wedding party.
The fact is they all looked so miserable that I thought they needed cheering up a little so out came my digital paintbrushes and progressive overlays. After all, even the best of marriages needs spicing up occasionally.
To see what others are doing with the Sepia Saturday theme this moth, go to the Sepia Saturday Blog and follow the links.
I'm speechless. What glum looking party! They needed all the colorfulness you could give them!
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting processing tool. They sure do look glum. I wonder if they were told not to smile in photos in those days?
ReplyDeleteThe bride and the girl in lemon behind her must be sisters, and the scowling groom with folded arms looks very anti, either at being married or at having a photograph taken. Funny!
ReplyDeleteThe bride looks furious! What a shame we don't know the story behind this photo. Or could it just be an early episode of Don't Tell the Bride?
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for the likelihood that they're responding to the instructions of the photographer, these sitters might be mistaken for the most threatening family since the Krays!
ReplyDeleteWhat a glum looking group. The bride looks as though she has just discovered something about the groom which would have had her saying "I don't" had she known about it beforehand! Your clever tinting certainly added a positive if not a completely cheery look to the photo. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThey all do look rather dour! Nice job on your first colorizing attempt.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, not a happy occasion at all!
ReplyDeleteIndeed the bride looks furious but the groom doesn't look too happy either. And I bet you have to be a patient person to apply the coloring in the way you do!
ReplyDeleteWhat a miserable looking lot. I wonder if it was an arranged marriage - or a 'shotgun' wedding?
ReplyDeleteI thought of a new challenge! Set your imagination alight, by writing a short story based on a photograph - and your photograph is such a classic prompt. It makes you wonder what had happened to produce such an
ReplyDeleteangry (the man on the left), glum, depressed, miserable, fed up group - or perhaps they had just been hanging around for too long while the photographer encountered problems - and were desperate to get off to the reception and a drink!
The bride—rarely have I seen such a scowl. She looks like she could kill somebody. The groom looks like he might have been somebody once, but everything he had, has evaporated. A wraith. The only happy fellow is the one you've given a pinkish face...he looks alive and well. Well, the lady on the right in the back row looks alive, at least. I like ScotSue's suggestion. What are the white puffs behind all the heads?
ReplyDeleteThe bride—rarely have I seen such a scowl. She looks like she could kill somebody. The groom looks like he might have been somebody once, but everything he had, has evaporated. A wraith. The only happy fellow is the one you've given a pinkish face...he looks alive and well. Well, the lady on the right in the back row looks alive, at least. I like ScotSue's suggestion. What are the white puffs behind all the heads?
ReplyDeleteThere is something wonderfully Monty Python about the photo with the coloring added. I keep thinking that big foot will come down and squash them.
ReplyDeleteI like T&L's description. Your coloring does add a kind of 3-D similar to Terry Gilliam's Monty Python animations. There is definitely an historical soap opera within this group photo.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be a story behind this photo, and I’d guess they are grumpy with the photographer, not each other, but they certainly benefit from a hint of a tint!
ReplyDeleteNothing to add about the characters in the photo. But I do have an 1877 photo that someone along the line added a bit of color to the scarves and ties. Your colored photo reminded me of that old photo.
ReplyDelete