3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

vintage

Photo Restoration: 1960’s Era

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Photo Restoration 1960s
Photo Restoration 1960s

I’ve finally removed hundreds of old photos from nearly a dozen “magnetic” glue photo albums. Not quite acid free. My Mother thought she was doing a good thing in the 1980’s by organizing and putting them into albums, when in actuality they would have been better off in the desk drawer in the original envelopes.

There aren’t many photos of me when I was little, so I want to preserve what few photographs I have of my childhood. They were so stuck I had to use the pointy end of a fondue fork to pry them off and carefully unstick the back. The paper came off on some, but at least now the family memories are back in a shoebox, in a cool dark location in the closet so I can start on the photo restoration part of the project..

At first glance the photos look to be in pretty good shape, but it only takes one scan and a white correction on levels to see how far these photos have faded. I am using Photoshop to adjust the color and white balance to bring back the vibrancy. The white border is the perfect point to select in either layer curves or adjustment levels.

I have just started scanning the snapshots, but the really old photos from the late 1800’s and early 1990’s I’m going to have professionally scanned at Hamilton Color Lab, where I work, they do professional photo restoration. My home scanner will only capture so much detail and they are too important to trust to a Best Buy over the counter scanner.

Photo Story: Here I met my brother for the first time. We were both adopted through Children’s Services of Connecticut. As you can see, although my brother Lance was a baby, he wasn’t a newborn when he went to our parents. My birthday is Sept. 21, 1965, yet I didn’t go to my adoptive parents until January 20, 1966.  Along with photos I now have my adoption records, certificates, and letters from the agency. Still don’t know if I will search or not. Even after witnessing my husband and his son’s adoption reunion.

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Model A Ford, It’s For Sale

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1931 Model A Ford Coupe
1931 Model A Ford  Deluxe Coupe

One of my favorite customers at work drives a 1931 Model A Ford Coupe and every time I get a little thrill when he pulls it up to the front door. Bill just turned 90 this past week and he sold used Fords in the 1930’s. At the time you could buy a used Ford for $15.00, can’t even fill the gas tank for that amount now. His goal, to own every model built between 1929 and 1937, not all at once, but before he dies.

This one he purchased about a year ago in Chicago, he’s done a little work to it, and is now ready to move on to the next. So, if you’re in the market for a true American classic  and a piece of living history, this automobile is for you. Even comes with a rumble seat, which is so cool, next time Bill comes in he said he would give me a ride around the parking lot.

I told Bill I would spread the word, so if anyone is interested please send me your email address and I will forward the information and connect the two of you together. The car is located in Omaha, Nebraska and is being sold by owner.

Day 281-284: Life in the Lab, Hamilton Color

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Sso many interesting projects come through the door at Hamilton Color Lab I keep my Olympus camera on the counter at work.  (Sometimes it’s the only place I get my photo of the day)  I work the front desk, handle the customer service, the marketing, and the social media accounts which, at the present time includes a Facebook page, Twitter account and lately the Flickr account.

But, since my personal blog centers around photography I thought I would post a series here every now and then. Especially since some of my photos of the day are taken at work.

Graflex camera
Graflex camera a customer brought in to show and tell

Film is not dead, barely hanging on though. Hamilton Color Lab only processes E-6 slide film, our C41 machine literally caught fired a few years ago and it wasn’t worth the money to rebuild. But the film that is very much alive and cool again is vintage formats. We still receive large format film for processing including E-6 110, 120, 4×5 and occasionally 8×10 size slide transparencies.

Vintage check project
Vintage check project

We scanned the vintage small check  (lower left in pink) at a high resolution, created a vintage look in brown tones, printed it on cotton etching paper on an inkjet printer, matted and framed the piece. It will eventually go into the Woodbine Saving Bank newly remodeled bank.

Mid 1800's: Photo and art restoration and reproduction
Mid 1800's: Photo and art restoration and reproduction

The date on the back of this picture was 1841 and the genealogy of the family listed a son named “Benjamin Franklin ____” Isn’t that cool!  Benjamin Franklin was a celebrity of his day, and obviously admired enough to name their child after the man.

Day 274: Angel Unaware, Down’s Syndrome in the 1950’s

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Thank God times have changed for children with Down’s Syndrome. In the 1950’s Dale and Roy Rogers helped change the perception and acceptance of children with special needs with the book Angel Unaware.

Through great grief can come great joy.

In the 1950s, doctors often advised parents of disabled babies to put them away in institutions or homes. But when entertainers Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers discovered their new baby, Robin, had Down Syndrome, they were determined to take her home and give her their love.

It wasn’t easy. Through countless surgeries and sleepless nights, the Rogers found themselves exhausted and worried-until they began to notice a change in their lives. Somehow the unexplainable and unexpected was happening-Robin was helping Roy and Dale draw closer to God and to each other. Robin’s brief life also persuaded them to do all they could to help others in similar circumstances.

Told from Robin’s point of view in heaven, Angel Unaware is a touching story that has inspired millions of readers around the world. Whether you are a parent of a special needs child or have experienced the loss of a loved one, Robin’s story will bring you the peace and understanding you need in difficult times.

These books were found in my Mothers house, she was a big fan of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Books By Dale Evans Rogers living with down's Syndrome
Books By Dale Evans Rogers

Books on Raising Children with Down’s Syndrome

Angel Unaware: A Touching Story of Love and LossAngel UnawareTeaching Math to People With Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Basic Survival Skills (Topics in Down Syndrome) Book 1My Friend Has Down Syndrome (Let’s Talk About It Series)Taking Down Syndrome to School (Special Kids in School)In My World: Down SyndromeGifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their LivesBabies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide

Information on Down’s Syndrome

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Watch Down’s Syndrome teenager’s delight when he lands his first job

This is the special moment a Down’s Syndrome teenager realised he’d landed his first job. Ben Sunderman, 19, never expected to be taken on when he applied for a role at the Embassy Suites hotel in Frisco, Texas. So when his acceptance letter arrived in …
Beautiful Family Photos Raise Awareness Of Down’s Syndrome

Raising a child with Down’s syndrome can be a daunting experience. The genetic condition is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 in the body’s cell and is completely random in who it affects. But while it does come with some degree of …
Parents in divorce row over Down’s Syndrome baby which

A TINY baby boy found himself at the centre of a bitter war of words between his own parents today after his mother was accused of abandoning him – because he has Down’s Syndrome.
Information technology for people with Down’s syndrome

An ICT research EU project is producing visual and touch apps to help people with Down’s syndrome become more independent in their daily lives.

Information on Dale Evans

Day 270-273: Treasures in the Attic

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Don’t know whether you would call these treasures, antiques, vintage collectibles, junk, or memorabilia, or keepsakes. Here is another look into the closets, cubby holes and attic of my Mother’s house I cleaned out this past summer.

Mom really adored Princess Diana and collected every thing from Princess Diana dolls, to coins, stamps, plates, and magazines. My Dad really like Old Spice, but I never heard of Seaforth aftershave or cologne. But what’s retro is now cool as the viral Old Spice commercial proves, these bottles were empty, but the scent still lingered. Anyone know the history of Seaforth cologne? I’ve looked online without any luck.

Collecting wore off in the family, my brother was no exception. He collected Action Figures, primarily Batman. If he had twenty he had three hundred. Most in original packaging, may duplicates, and even triplicates.

Princess Diana Collectible Plate
Princess Diana Collectible Plate
Vintage Seaforth Cologne and Aftershave set in box
Vintage Seaforth Cologne and Aftershave set in box
Collectible Batman Action Figures circa 1990's
Collectible Batman Action Figures circa 1990's

Boxes, boxes and more boxes came out of closets and cubby holes with depression glass, records, collectible plates, beanie babies and more.  All for sale, just contact me and I’ll put you in contact with the consignment store.