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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I'm technically behind times, I admit it.
I had been looking up websites that restore damaged photos. For a guy like me, it was a kind of REAL magic. I mean, in some of those photos, they are so utterly hopeless that it would take a miracle to restore them. Some photos , entire faces are missing..there are tears, stains, cracks, missing gaps in the information, colors that are totally washed out, etc, But a litlle research revealed to me that it can be done simply enough with photo shop. So I'm assuming that anybody with some time and patience, and perhaps an artistic flair, can learn to do this. Correct? And people pay good chunks of money to photo restorers who gladly take the loot ? Of course, they are getting something perceived of great value: Their precious old memories back in pristine condition. So what is the scoop on this field? If I work at it, learn how to do it, become proficient, etc, can I possibly go into this field and have a legitimate business? Or do you need a reputation first, perhaps as an already established professional photographer to be able to even compete in the market? I am a creative, artistic person with the patience for meticulous , detailed work...I assume some imagination is indispensable in order to be good. Can anyone tell me about this from a perspective of personal knowledge? Thanks.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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mvmagic Inner circle Has written 1322 Posts |
You propably could have a legitimate business. I don't have a business, but I do restoration work for a few photographers on free-lance basis. I got to it by showing my portfolio to a friend who mentioned me to a photography studio and they again recommended me. Here its not such a big business though.
I believe anyone who is not totally thick could do it. Some things are very time-consuming so patience is really needed. I am sure the "artistic flair" helps in understanding color, light and shadow but most of the time you are retouching something, not redoing it. As a gift for my dad and sister, I restored my late mom's graduation photo, taken in the 50s with a serious crack on it. Face was rather easy (slow though) but teeth were not...it turned out well but was really really slow. Photoshop indeed is a great tool. It has everything neccessary for restoration work. I use both Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS3. Almost everything I do I have learned by doing, have bought one magazine that deals with retouching studio photos and picked up one technique there.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I figured the part about patience. I'm very meticulous and am able to pay attention to detail. I think I could be passionate about this kind of work, since I love photographs, and especially old photographs.
and I'm guessing there is an endless supply of those in the world. The trick would be getting them into my hands.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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mvmagic Inner circle Has written 1322 Posts |
Just go browsing thru old family albums, I am sure you'll find perfect candidates. Scan 'em and start practising!
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Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3433 Posts |
The stuff my wife does with the Digital Image and Photoshop programs is incredible.
Stanyon
aka Steve Taylor "Every move a move!" "If you've enjoyed my performance half as much as I've enjoyed performing for you, then you've enjoyed it twice as much as me!" |
Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
I pay my retouchers very poorly.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
Nosher Loyal user 261 Posts |
PM'd you.
Escapemaster-in-chief from all sorts of houdingplaces - Finnegans Wake
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
If you want training in photoshop and similar programs, at a reasonably low cost, I am a BIG fan of Lynda.com
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
andyboyhypnotist New user Arbroath, Scotland 28 Posts |
Ther is a guy on here called photo wizard his bio you will find
in the cellar/ feeling sleepy/see-saw induction have a wee lookie andy |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-03-23 06:29, mvmagic wrote: I am all-ready one step ahead of you! I have a zillion family photos in my bedroom. Some of them are a complete train wreck. What kicks me in the head is that I am so technologically behind times (I'm admitting it) that I thought only professional photographers could do this kind of "magical" work. Now I discover that it is achievable by anyone with a modicum of talent and a bunch of desire, and it's blowing me away. Really, I could kick myself. BUT, when the student is ready the teacher will appear.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
Clone. Smudge. Airbrush. Patience.
That's it.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Yup. I think I can handle it!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I went to YouTube and found basic tutorials. I'm like a kid with finger-paints for the first time.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I've not farted around. I have enthusiastically watched several tutorials, completed three or four projects thus far, and I was right. I am loving every minute of this! I could never consider this work. It's fun. It's play. I think that is the top requirement for being successful at your work, so I think I'm on the right path.
Why, oh why did I not run into this years ago?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Now I'm really happy. I was able to take an old photo of myself and actually able to grow hair on my head!!!
Oh, yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
This is great! Thanks everyone for the tips! I'm having the time of my life experimenting and trying new projects. You guys helped me a lot, and I really appreciate it. I found a tutorial series on Gimp for under $30. and I purchased it and am perusing the lessons meticulously. I'm a sponge.
I also am thinking about maybe taking a graphics art course or something along that line to supplement what I'm learning. Maybe this will open up a whole new career and new world for me. I got my fingers crossed. I'm really stumped as to where people nowadays in our economy can find 8 or 900 bucks lying around for Photoshop. Brother, that's a chunk of cash! I'll stick with the free stuff.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Photo Restoration. Questions for those in the know. (0 Likes) |
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