My Other Maternal Great-Grandmother

Last time, I shared a photo of one of my material great-grandmothers. This is the other one. We called her Gran, and I have a lot of great memories of her.

She is the reason I enjoy watching wrestling. I can remember playing in the living room at my grandparents' house, and Gran would be sitting in the rocker watching wrestling on television. Some of her favorites were Bulldog Don Kent, Dick the Bruiser, and Bobo Brazil.

This photo was taken in my grandma's kitchen on the same day as the photo of my other great-grandmother. I think it was sometime in the mid-to-late 1960s.

What's really cool is this is the third photo of Gran that I have restored. The first was of her and my great-grandfather holding my grandmother when she was a baby. The second was of her, her second husband, and my great aunt (the extensive repair).

I now have photos of three different stages of her life. That is incredibly precious to me. I have fond memories of her, but I also got a sneak peek into what her life was like long before I ever came along.

I'd love to help you get a glimpse of your family's history!

Moderate Restoration Example

While going through some old photos at my mother's house, I came across this one of my great-grandmother. I was fortunate enough to not only know her, but have fond memories of her as well.

As I worked on correcting the colors, fixing the fading, and removing the spots, I spent some time getting a really good look at her face. People have always told me I resemble that side of my family tree.

For the most part I agreed, but always thought I got my nose from my dad's side. Now I see that I have my great-grandmother's nose instead. I never would have come to that realization had I not restored this photo's original detail and beauty.

I would love to restore your photos and see what they might reveal to you.

 

Keep Photos Away from Harsh Light Sources

Many people like to display photos on their walls at home, or on their desks at work. What most don't realize is that they could be causing damage to these treasured moments in time.

Light sources, such as florescent lights and natural/artificial sunlight emit high levels of Ultraviolet Light (UV). These types of harsh light can cause photos to fade or become discolored. Some people do not notice the damage until it is too late.

I experienced this first hand. At a previous job, I proudly displayed a photo of my boys on my desk. Our office was lit by both natural sunlight and florescent lights. It wasn't until a year later when I went to update the frame with a more current photo that I noticed the damage. The photo was faded and had a yellow color cast. I really noticed the difference when I got home and compared it to another copy of the photo that I had stored in a photo album. 

Lucky for me, not only did I have another copy of the photo, but I also possess the skills restore it.   

It is always best to avoid displaying photos where they will be in direct contact with harsh light sources. If it is unavoidable, you can replace the glass in your photo frames with specialized art glass that is coated with a UV light filter. Some stores and online businesses sell both the photo frame and filtered glass together, while others sell glass by itself.

I hope these tips are educational and help to keep your photos looking great for a long time.

Extensive Photo Restoration Example

Here is an example of a photo that needed extensive restoration work. 

It just so happens this is a photo of my maternal great-grandparents who are holding my grandmother. This was taken in the early 1900s and is almost 100 years old.

Here are the before and after photos:

There was not only image fading, but a lot of tiny creases and cracks throughout the original photo. It also had smudges and stains along the edges. My personal preference was to remove the "white" border, but I can easily add it back in at a future date.

 

Photo Inspiration

Prevent photo fading and discoloration

To prevent photos from fading or becoming discolored, keep them away from direct sunlight. 

If that isn't possible, you can use a specialized frame with light filtering glass. 

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the Purple Penguin Studio!

Our photo restoration experts are ready to breathe new life into old memories.

Check out the Restoration Album to view a portfolio of our work.