Picture of the Day: A Day at the Beach, 1905

colorized beach photo 1905 atlantic city new jersey sanna dullaway

Colorized by SANNA DULLAWAY
Website | Facebook | Prints available

 

In this colorized photo by Sanna Dullaway, we see beach goers in Atlantic City, New Jersey circa 1905. Check out the swimming attire where people had to be covered and wear navy blue. Can you imagine being a woman and swimming in the water with nylons and shoes? The candid expressions in this group shot are amazing. If it wasn’t for the attire, the colored photo could be mistaken for one taken much more recently than 100 years ago!

For more amazing colorized images, check out the previous posts on the Sifter.

 

 

 

 

Rediscovering the First Color Photographs of the United States

 

An American Odyssey is a new 612 page book published by Taschen that revisits photochrom and photostint postcard images from the private collection of Marc Walter. Originally produced by the Detroit Photographic Company between 1888 and 1924, these images were created using a photolithographic process that predated the autochrome by nearly 20 years, offering people the very first color photographs of the United States.

Below you will find some fascinating images from An American Odyssey as well as excerpts from an informative FAQ by Taschen

[via Wired]

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (8)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

What exactly is a photochrom?

A photochrom is a color proof obtained by transferring a black and white photographic negative on numerous lithographic stones: one for each final wanted color. This was done using a specific new process, “the Photochrom process”, invented in 1889 by the Swiss Hans Jakob Schmidt, chief lithographer at the Orell Füssli printworks in Zurich. [source]

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (3)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

Can you explain the Photochrom process?

The Photochrom process allowed a color proof to be obtained from a black-and-white negative. It is a planographic method of reproduction : each color required the use of a different lithographic stones and therefore a minimum of four: red, blue, yellow, and black. The stone was coated with transparent ink, which was then transferred to photographic printing paper. [source]

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (6)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (1)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

Were the photochroms colored by hand?

No, they were not: the lithographic stones were inked with colors. The engravers were marvellous technicians and their work is phenomenal. They worked to restitute the true colors of their subjects by inking as many different stones as necessary to restitute the colors of nature, clothes, buildings, etc. If you examine a photochrom through a magnifying glass, you realize that it often consists of more than 10 ink colors. In some cases, as many as 14 different tinted stones were used. [source]

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (2)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (4)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

When were the photochroms made?

The American photochroms reproduced in this book were all made between 1895 and 1910. The ones reproduced here are original ones belonging to Marc Walter’s collection.
However the black-and-white negatives used to print these photochroms often date from much earlier, as early as the years 1870 for many of them. [source]

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (7)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (9)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (5)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

first color photographs of the united states taschen an american odyssey (10)

MARC WALTER / COURTESY OF TASCHEN

 

 

 

 

 

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Picture of the Day: Coney Island in Color, circa 1905

coney island in color circa 1905 luna park promenade (1)

Original Photograph via Library of Congress

 

In this fantastic image colorized by Dana Keller, we see the Luna Park Promenade at Coney Island, New York, taken some time between 1903 and 1910.

Coney Island is a peninsular residential neighborhood, beach and attraction destination on the Atlantic Ocean in southwestern Brooklyn, New York City. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill. [source]

Coney Island is well known as the site of amusement parks and a seaside resort. The attractions reached a historical peak during the first half of the 20th century, declining in popularity after World War II and years of neglect. In recent years, the area has seen the opening of MCU Park stadium and has become home to the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team, as well as the opening of a new amusement park among several adjacent ones. [source]

You can see the original black and white version below. If you enjoyed this colorized image, be sure to check out the Sifter previous posts:
24 Historic Black and White Photos Colorized
20 Historic Black and White Photos Colorized

 

coney island in color circa 1905 luna park promenade (2)

 

 

 

 

24 Historic Black and White Photos Colorized

 

One of the greatest components of reddit are the thriving subreddits, niche communities of people who share a passion for a specific topic. One of the Sifter’s personal favourites is r/ColorizedHistory (featured previously). The principal contributors are a mix of professional and amateur colorizers and restorers that bring historic photos to life through color. All of them are highly skilled digital artists that use a combination of historical reference material and a natural eye for colour.

When we see old photos in black and white, we sometimes forget that life back then was experienced in the same vibrant colours that surround us today. This gallery of talented artists helps us remember just that.

Below you will find a collection of some of the highest rated colorized images to date on r/ColorizedHistory.

 

 

 

1. Flippin’ Burgers
Crowley, Louisiana, USA – October 1928

historic black and white photos colorized (1)

Original Photograph by Russell Lee/LOC
Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd/Dynamic Chrome
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (2)

Original Photograph by Russell Lee/LOC
Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd/Dynamic Chrome
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

 

2. Women Delivering Ice, 1918

historic black and white photos colorized (3)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (4)

Original Photograph by War Department/National Archives

 

Girls deliver ice. Heavy work that formerly belonged to men only is being done by girls. The ice girls are delivering ice on a route and their work requires brawn as well as the partriotic ambition to help., 09/16/1918 [source]

 

3. Times Square, 1947

historic black and white photos colorized (7)

Original Photograph by William Gottlieb/LOC
Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd/Dynamic Chrome
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (8)

Original Photograph by William Gottlieb/LOC
Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd/Dynamic Chrome
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

 

4. Easter Eggs for Hitler, c 1944-1945

historic black and white photos colorized (9)

Colorized by Zuzzah/Colorizedhistory
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (10)

Original Photograph by US Army/National Archives

 

 

5. Mug shot of William Stanley Moore, 1 May 1925
Central Police Station, Sydney.

historic black and white photos colorized (5)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (6)

 

Special Photograph no. 1399. this picture appears in the Photo Supplement to the NSW Police Gazette, 28 July, 1926 captioned: ‘Opium dealer./ Operates with large quantities of faked opium and cocaine./ A wharf labourer; associates with water front thieves and drug traders.’ [source]

 

6. Painting WWII Propaganda Posters
Port Washington, New York – 8 July 1942

historic black and white photos colorized (11)

Colorized by Patty Allison/Imbued with Hues
Website | Facebook

 

historic black and white photos colorized (12)

Original Photograph by Marty Zimmerman/AP Photo

 

The art assembly line of female students busily engaged in copying World War II propaganda posters in Port Washington, New York, on July 8, 1942. The master poster is hanging in the background. [source]

 

7. Two survivors of the Battle of Gettysburg
at the 50th anniversary reunion, July 1913

historic black and white photos colorized (13)

Original Photograph by Library of Congress
Colorized by Photo Retrofit
Facebook | Twitter | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (14)

Original Photograph by Library of Congress
Colorized by Photo Retrofit
Facebook | Twitter | Prints

 

 

8. Titanic sinks April 15, 1912. Newspaper boy Ned Parfett
sells copies of the evening paper bearing news of the disaster. (April 16, 1912)

historic black and white photos colorized (15)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (16)

Original Photograph by Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

 

 

9. “The Red Baron”, Manfred von Richthofen – ca 1917

historic black and white photos colorized (17)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (18)

Original Photograph by C. J. von Dühren

 

 

10. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge ca 1935

historic black and white photos colorized (19)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (20)

 

 

11. Marilyn Monroe, 1957

historic black and white photos colorized (21)

Colorized by Zuzzah/Colorizedhistory
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (22)

Original Photograph by Richard Avedon/MoMA

 

 

12. Cab stand in Madison Square Park, New York – ca 1900

historic black and white photos colorized (23)

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway/Past in Color
Website | Facebook | deviantART | Prints

 

 

13. Louis Armstrong practicing in his dressing room, ca 1946

historic black and white photos colorized (24)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (25)

Original Photograph by William Gottlieb/LOC

 

 

14. Portrait Used to Design the Penny. President Lincoln Meets General McClellan – Antietam, Maryland ca September 1862

historic black and white photos colorized (26)

Colorized by Zuzzah/Colorizedhistory
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (28)

Original Photograph by Alexander Gardner/LOC

 

historic black and white photos colorized (27)

 

 

15. Theodore Roosevelt in his Rough Rider uniform, ca 1898

historic black and white photos colorized (29)

Original Photograph by Rockwood/MHS
Colorized by Zuzzah/Colorizedhistory
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

 

16. Babe Ruth the Year He Joined the New York Yankees, 1920

historic black and white photos colorized (30)

Colorized by Dana Keller/History in Color
Website | Facebook | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (31)

 

 

17. Norman Rockwell Entering his Stockbridge Studio
Massachusetts, 1966

historic black and white photos colorized (32)

Colorized by Laiz Kuczynski
Website | reddit

 

historic black and white photos colorized (33)

Original Photograph by Louie Lamone

 

 

18. “The Tall Cowboy”, Ralph E. Madsen with Senator Morris Sheppard, 1919

historic black and white photos colorized (34)

Colorized by Photo Retrofit
Facebook | Twitter | Prints

 

historic black and white photos colorized (35)

Original Photograph by Harris & Ewing/LOC

 

 

19. Sergeant George Camblair practicing with a gas mask in a smokescreen – Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 1942

historic black and white photos colorized (43)

Colorized by Ryan Urban
Website | Facebook

 

historic black and white photos colorized (44)

 

 

20. Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech – 4 July 1939

historic black and white photos colorized (41)

 

historic black and white photos colorized (42)

Original Photograph by Murray Becker/Associated Press

 

 

21. Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father and the only surviving member of the Frank family revisiting the attic they spent the war in, 3 May 1960

historic-black-and-white-photos-colorized-(46)

Colorized by Laiz Kuczynski
Website | reddit

 

historic-black-and-white-photos-colorized-(45)

Original Photograph by Arnold Newman

 

 

22. Young Woman with Umbrella – Louisiana, 1937

historic black and white photos colorized (40)

Colorized by Manuel De Leonardo

 

historic-black-and-white-photos-colorized-(49)

Original Photograph by Dorothea Lange/LOC

 

 

23. Broadway at the United States Hotel
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. ca 1900-1915

historic black and white photos colorized (39)

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway/Past in Color
Website | Facebook | deviantART | Prints

 

historic-black-and-white-photos-colorized-(50)

Original Photograph by Detroit Publishing Co./LOC

 

 

24. Ruth Malcomson, Miss America 1924

historic black and white photos colorized (38)

Original Photograph by Bettman/Corbis
Colorized by malakon on reddit

 

 

 

 

 

 

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20 Historic Black and White Photos Colorized

When we see old black and white photos we sometimes forget the actual moments were experienced the same way we do today.

 

One of the greatest facets of reddit are the thriving subreddits, niche communities of people who share a passion for a specific topic. One of the Sifter’s personal favourites is r/ColorizedHistory. The major contributors are a mix of professional and amateur colorizers that bring historic photos to life through color. All of them are highly skilled digital artists that use a combination of historical reference material and a natural eye for colour.

When we see old photos in black and white, we sometimes forget that life back then was experienced in the same vibrant colours that surround us today. This gallery of talented artists helps us remember that 🙂

Below you will find a collection of some of the highest rated colorized images to date on r/ColorizedHistory.

I’ve also provide a list of some of the top contributors (in no particular order):

zuzahin aka Mads Madsen [website, facebook]
mygrapefruit aka Sanna Dullaway [website, facebook]
klassixx aka Dana Keller [facebook page]
photojacker aka Jordan J. Lloyd [facebook page]
HansLucifer [website]
BenAfleckIsAnOkActor
malakon
Edvos aka Paul Edwards
traquea

 

 

 

1. Abandoned boy holding
a stuffed toy animal. London 1945

Abandoned-boy-holding-a-stuffed-toy-animal

Original Photograph by Toni Frissell
Colorized by HansLucifer | valdigtmycketfarg.wordpress.com

 

Abandoned-boy-holding-a-stuffed-toy-animal_2

Original Photograph by Toni Frissell
Colorized by HansLucifer | valdigtmycketfarg.wordpress.com

 

“I was told he had come back from playing and found his house a shambles—his mother, father and brother dead under the rubble…he was looking up at the sky, his face an expression of both confusion and defiance. The defiance made him look like a young Winston Churchill. This photograph was used by IBM to publicize a show in London. The boy grew up to become a truck driver after the war, and walking past the IBM offices, he recognized his picture.” – Toni Frissell

 

 

2. Hindenburg Disaster – May 6, 1937

Hindenburg-disaster,-1937-dana-keller

 

Hindenburg-disaster,-1937-dana-keller-original

 

 

3. Japanese Archers circa 1860

Kyudoka--Japanese-Archers-c1860-photo-chopshop

 

Kyudoka--Japanese-Archers-c1860-photo-chopshop-original

 

 

4. View from Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee
During the Civil War, 1864

View-from-Capitol-in-Nashville,-Tennessee,-during-the-Civil-War-in-1864-sanna-dullaway

 

View-from-Capitol-in-Nashville,-Tennessee,-during-the-Civil-War-in-1864-sanna-dullaway-original

 

 

5. Unemployed lumber worker, circa 1939

Unemployed-lumber-worker,-ca

 

Unemployed-lumber-worker,-ca_2

 

 

6. Auto Wreck in Washington D.C, 1921

Auto-Wreck-in-Washington-D

 

 

7. Big Jay McNeely driving the crowd at the Olympic Auditorium into a frenzy, Los Angeles, 1953

trumpet-traquea

Original Photograph by Bob Willoughby | Prints available
Colorized by traquea on Reddit

 

big-jay-mcneely-on-sax-olympic-auditorium-la-1953-bob-willoughby

 

 

8. Albert Einstein, Summer 1939
Nassau Point, Long Island, NY

Albert-Einstein,-summer-1939---Nassau-Point,-Long-Island,-NY-edvos

 

Albert-Einstein,-summer-1939---Nassau-Point,-Long-Island,-NY-edvos-comparison

 

 

9. Audrey Hepburn

audrey-hepburn-dana-keller

 

 

10. ‘Old Gold’, Country store, 1939

'Old-Gold',-Country-store,-1939-photo-chopshop

 

'Old-Gold',-Country-store,-1939-photo-chopshop-original

 

 

11. Joseph Goebbels scowling at photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt after finding out he’s Jewish, 1933

Joseph-Goebbels-scowling-at-photographer-Albert-Eisenstaedt-after-finding-out-he's-jewish,-ca

 

Joseph-Goebbels-scowling-at-photographer-Albert-Eisenstaedt-after-finding-out-he's-jewish,-ca_2

Photograph by Time & Life Pictures

 

 

12. Nikola Tesla, 1893

Nikola-Tesla,-1893-dana-keller

Original Photograph by Napoleon Sarony
Colorized by Dana Keller | History in Color on Facebook

 

 

13. W.H. Murphy and his associate demonstrating their bulletproof vest on October 13, 1923

W.H

 

Testing_bulletproof_vest_1923

 

 

14. Young boy in Baltimore slum area, July 1938

Baltimore,-1938-photo-chopshop

 

Baltimore,-1938-photo-chopshop-comparison

 

 

15. British troops cheerfully board their train for the first stage of their trip to the western front – England, September 20, 1939

British-troops-cheerfully-board-their-train-for-the-first-stage-of-their-trip-to-the-western-front---England,-September-20,-1939-benafleckisanokactor

 

 

16. Oscar II, King of Sweden and Norway, 1880

Oscar-II,-King-of-Sweden-and-Norway,-year-1880-sanna-dullaway

 

 

17. Walt Whitman, 1887

Walt-Whitman,-1887-dana-keller

 

Walt-Whitman,-1887-dana-keller-original

 

 

18. Mark Twain in the garden, circa 1900

Mark-Twain-in-the-garden,-ca

 

 

19. Charlie Chaplin at the age of 27, 1916

Charlie-Chaplin-at-the-age-of-27,-1916-affleckokactor

 

 

20. Elizabeth Taylor – Giant (1956 film)

Elizabeth-Taylor---Giant-malakon

Original Photograph by Frank Worth Photo | Prints available
Colorized by malakon on Reddit

 

Elizabeth-Taylor---Giant-malakon-original

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Adding Color to Historic Photos [20 pics]

 

Artist Mads Madsen has an amazing skill for colorizing old black and white photographs. Even beside their original counterpart the results are impressive, bringing a new dimension of realism to historic images. An American Civil War buff, Madsen’s 450+ portfolio of images can be seen on minus.com where he has amassed over 2.6 million views. Many of his subjects are portraits of commanders from the civil war.

Madsen says it takes him about 20-30 minutes for a portrait but that the outdoor shots and images with lots of people and background take substantially longer. For a video tutorial of the process involved, you can check him out on YouTube. For a detailed step-by-step tutorial, check out this fascinating post on civilwartalk.com. Oh and I forgot to mention he’s only 18! A gifted young talent with much promise ahead, keep up the amazing work Mr. Madsen!

 

 

 

1. Winston Churchill

 

 

2. Darius N. Couch

darius-n-couch-colored-photo

 

 

3. George Henry Thomas

george-henry-thomas-colorized-photo

 

 

4. Albert Einstein

albert-einstein-colorized

 

 

5. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch

butch-cassidy-and-the-wild-bunch-colorized

 

 

6. Gershon Mott

gershon-mott-colorized

 

 

7. Frederick Douglas

frederick-douglas-color-photo

 

 

8. American Civil War Photo

old-civil-war-photo-colorized

 

 

9. Abraham Lincoln

abraham-lincoln-colorized

 

 

10. Grover Cleveland

grover-cleveland-colorized

 

 

11. American Civil War Portrait

historic-photo-colorized

 

 

12. Migrant Mother

Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange colorized

 

 

13. Charlie Chaplin

charlie-chaplin-color-photo

 

 

14. Civil War Portrait

civil-war-color-photo

 

 

15. Joseph Hooker

joseph-hooker-colorized

 

 

16. American Civil War Portrait

black-and-white-american-civil-war-photo-in-color

 

 

17. Samuel Arnold

samuel-arnold-colorized

 

 

18. Albert Einstein

albert-einstein-colored-photo

 

 

19. Mark Twain

mark-twain-colorized

 

 

20. Charles Darwin

charles-darwin-colorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15 Famous Photos in History Colorized

Alfred Hitchcock Portrait – Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 
Reddit user mygrapefruit and self-taught colorizer Sanna Dullaway has colorized famous photographs in history. You can find the entire 34-image collection on Imgur. Using a Wacom bamboo tablet and Photosohp, each photo takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

It’s an interesting project as it reminds us that while most historic photographs were in black and white, life itself was in the same vibrant color as today (derp). It tickles the mind as we are so accustomed to history portrayed in black and white.

It’s interesting to note that these images have stirred quite the controversy since going viral. Comments on sites like PetaPixel are quite critical, while on Reddit (where it was originally posted) the feedback has been generally positive. What do you think?

Technically, the colorizing skill is superb. It requires great vision and understanding of color to accomplish such realistic outcomes. You can find more information about the artist, Sanna Dullaway, on her website, Flickr page and deviantART profile
 

 

2. Dorothy Counts by Douglas Martin

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

3. Operation Crossroads Event Baker Explosion

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

4. Abraham Lincoln Portrait

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

5. Winston Churchill by Yousuf Karsh

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

6. V-J Day in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt

 

Dorothy Counts – Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

7. Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

8. August Strindberg Portrait

 

Dorothy Counts – Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

9. Fridtjof Nansen

 

Dorothy Counts – Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

10. Albert Einstein

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

11. Charles Darwin

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

12. Theodore Roosevelt

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

13. Abandoned Boy After London Bombing WWII by Toni Frissell

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

14. Self-Immolation of Thich Quang Duc by Malcolm Browne

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

15. Anne Frank

 

Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

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