Problems with Old Photographs

Several common problems can occur in old photographs that will determine the best strategy for their reconstruction. Here is a list of problems you are likely to encounter:

All or part of the photo is faded. This problem results from the deterioration of the emulsion on an image, caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, air, or fluctuating temperatures . (It could also result from an image that was overexposed to begin with.) Sometimes the photograph might be perfect on one side and fade gradually to the other.

The photo has a color cast. A color photograph might have washed-out colors or a yellow or red cast over its entire surface. This can be the result of the emulsion s chemical reaction with air or paper.

The image is wrinkled , torn, scratched, or covered with spots. Wrinkles and scratches are often a result of mistreatment of the photograph. Spots will develop from exposure to dust. Images stored in a damp environment can collect mold that appears as large or small splotches.

The surface is textured. Many old photographs were printed on textured paper. The removal of this surface can present problems during the retouching process.

Part of the photograph is missing. A vital portion of the image such as a hand or a face might have a severe scratch on it or might be missing entirely. A corner might be missing or an area of the photograph might have peeled or faded away.

Bad photography. The image might have superfluous elements such as phone lines or portions that are out of focus. The image might have been shot at the wrong moment, the composition might be unbalanced, or the image might be underexposed or overexposed.

Photo restoration can be extremely labor- intensive . Some images are simply beyond repair. Experience will show you which images are worth restoring and which ones, like the photo in Figure 19.1, would be a waste of a lot of time and effort.

Figure 19.1: This photograph is not worth the effort that it would take to restore it. Critical parts of the image are missing. There is hardly any detail in the highlight areas, and it is blurred, faded, stained, and covered with scratches and dust.