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Old photographs represent important visual links to the past.

Using high magnification, fine handwork, and a sophisticated digital toolset, I can resurrect almost any damaged photo, while maintaining the grain and textures inherent in the original. In the process, I often uncover interesting details hidden from years of neglect. I am also able to bring back a faded image and restore detail where there appears to be literally nothing at all left to see in the original.

I am well-versed in the human form from the detail the artist’s brush captures in my figurative and portrait painting. I can fill in missing parts of photographs including facial features, body parts, clothing, objects and backgrounds.

The lovely sepia tones of old photographs are a favorite of mine and I often re-tint the restored images using my own special techniques. Problems which can be repaired include:

Severely surface damaged, cracked, torn and faded photo of 3 Hispanic children circa 1950, restored, retouched, cropped and enlarged. Click to see larger image. Very faded and dirty photo of a young woman circa 1930s, restored to original color, hand-tinted and retouched. Click to see larger image. Photo of African-American mother and child split in two with 1/2-inch missing strip missing across across center, and faded, fully restored, cropped and enlarged. Click to see larger image. Faded, discolored, surface-damaged, and torn in half early 19th-century wedding couple antique photo, restored and hand-colored. Click to see larger image. Photo of Irish-American mother and child circa 1920s with several large pieces missing, surface blemishes, and faded, fully restored and presented in original oval vignette. Click to see larger image. Fire, smoke, water-damaged and darkened photo of African-American mother and daughters circa 1940s restored, cropped and enlarged. Click to see larger image.   Torn, cracked, faded and with pieces missing antique photo of early 19th-century New England horse-drawn fire truck and fireman, restored, sepia-tinted and cropped. Click to see larger image. Torn, faded surface-damaged photo of 3 toddler girls from New England family circa 1930s, restored, sepia-tinted and cropped. Click to see larger image.
  • Smoke, fire, water and staining
  • Mold and mildew
  • Paper-eating insects
  • Contact with acid-based supports, adhesives, and storage materials
  • Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light
  • Cracks and tears due to aging and brittleness
  • Missing/stuck pieces due to contact with frame glass condensation
  • Photos broken into many pieces due to improper storage
  • Fading or darkening of image due to breakdown of fixer and/or other chemical and environmental factors

"Old photographs have a special charm all their own -- including the damage -- so I always try to preserve some of that special character and not have the final product appear to be digitally altered or just painted over."