If you’ve read my blog or been to my studio, you’ll know that a huge part of my passion for this work is capturing a visual record of the love of families so that we can appreciate it more fully. Custom digital photo restorations allow us to breathe new life into portraits of the past — even ones which the years have faded, creased, or torn.
Working with Mr. Duran and his wife, Esmeralda, I was introduced to a faded image of a handsome gentleman in a bow tie. Years ago, Mr. Duran recalled seeing a special photograph hanging in his grandmother’s house in an oval frame. Fortunately, he was able to get me a scan of the original print and commissioned a digital update and a framed heirloom print. As it turns out, oval frames are quite the rarity these days. However, working with my trusted framer, we agreed on a custom double-matte cut into an oval shape, thus preserving the classic feel (but with the freshness of modern materials: light-fast inks, acid-free mattes, and anti-glare glass). The frame molding is wider and more ornate than shown in this cropped image, but the black-and-white was a perfect pairing for the dignified, sharp-dressed subject. This photograph was taken probably about 70 years ago. With the help of a 21st Century technology, we were able to restore the image to its former glory and produce a piece of art that will last for another 70+ years! Happy clients and a happy ending — I enjoyed this project a lot!