Creatively aging photographs

[dmitriy_babichenko]

A few days ago I had a somewhat unusual request from a client. I was hired to

do a portrait session for a gentlemen who asked me if I could make his

photographs look old. To clarify - he does not want himself aged in the photos,

he just wants the photos to look like they were taken in the 1940s. I tried

asking him what exactly he was looking for, but he wasn't very sure himself. He

just said that he wanted "old-looking photos".

 

I want to create 5-6 samples for him so he could choose whatever he likes best.

I already made a sepia-toned sample and a sample with added film grain.

 

Can anyone suggest any other photoshop techniques or ideas of how I can make a

photograph look old?

[emre]

Add grain, creases, stains (read <a href="http://www.dosch.de/infobase/DT-TA-Tutorial.pdf">this</a> PDF tutorial). Reduce shadow detail with Levels and saturation of the blue channel (as well as overall saturation). Another option, more enjoyable but less unrepeatable, is to make a print and defile it yourself; soak it in coffee, step on it, tear it up etc. then scan it back in if necessary.

[dmitriy_babichenko]

I just found one tutorial that I might try - for those of you who are interested you can find it at http://www.escrappers.com/vintage2.html

[calebcondit]

next time take the photos on type 665 or 55 polaroids and don't be oh so careful with the negs. Make a print and beat it up, then scan. OR just leave it under your welcome mat for a week, that should do it.

[pico_digoliardi]

Two answers.

 

If you have Photoshop, there is a 'droplet' in the Samples folder. Just drag a picture onto the droplet. It is called AgedPhoto.exe

 

If he wants to look like a formal portrati taken in the 40's and 50's, then NO GRAIN. Shoot fine grain MF or LF. You should use a soft portrait lens. I can recommend specific lenses, but you can't go wrong with an Imagon soft lens. A Softar filter over a conventional portrait lens is a poor second.

 

Use three lights, two minimum in the classic styles.

 

Clothes and hair must reflect the era.

[eugene_scherba]

Warm latte works best.

[cmonkey]

Also, try using the lens wide-open and focusing just on the nose. That will give you the short DOF the old photos have.

[gluteal cleft]

Don't forget to keep the subject, his dress, and surroundings as period-correct as possible. Consider looking at the common poses from the 40's as well.

 

steve