Simulating old photo effect

goldseeker · 11-04-2012 08:24AM #1

Hi
Have seen some beautiful pictures online, might post link latter.
Not sure done with real old camera, or just made look old.
Tried to do myself a couple, share your experience if you done something similar. Spent like 30minutes on each of the pictures.Still not happy.

6034073

magicbastarder · 11-04-2012 08:43AM

it's possible they don't look convincing because they're still exhibiting modern characteristics - the first one looks a lot sharper than a lot of the photos you'd be seeking to emulate, and the creases in the 'print' look a bit random - in a lot of cases, a crease will be roughly straight and run from edge to edge, not take a 90 degree turn.
plus, you've put what looks like a fake film border on a print; again, not something which you'd see.

sineadw · 11-04-2012 09:40AM

Apart from anything, the guy in the shot looks like he's from the 21st century. It's never gonna work with a modern subject.

goldseeker · 11-04-2012 10:33AM

Not sure if I can put here not my own work but just to show what I was after. Will delete them after a day or two.
I think those photos looks just amazing.

6034073

pete4130 · 11-04-2012 02:09PM

What are you more amazed by? The image content or the gimmicky effect?

xshayx · 11-04-2012 05:02PM

The effect on the last ones you posted looks like TTV - through the viewfinder - taking the photo through another cameras viewfinder.... It can be done using an old camera with a large viewfinder, or done in photoshop with a plugin...

DaireQuinlan · 11-04-2012 07:32PM

xshayx wrote: »

The effect on the last ones you posted looks like TTV - through the viewfinder - taking the photo through another cameras viewfinder.... It can be done using an old camera with a large viewfinder, or done in photoshop with a plugin...

It's either actual wet plate, probably some colloidon process, or has been PP'd to look like it.

sineadw · 11-04-2012 10:03PM

Yep I think they're wet plate collodion. Sure just do one of those

*runs away...

In all seriousness though, I tried to do similar earlier in the year and failed miserably. It's difficult. You need the right model first and foremost. And then light just moves differently on a digital sensor (anti-halation is one thing, pixels are another..). You've done a fairly good job. Lose the fake film border (plates don't have those

) and the crinkles (plates don't have those either

) and maybe read up a bit on the process to get a better feel for it.

sineadw · 11-04-2012 10:10PM

Oh, and here's a video for you

http://redux.com/stream/item/2227133/SILVER-LIGHT (can you tell I'm a bit obsessed with these?..)

sineadw · 11-04-2012 10:15PM

Oh, and waaaaaay less depth of field. These would be large format, so even with a small aperture you're talking miniature depth of focus.

Shutting up now

goldseeker · 12-04-2012 08:05AM

Thanks guys, at least I know how the process is called (wet plate collodion)
I thought those photos just enhanced in photoshop. Have no means to get those wet plates, but will try to replicate in digitally.
Thanks sineadw for links.

Simulating old photo effect

Comments