Old Family Photos on Cloth
Jeff Fee wrote and asked if I'd ever seen a photograph like this before—it's on silk. The answer is yes. I actually own one, of my paternal grandmother. Based on my grandmother's birth year of 1892 and her approximate age in the photo, it was made circa 1910...
Read MorePhoto Storytelling on the Holidays
This week I took another look at all my family photos and was suddenly struck by a realization. My family takes pictures in the spring and summer. There are few images of autumn and fewer still of winter snow. We're warm weather photographers. Documenting This Year's...
Read MorePhoto Reunions after Hurricane Sandy
A year ago, Hurricane Sandy stormed into the East Coast of the United States destroying property and taking lives. Generations of family photographs were blown or washed out of destroyed and damaged houses. In the midst of the aftermath and chaos, one woman began focusing on images she found scattered...
Read MoreSmartphone Camera Tip: Viewing Old Negatives
I'm a relatively new smartphone user. While I was waiting for an upgrade, lots of folks got iPhones and other types of smartphones. A few months ago, I finally qualified and picked up a Samsung Galaxy. Some attendees to last month's Who Do You Think You...
Read MoreTwelve Months of the Photo Detective
It's time to look back at the year. Every week I write a Photo Detective blog post—that's 52 columns in 12 months. It's a lot of free photographic advice and tips. Here are my month-by-month 2012 favorites.JanuaryLast New Year's I offered advice on sharing images online, tackled a photo...
Read MorePhoto Restoration of Which Man is It
Last week I discussed the details in Lois O'Malley's photo of a crayon portrait and asked if someone could try to digitally restore it. I love the genealogy community! A woman named Shirley volunteered to see if she could restore the picture. Here's version three of the...
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Preserving My Family Photographs
When I decided to write a book on preserving photographs, I needed examples. For months I visited antique shops and photo shows looking for really damaged pictures. As you might expect, there was no shortage of problem images. As the oldest child, I've inherited our family photo collection...
Read MoreIt’s a Family Reunion
Have you ever been to a family reunion? I'm writing this from my husband's reunion. It's an every-other-year event that's been held since the mid-20th century. There's a lot of debate about when the first one was held. Here are two observations: The coordinator is an...
Read MoreDigital Photo Preservation Pointers
I hope that everyone had fun exploring the sites I mentioned last week! These sites are a way to share photos and stories, but are not a way to preserve your family photos. If you want to preserve your photos try these tips. Scan at 600...
Read MorePhoto Clean-up: 5 Easy Steps
If you find yourself surrounded by boxes of family photos, then check out my article "Address Your Mess" in the February 2012 issue of Family Tree Magazine. There are five easy steps to help you organize those shoeboxes. A few months ago, Family Tree Magazine ran a contest to find...
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