This is Interesting: Free Magazines for Graphics designers and webmasters  


Home > Archive > Computer Graphics with Photoshop > May 2004 > Why Don't Documentaries Restore Photos?





You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread. To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to this thread please [click here]

Author Why Don't Documentaries Restore Photos?
Ken Hall

2004-05-22, 7:28 pm


Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
original appearance by a competent photo restorer.

Ken
edjh

2004-05-22, 7:28 pm

Ken Hall wrote:
> Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
> Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
> severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
> and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
> original appearance by a competent photo restorer.
>
> Ken


I think sometimes they do but sometimes they don't because they feel it
adds atmosphere to the story. The Burns' things are usually pretty savvy
visually.

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

Rick

2004-05-22, 11:28 pm

"Ken Hall" <kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote in message news:6ueva01k431qm5lpo6gnlegpa4tsoaoa4d@4ax.com...
>
> Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
> Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
> severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
> and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
> original appearance by a competent photo restorer.


Why don't you call Ken Burns and ask him?
http://www.florentinefilms.com/ffpages/contact.html

Rick


Paul J Gans

2004-05-22, 11:28 pm

Ken Hall <kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote:

>Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
>Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
>severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
>and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
>original appearance by a competent photo restorer.


>Ken


I think that there may be a feeling that any restoration
adds some of the restorer's view to the image.

----- Paul J. Gans

jjs

2004-05-22, 11:28 pm

In article <6ueva01k431qm5lpo6gnlegpa4tsoaoa4d@4ax.com>, Ken Hall
<kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
> Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
> severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
> and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
> original appearance by a competent photo restorer.


Principles, perhaps?
Gareee©

2004-05-22, 11:28 pm

Probably just cost. It not only takes time, but money to restore old photos,
and if you are using 30-40 for a show, and each takes a week to clean up
properly, then that would delay the show by months, PLUS would add a hell of
a lot to the budget.


--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooin...6/mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!


nospam

2004-05-23, 7:14 pm

Probably do to time involved. Money and copyright ownership. Not to mention
the problem with them being accused of revisionist history if they restored
a Photo, then there is no proof that it wasn't altered in some other way
besides just correcting tears and such. Most because of the time and money
involved. The probably have limited budgets being PBS and all and far more
important things to do.

Besides it would be like restoring the Titanic to do a documentary on it.

Jeey

"Ken Hall" <kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:6ueva01k431qm5lpo6gnlegpa4tsoaoa4d@4ax.com...
>
> Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
> Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
> severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
> and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
> original appearance by a competent photo restorer.
>
> Ken



Uni

2004-05-24, 7:14 am

Paul J Gans wrote:
> Ken Hall <kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I think that there may be a feeling that any restoration
> adds some of the restorer's view to the image.


Very well said, Paul. In other words, there's no such thing as a perfect
restoration.

Uni


>
> ----- Paul J. Gans
>


JP Kabala

2004-05-24, 7:14 am

Just a guess, but I suspect it's a style thing.
A visual shortcut to "this is old and original"
in the viewer's mind.
If you want to see an effective use of archival
and pseudo-archival still photography, both
restored and not, rent Seabiscuit on DVD
It's a very "pretty" movie and moves from
stills to film, sepia/b&W to color, and John
Ford-like sweeping cinematography to more
intimate stuff-- it's a visual treat.
"Ken Hall" <kenhall@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:6ueva01k431qm5lpo6gnlegpa4tsoaoa4d@4ax.com...
>
> Does anyone know (not guess) why many documentary shows such as Ken
> Burns PBS do nothing to restore the photos they use. I often see
> severely damaged photos which detract significantly from the picture
> and which could be greatly improved or totally restored to their
> original appearance by a competent photo restorer.
>
> Ken



Sponsored Links


Copyright 2003 - 2008 forum4designers.com  Software forum  Computer Hardware reviews