Although it may seem like a small detail, adding color to images can reveal a lot about history. Learn how colorizing old photos helped us grasp what WWI was like.
WWI photographs have been an indispensable source of historical information. With careful preservation, many of these old pictures have lasted far longer than written records from this period. However, photographic technology was limited at the time – most photos were in black-and-white.
Fortunately, with modern colorization techniques, professional photo restorers know how to make a black and white photo colored. Adding color to WWI photos has given us a better glimpse into what that era was like.
Keep reading to find out how colorizing World War I photos changed how we view that time in history. It just might inspire you to have some of your own vintage WWI photos restored!
Colorizing Old Photos Showed The Cost Of War
War is a violent but distant phenomenon for most civilians, but photographs were able to bring World War I’s true impact closer to home.
While government propaganda of the Great War stirred up feelings of patriotism by talking about glory, freedom, and victory, pictures from the front told the truth about the cost of fighting for those ideals. Newspapers and short newsreels in cinemas were able to show events happening thousands of miles away, revealing valuable information about what was really happening on the ground.
The photos of the trenches and dead soldiers had a haunting impact on the public, even in black and white. Now, in full, restored color, these old photos look even more shocking in their realism. This ensures that our collective memory of WWI doesn’t fade and, hopefully, reminds us to learn from history lest we repeat it.
Once we look at photos of different battlefields and the numerous people who gave their lives for their countries, we can almost feel World War I. With just a bit of color, we’re able to understand the level of destruction, violence, and loss that defined that moment in history. It provides even greater historical detail and helps preserve these memories against the fading effects of time’s passage.
Colorized Photos Are A Valuable Scholarly Tool
Many World War I researchers spend hours poring over old documents, trying to reconstruct events and timelines for more accurate records. Photographs are a useful way to corroborate written statements or descriptions. In turn, written records can help digital artists faithfully restore the correct colors and details to photographs of important scenes and historical figures.
Colors make these historical photos look even more realistic, and they help build context for photos. Historically accurate colorizations – like a military unit’s uniform colors or the sky during a significant battle – add layers of meaning and authenticity. That’s why photo restoration and colorization need such meticulous research.
Scholars and artists have to dig through multiple sources to find out information about fashion, government branches, and even diary entries to cross-check accuracy. Only then can restoration begin. The final product should be as faithful as possible to the records of the period, so they can be considered useful visual aids for historical study.
Colorized Pictures Offer A Glimpse Into Civilian Life
World War I may have been defined by conflicts between countries and shifting politics, but not enough is said about those left behind at home. Civilians had to endure endless worry for the family members called to the front.
Many civilians would arrange for photographs to be taken of themselves or family gatherings, so they could be sent to their sweethearts or family as a token of good cheer. Colorizing these old photos puts a more human face to those hoping to see their loved ones again – a warm, if poignant reminder, of the personal cost of the Great War.
Apart from these personal photos, there were now more photos of the “home front”. Unlike other wars, the Great War placed civilians closer to the frontline as coastal towns became valuable points of attack. Photos of emergency health workers like nurses and doctors, firemen, and factory workers are all a testament to the civilian effort during the war.
World War I photos also showed scenes of industrialization, rationing, and war production. Even as the fighting raged on in Europe, civilians at home worked endlessly to keep their boys resupplied and ready for action. Colorizing the black and white photos of these scenes breathes new life into these distant moments, and offers a more relatable look at how civilians “soldiered on”, too.
Colorized Photos Help You Remember Family Members
World War I will always be a significant historical event, but more than that, it left a personal mark on families whose members were conscripted into military service. The men who were lucky to survive the fighting often came home seriously injured, but they were still better off than their comrades-in-arms who never came back from the war.
Many families consider it a point of honor to have members who served in the military forces during World War I. Photos of relatives from this period are family treasures, passed on to commemorate their bravery and the sacrifices they made to protect their country.
While the black and white originals look quite distinguished, colorized versions give a much more human, relatable look to these portraits. Instead of being distant old icons that we simply recall through family anecdotes, colorized pictures help us feel that we are looking at family members and not strangers from the past. This feeling of immediacy and greater closeness is a big reason why so many people have taken old WWI photos for colorization.
Conclusion
Thanks to professional photo restoration, World War I photos can easily be restored and digitally recolored. These tools can help us reconnect with history and relate to people who lived and endured this significant time. For those with vintage photos lying in wait, this chance to reconnect may be even more personal.
Leaf through your family photo albums to see if you have old World War I photos that you can have colorized. They’ll be a great tribute to your family history, and meaningful mementos that you can pass on for future generations to see and treasure for years to come!