Old times

[delboy]

At long last my computer is fixed and we are back to normal.

I like old photographs that have shown what went on before, and as I haven’t taken many photos lately I decided to edit some of my old B&W photos in Photoshop. Quite impressed, these photos were faded, stained and generally in a poor condition. These were taken in the sixties in my ill spent youth. The first one is quite hysterical sorry historical. It is of a church in Cheapside London where the bow bells are. It is said you are not a true Cockney unless you were born within the sound of Bow Bells. When I took this photo it was the first time the bells had rung since 1941 when the church was heavily damaged in the war.

The second one is of the Water Police Station at Wapping, I think it had a nice pub there called The Prospect of Wapping (Funny that can’t remember much about Britain but remember the location of the pubs very well).

The third is of Trafalgar Square looking down Whitehall towards Big Ben

And the last one is of a small town in Suffolk called Thaxted.

I have posted these for general interest and to highlight the importance of saving your work for future generations and show how old B&W photos can be updated in the modern editing programmes that are around today. I hope you enjoy

Delboy.

[kinetic]

Hi Del boy how are you...like what you are doing with your old film photos and as you say you are now future proofing them for another generation.
The other important thing is the historical context of your photos.
On the first photo, the sign “John Collier”....goodness that took me back a few years...but like so many of the High street tailoring outfits... long gone...Savile Row now being the place of choice to get a decent suit.
Love the one of Trafalgar square. That could be a nice little enhancement project for you.
The one with the mini is like something out the “Italian Job” :D
It is so important to preserve what we have now...for the future.
Mark

[shirlm2]

Hi Delboy I too like what you are doing. I am particularly intrigued with #1 as pass this regularly on my way to work. The area is totally different with a huge new development recently completed. I will bring my camera in next week and attempt a similar shot for comparison purposes. :)
It's amazing to see how things have changed & that's why saving these is so important.

[Kaye]

Hi Delboy,
Glad you have your PC back to normal and back posting.
I think you may have a big job ahead of yourself going through all your many other B&W shots, as these are wonderful.
It is quite some time since I have visited London so would not be aware of the new changes as Shirley mentioned.

They are all lovely shots Delboy, but I absolutely love the effect of the fog over Trafalgar Square and the varying levels of grays throughout this shot, enhanced by the darkness of the branches and leaves in the foreground.

[Geneo]

What a worthwhile job you have in front of you. Nice saves. Keep up the good work!

[JackRussell]

Interesting series, well recovered.
Thanks for sharing these with us.

[delboy]

Hi Del boy how are you...like what you are doing with your old film photos and as you say you are now future proofing them for another generation.
The other important thing is the historical context of your photos.
On the first photo, the sign “John Collier”....goodness that took me back a few years...but like so many of the High street tailoring outfits... long gone...Savile Row now being the place of choice to get a decent suit.
Love the one of Trafalgar square. That could be a nice little enhancement project for you.
The one with the mini is like something out the “Italian Job” :D
It is so important to preserve what we have now...for the future.
Mark

Thanks Mark I bought a Jacket from John Collier, man I thought I was soooo cool with my Afro, Beard, Semi Dark Shades and Bell Bottom Pants. Now I use a towel to comb my hair. I have heaps of Transparencies to edit and albums of Photos can't see me editing the lot.

Hi Delboy I too like what you are doing. I am particularly intrigued with #1 as pass this regularly on my way to work. The area is totally different with a huge new development recently completed. I will bring my camera in next week and attempt a similar shot for comparison purposes. :)
It's amazing to see how things have changed & that's why saving these is so important.

Hi Shirley,

Thanks for that.It would be nice if you could take a photo and compare with this one.


Hi Delboy,
Glad you have your PC back to normal and back posting.
I think you may have a big job ahead of yourself going through all your many other B&W shots, as these are wonderful.
It is quite some time since I have visited London so would not be aware of the new changes as Shirley mentioned.

They are all lovely shots Delboy, but I absolutely love the effect of the fog over Trafalgar Square and the varying levels of grays throughout this shot, enhanced by the darkness of the branches and leaves in the foreground.

Hi Kaye

Thanks for your comments. Did you do a big OE or was it just a trip when you were in London?


What a worthwhile job you have in front of you. Nice saves. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Geneo


Interesting series, well recovered.
Thanks for sharing these with us.

Thanks Jack

I might post a few more oldies providing I don't bore people.

Thanks to you all

Regards

Delboy

[Kaye]

Hi Kaye
Thanks for your comments. Did you do a big OE or was it just a trip when you were in London?
Delboy

Delboy, I did an overseas trip way way back in 1974 for 6 months playing tennis tournaments mainly in Europe. We decided not to apply for the tournaments in England leading up to Wimbledon, as it was TOO expensive and difficult to qualify for Wimbledon. There are so many great players, that you almost need to win a tournament to even qualify for Wimbledon.
BUT, we had lots of fun playing tournaments in Europe, won bits of money and had a ball :D I still needed to visit England/London. (Did not have time to tour the countryside which is a pity). I'm sure I have an old Trafalgar Square shot with a "red double decker", but have not found it yet :mad:

From 1977 to 1980, coached tennis in Noumea, New Caledonia.... had the best time in my life in this beautiful paradise, and learned to speak French.

Again, around 1987, I was sent to London with a job I had. I spent two weeks staying somewhere near Victoria Station (from memory), but don't believe I got any shots from this quick and busy visit.

Delboy, you have started me pulling out old shots as well... sooooooo time consuming looking thru albums !!

[DoctorJazz]

Delboy,

Thank you so much for sharing these historic scenes and for the details.
I can see you already had an eye for composition at that time....I really love the
atmosphere captured in no. 3 as well. It would be fun for you to do the same shots now....glad to see your computer is back up and running.

[eyerkish]

I'm so glad you shared these! I love the feel to them all and I think it's fantastic that you are trying to preserve a bit of history.

[delboy]

Thanks for the reply Kaye. What an experience touring Euroupe and coaching in the Islands. You must post some of your old photos


Thanks Sandy & Eddie for your comments. I should have added to the original photo of Thaxed. This is where Gustav Holst wrote the Planet Suite. The movement "Jupiter the bringer of Jollity" is used as a Hymn "I vow to thee my country" and is titled in Hymn books as Thaxted.
Just a useless bit of information.:D


Delboy.

[larwhi]

Wonderful job you have done on these, and some good advice given!

[shirlm2]

Hi Delboy

Here is the promised image of Bow Church as it is now. I was trying to get some blue sky as there can be nice reflections of the church in the glass but we are having never-ending typical English weather :) I think the building on the left is the same as in your photograph.

[delboy]

Hi shirley

Apologise for delay in responding. What a difference, but it was about 49 years ago. Have they narrowed the road down, becuase if my memory serves me correctly that was a major road in to London with buses and trucks using it.

When I have time I will sort out some more old photo's to show.

Thanks for that Shirley.