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Even 19th century had its “Facetune” that everyone used in photos

It’s not a secret that “photoshopping” existed way before Photoshop. Photos were edited in the darkroom, and masters like Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange manipulated their photos that are iconic today. But did you know just how far it went?

Have you ever wondered why people in the 19th-century photos all had flawless skin, thin waist, or posture that seems a bit off? Well, it turns out they also had their photos edited to match the beauty standards, just like people on social media do today. In this super-fun video, Bernadette Banner tells you more about it and explores the history of the Victorian era’s “Facetune.”

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Man discovers 100-year-old photo studio and prints in a long-forgotten attic

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When I was a kid, I always fantasized about finding treasure in my home’s attic one day. Well, David J. Whitcomb did. When he bought a building, he discovered a 100-year-old photo studio inside of it and a bunch of prints from the late 19th and early 20th century. Now that’s what I call treasure!

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This photo book shows male couples between 1850s and 1950s, when it was illegal

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I may be naive and a hopeless romantic, but I firmly believe that love conquers all. In their photo book Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s, Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell prove me right. They have collected a series of photos of male couples from back in the day when it was still illegal to engage in same-sex relationships. They prove that love is stronger than the law, and in case you stopped believing in love, these could make you change your mind.

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This man inherited his grandfather’s box of negatives and they look amazing

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I find stores of found negatives and accidentally discovered master photographers to be really exciting. And today, I’ve discovered another story like this thanks to Dylan Scalet. He is a man who, sadly, never met his grandfather. But he has met him through his photographic work which he decided to share with the public. Dylan has scanned over 5,000 of his grandfather’s negatives so far, and oh man, am I happy that he shared them with the world! I’m also happy that he decided to share some of them with DIYP, along with the story about his grandfather and his hobby he was so good at.

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Here is a rare sight for a 19th century photo: a smile

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A simple smile can make a significant change. Apparently, it can sometimes also “break the internet.” A photo from the late 19th century has recently emerged and quickly went viral. Unlike most photos from that era, it contains something so small, yet so powerful: a smile.

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Should you re-retouch your old photos?

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Getting better at something does take time, but getting better is something that is ultimately inevitable, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. Every time you pick up your camera, you body and mind will learn something new no matter how small it may be. But this principle isn’t just applicable to the picture taking process, we’re also getting better every single time we use our picture editing software too.

But before we talk about software, first let’s take a quick look at how camera technology has evolved over the last couple of decades and what significance that plays in our retouching today.

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Follow this tutorial to turn photos into goofy animation

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Like most of us, Swiss photographer Nicola Tröhler had some extra time due to the coronavirus pandemic. He used it to perfect his animation skills, and he shared with us some hilarious animations he’d created. In his latest video, he shows you how to do it yourself. So if you’re up for making some goofy animations from photos, check it out below.

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This photographer uses vintage photos to create hilarious animations

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If there’s one good thing in this whole coronavirus situation, then it’s the number of fantastic ideas and projects people have come up with in isolation. Swiss photographer Nicola Tröhler is one of these people and he has made animations like you probably haven’t seen before. They tell totally unexpected stories, and I’m sure they won’t fail to make you laugh.

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These “shoebox negatives” will take you on an emotional journey to 1930s Chicago

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Many years ago, Joan Tortorici Ruppert’s mother handed her a box full of negatives. You see, Joan’s father was an avid photographer, and Joan began to be interested in it too. So, her mom wanted her to have these photos that he’d taken and developed back in the late 1930s.

Joan took this “time capsule” and carefully scanned all the photos. She did it all without a lightbox, enlarger or a scanner, but she came up with a DIY approach that let her quickly cull through hundreds of negatives. And finally, she ended up with an admirable collection of black and white photos that show life as it was in pre-war Chicago.

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Watch photographer develop 120-year-old photos he found in a time capsule

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French photographer Mathieu Stern has shown us some weird, funny, inspiring and gorgeous projects and images so far. And the latest one made me kind of emotional. Mathieu found a time capsule from1900 in his old family house. Among other things, it contained glass plate negatives – and he decided to develop them. In the video, he shows you how he did it using cyanotype, and you can also see the beautiful images he ended up with.

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