Photo Restoration Of The Month: September

Behind The Photo: A Glimpse into History

This black-and-white portrait captures a poised woman seated in the foreground, turned gently to her left. Her hair is styled in a short, elegant bob — a hallmark of 1920s fashion — and she wears a dark, possibly velvet dress with short sleeves. A cinched detail at the waist adds subtle texture and structure to her attire.

In her right hand, she holds a booklet or magazine, resting it lightly on her lap. The cover bears the word “STUDIO” at the top, accompanied by an illustration or portrait beneath. Her gaze meets the camera directly, yet her facial features are partially obscured by diagonal streaks and swirling marks — signs of photographic degradation that lend her an ethereal, almost spectral presence.

Restoration involves carefully removing streaks, blemishes, and emulsion damage using tools like the clone stamp and healing brush, while reconstructing obscured features—often guided by undamaged reflections. Tonal adjustments help recover depth and contrast, followed by selective sharpening and noise reduction to enhance clarity.