Migrant Mother 1936 Colorization

[zkogut]

Hi Everybody,

Since everyone liked the photo of my Grandparents that I colored I figured I'd try to color a historic image. I chose the photo named Migrant Mother 1936, photo by Dorothea Lange. The photo took about 8 hours to color and I'm happy with the results. As always, if you have any tips or tricks on the subject please share!

Thanks,
Zak

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Mark von Kanel]

Unbelievable Zac, if you hadnt told me id of thought it was shot that way.

[zkogut]

Unbelievable Zac, if you hadnt told me id of thought it was shot that way.

Thanks, Mark. One day when I have time I might put together a tutorial on my process.

[bnnrcn]

I would love to learn about your process Zac , very nice image I just would like to say that putting the images next to each other makes it a bit complicated to view them properly. So, it might be a good idea to upload them as two different images next time

[kap55]

Extremely well done. I'm sure a tutorial would be well received.

[ShaneS]

My first reaction was that it was kind of eerie to see this image colorized. I mean that in a good way as I find it beautifully rendered and very realistic Zak. You certainly do have an eye for this work and the patience to go with it!

[Mike Buckley]

Another one very nicely done. No wonder it takes 8 hours.

For those who might wonder about the legal issues, this photo was made by Lange in 1936 when she was working as a photographer for the Farm Securities Administration, an agency of the U.S. federal government. As such, the photo is in the public domain.

[davidedric]

I've said I like it, but that scarcely does it justice. Stunning work.

Dave

[mknittle]

I am a big fan of old photographs In the past when I saw the word colorized I thought ruined the feel. However I have never seen such excellent work as yours Zak. Your work adds reality.

[zkogut]

I am a big fan of old photographs In the past when I saw the word colorized I thought ruined the feel. However I have never seen such excellent work as yours Zak. Your work adds reality.

Wow, thank you. That was really nice of you to say.

[zkogut]

I've said I like it, but that scarcely does it justice. Stunning work.

Dave

Thanks, Dave. I appreciate the compliment.

[zkogut]

Extremely well done. I'm sure a tutorial would be well received.

I was taught by Sanna Dullaway and Mads Madsen back when I first started. Both have made tutorials that can be found on the web. I figure there's no sense in making a tutorial now that they've made some. You should check them out if you're interested!

[rpcrowe]

Zak...

Really great work! Colorizing an iconic shot like this is really gutsy but, you certainly carried it off.

[zkogut]

Zak...

Really great work! Colorizing an iconic shot like this is really gutsy but, you certainly carried it off.

Thanks, Richard for the compliment!

[Mark von Kanel]

Thanks, Mark. One day when I have time I might put together a tutorial on my process.

Ill look forward to it Zac, To be honest its not a technique i would use very much but the way you do it is incredible and i need to learn everything i can about photoshop.

AND if you have 8 hours to colourise the image, you have the time to tell us all haw you do it

[zkogut]

Ill look forward to it Zac, To be honest its not a technique i would use very much but the way you do it is incredible and i need to learn everything i can about photoshop.

AND if you have 8 hours to colourise the image, you have the time to tell us all haw you do it

Haha Mark, its a combined total of 8 hours over a period of days. I never do it in one sitting. Usually I work on them for 2 hrs or so per night after work. How would I submit a tutorial on here anyways?

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi ZaK

Youd Have to ask the mods, but the way id do it would be to put up a B&W image that you were going to colourise (beware copy write ) people could then ask you to mail it to them, Then id post each stage of the colour process 1 at a time and allow peeps to post their attempts at each stage id just run it as a thread in the processing forum Colin Southern did a similar thing on portrait lighting. Ask the Mod and see what they say?

[Mike Buckley]

How would I submit a tutorial on here anyways?

If the tutorial is text accompanied by still photos, you could post the tutorial in the "Image Post-Processing & Printing" forum. If the tutorial is audio and video, I think you would need to post it somewhere else on the Internet and provide a link to it in that forum but I'm not sure that you couldn't directly attach the file. You could post links in that forum to the Dullaway and Madsen tutorials.

[ShaneS]

Zak, I saw this link to an Aussie that not only does colorization but then does some composite work. I thought you might find it inspiring - here is the link: Aussie photographer transforms vintage B&W photos into magical art