The other day, I was browsing through my old, analog (non- digital) pictures, focusing on the bad ones (blurred, failed contrast - too dark, too bright etc..). I wanted to try and improve quality, if possible, by using the editing software on my rather old, computer.
Most of these pictures are dear to me, mementos of my visit to some famous landmarks, such as that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In order to successfully capture both the landmark and myself in the same picture, I needed a much better camera than the one I had, and certainly better photographic skills, but I had neither (sigh).
Eiffel Tower
At The Colloseum in Rome
The ancient structure of the Colloseum looks o.k. ; my face, on the other hand, looks blurred. One can improve things, but touching face could turn disastrous; not recommended.
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Mozart's monument & birth place in SalzburgI felt music in the air, Mozart's music. It was a lovely, sunny day, perfectly appropriate for a visit to the great composer's birthplace.
Fontana di Trevi - Rome
This stunning , famous fountain, where people throw coins in its water, makes you forget everything. I just stood there overwhelmed by the sight of it.
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I've got quite a few pictures with Me sitting on stairs , on rocks, on a bench , on a fountain edge or on the grass by some famous attraction . Not surprising, though. I was a tourist, and as such, often tired from much walking and exploring. I needed to rest, and that was also a good opportunity for a picture.
Urquat Castle at Lockness lake, Scotland
sitting on a bench in the center of Frankfurt
on the grass, by a monument in Sterling, England
This is a rather rare picture of me, as my head is seen here from profile, from the side.
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While browsing (apparently, not a bad lock down occupation), I came upon two pictures relevant to our times: social distancing in one, crowding in the other. Both were taken in Athens, Greece.
crowds on the Acropolis , Athens
I also came upon a picture I was glad to forget about .
On the route Dover-Calais , I felt like I was going to die of sea sickness. Very traumatic experience! (Several days earlier, wearing the same outfit , I had my photo taken close to a wax figure at the Wax Museum in London, and visited Buckingam palace too.).
seasick in the boat cabin
at the Wax Museum
The weather at the time of the sailing from Dover to Calais was very rough. In calm weather I usually don't get sea sick. Here's a photo of me on the deck of the greek Saronic Star vessel. I was full of energy and glad to be on that cruise.
on the Saronic Star deck
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This kind of browsing brings back to me nice memories, so I'll go on with it till the end of the lock down.
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Jeanie from the Marmelade Gypsy blog - has kindly offered to restore most of the above pictures. The result is incredible!
Amazing! Thanks Jeanie.
I think you are photogenic. You have visited a lot of places! I think going down memory lane like this with your pictures is a great way to spend your time during this lockdown. To think of happier times and travel adventures is more delightful than thinking of all that is going on in this crazy year 2020.
ReplyDeletebetty
Browsing through the old pictures with their memories, is indeed a pleasant way to spend the time during lockdown. It distracts me from thinking about the virus and its ravages.
DeleteYou have been to so many fabulous places and even if some pictures are not perfect, I'm sure they evoke memories as you look at them.
ReplyDeleteThey sure do, Inger, evoke memories... Even the blurred photos have a pleasant, calming effect on me under the lockdown circumstances.
DeleteGreat memories Duta. Your photos have a charm about them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue.
DeleteYes,those Kodak (camera and film) photos had, no doubt, a certain quality and charm about them.
I love looking back on travel photos!
ReplyDeleteI guess we all love that. What's not to love? places, people, customs, languages, cultures, events. Travels enrich our life, expand our horizons.
DeleteOh what fun, I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane with you. Thanks for taking me along. Yes, older pictures can be foggy-looking, blurry, and so forth. But the pics brings back some wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteLooking back can be great fun, but it also makes one see things differently. For example, I wanted curly hair as I thought it would suit my face nicely. Now my thought on that: not worth the effort.
DeleteThanks for going along with my picture trip.
DUTA, you are stunning in these photos! And such a fashionable dresser, love seeing what you are wearing. Beautiful photos and memories, it's wonderful that you've been able to travel to such famous places!
ReplyDeleteWell,thank you Alicia.
DeleteAbout the clothes - that's interesting. I used to buy them at markets and discount stores; so I was very flattered when sometimes,I got approached by women on the street asking me where I bought the dress I was wearing.
I love every single one of these! You have visited such fascinating places, many of which I'd like to visit myself. Love that Acropolis photo. I ran a few of these through my editing software, too and got some a bit brighter or color restored. If you are interested, I'm happy to email them to you but don't have your address. Just let me know if you want them (I think my address shows up if you get email notifications of my comment).
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've had the nicest getaway here. Thank you for that.
And on another note, thank you so much for the very kind words on my art. They meant a great deal to me.
To start from the end of your comment. I think you're an accomplished artist.
DeleteI too have email notification (wonderful thing); doesn't my email address show up? I would like to get the restored photos. My software is not updated, and I'm not very good at improving things.
Wonderful photos of your travels!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Christine. It encourages me to show some more of them on my blog.
DeleteWell at least you have photos and it is very time consuming to scan and fix photos taken the old way.
ReplyDeleteThe new way, digital, we can delete and learn as we go so much better.
However, you have wonderful memories and the photos are a reminder :)
Take care.
'Time consuming' indeed, but now with the lockdown we've got a lot of time.
DeleteThe digital way, takes us to a complete different photography world, a much better one.
Thanks for your kind words.
My word, Duta, you have been a world traveller in your day. You have covered the highlights of Europe to be sure. i suspect that none of us will be travelling far any time soon. I am quite sure that COVID is not done with us yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
DeleteIt may only seem I have covered a lot. I didn't have the time and money for many highlights I would have liked to see.
As for Covid -I'm afraid you're right. The virus "is not done with us yet", and that's scary.
You must have wonderful memories, triggered by the photo!
ReplyDeleteMost of the photos do trigger great memories; not the photo with the sea sickness, for example.
DeleteSuch a wonderful post! I love seeing photos from real cameras. Also the fact someone was taking your picture as well. Truly, to some in this digital age can not comprehend the epic style of taking in the surroundings. Its also wonderful that the memories these photos carry with it. Each have their own stories. Now days, random selfies are taken just because. Thanks for sharing these memories with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIndeed, each photo carries with it memories; behind each photo there's a story. As a writer, you are able to see this better than anyone else.
Hi Duta! You are a real traveler! You visited many great historical places since long time ago and you has never changed, good looking, always pretty with nice dress, and well-groomed. I can see those because they are from analog camera.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Evi.
DeleteThanks for the compliments you bestow upon me. Of course, I'm changed now. I'm much older, and it shows.
What's important these days of Covid, is that we stay safe and healthy, less the way we look
I think you have been everywhere!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite place?
I think you're greatly exaggerating. I've never been, for instance, in the USA.
DeleteMy favorite place is the Vesuvium volcano.It's a combination of beauty, fertility(lava soil) and danger (the volcano is active, could erupt any day, and there's smoke coming out of its crater).
Oh! You should come to US. The streets are paved in gold! 😉
Deleteן'll tell you this:
DeleteI managed to discover some relatives in the USA through genealogical search. I'm very proud of my research, but, sadly, those relatives stirred no wish in me to visit USA or even to meet americans.
Oh wow she did indeed a good job improving the pictures I have many analog pictures lying around as well, most in books. You have been to many great places. Cool to see all these photos. I have been to some of them like Paris and Rome. Gorgeous cities
ReplyDeleteGood job indeed! She's an artist and an exceptionally kind person!
DeleteYes, Rome and Paris are amazing cities! As you are of Dutch origin I can imagine you've often visited main cities in Europe.
Wow Duta, you are a great model in front of so many classic sites, really classic photos and such a great project to organize them and and ...double Wow!! Amazing, Jeanie did an amazing job!!! What a special gift of restoring them , how exciting!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, ShaYndel. You make me blush....
DeleteJeanie has kindly revealed to me the name of the software used, but it probably won't work in my old desk computer with the XP system. I'll have to buy a new one with windows10 OS. .
These are all such wonderful photographs of your travels. You've certainly visited a lot of places and must have good (I hope) memories.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and well.
All the best Jan
As they say: a photo's worth a thousand words. It's also a better memento than a card as it has you, the visitor, within the picture.
DeleteThanks for your wishes.
That's funny ! you have been at exactly the same places then I was over the years ! I wished I could travel again !!
ReplyDeleteThese are the places that are on every tourist's 'must see' list.
DeleteI've even visited the famous Lion's Hill in your Waterloo.
Hermosas imagenes, te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words.
Delete'Restauracion' -the spanish word for restoration sounds so melodious!
ReplyDeleteThe restored photos make, indeed, quite a difference.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories. Hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked them.
DeleteHugs to you too, Ro!
All wonderful mementos of happy, interesting times had.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see photos of the Trevi Fountain, I'm reminded of a movie I loved when I was a kid...."Three Coins in a Fountain"...a joyful love story...with a happy ending, of course! :)
The Trevi Fountain has always been an inspiration for all forms of art, and setting for movies.
DeleteThis fountain is one of the great touristic attractions of Rome!
Well, spanish is a beatiful and rich language!
ReplyDelete