Edit: Sorry, cross-posted with H2H's more complete effort (Who must now also be intimately acquainted with these men's boots!) Not asking much?! Not the best from a small file, but an improvement I hope. Left some of the edges and most damage to faces due to time (and very tricky to get right without changing the appearance completely, the bloke in the Beret's beyond me.). Worst tears have to be 'reconstructed'... just noticed I somehow obliterated the 4th chap's rifle while noodling with this. Oops Larger file attached. Cheers, Adam.
You know what's going to happen now chaps don't you? Stand by for more requests. Good work both of you.
Brilliant work lads. The difference is unreal. I wouldn't have thought you could get it so clean. Spot on.
Pirbright? Somewhere between 1953 and 1965? Do you know who they are Conor? (Scots guards and Welsh Guards present there too) Dave
The SLR didn't come into service until 1957 so photo presumably post-dates 1957: British military rifles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia CS
The SLR didn't come into service until 1957 so photo presumably post-dates 1957: British military rifles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia CS most likely, yes (I originally put 1956 in my post (i'm positive that Wikipedia has the wrong year there for general issue, but may be wrong) , but changed it upon remembering that my dad mentioned an issue of them just before he left the army (1953) on a trial basis to units such as....the guards). Something about the photo that says "1960's" to me though. Any idea when the guards changed from the standard dark blue beret of the 1940s and 50s to the cow-sh** that they wear today (and have done since as far back as I know for sure (1970's)). Just asking because of the beret wearing guy on the left - that could help date it for sure (unless he's not passed out yet). (I presume that they may have still been wearing the '37 patt web belts post 1958 and so haven't used these as a clue to the date - should I have done?) Dave
most likely, yes (I originally put 1956 in my post (i'm positive that Wikipedia has the wrong year there for general issue, but may be wrong) , but changed it upon remembering that my dad mentioned an issue of them just before he left the army (1953) on a trial basis to units such as....the guards). Something about the photo that says "1960's" to me though. Any idea when the guards changed from the standard dark blue beret of the 1940s and 50s to the cow-sh** that they wear today (and have done since as far back as I know for sure (1970's)). Just asking because of the beret wearing guy on the left - that could help date it for sure (unless he's not passed out yet). (I presume that they may have still been wearing the '37 patt web belts post 1958 and so haven't used these as a clue to the date - should I have done?) Dave Difficult to tell with the Guards about details of uniform. The photo appears to show 37 pattern belts but the 58 webbing belts were pretty damn similar. Of all the units in the Army of the time the Guards were probably least likely to enthusiaitically take up the SLR for ceremonial duties so the date 1957 may be a lttle early. I know what you mean about the 1960's, it just has the right look. The shirts appear to be No.2 shirts in brown, rather than the KF working shirts in green. CS
Thanks for the interest. This picture was taken at Pirbright between 1958 and 1961 when my Grandfather was in the Irish Guards Platoon of the Junior Guards Company. The five 'Boys' in the main picture are from left to right: Mervyn Collier RIP (IG),Welsh Guard,Michael Comelio (IG),My Grandfather RIP (IG), Welsh Guard. He left Pirbright in 1961 to join his Battalion.
What do you all think of the restoration? If anyone needs any work done I can put you in touch with gent. He is a pro. The file is too large to upload it but you can view it here Irish Guards
What do you all think of the restoration? Irish Guards It's a good job but I'm never that comfortable with colourisation. I just never saw anything wrong with good old silver halide. Restoration I can understand, but adding colour always seems unnecesary to me and when done too well, as some are, can even distort the record with speculative shades. S'funny as contemporary retouching I have no problem with, I've many Victorian tinted shots that I quite like, just this fiddling about after the event that I'm not keen on. A question of tastes I suppose. Cheers, Adam.
Im sure he could mend your Grandads photograph if you wished. He does charge a small fee though. I agree Adam, its a question of taste. I do quite like colourisation but I also have the restored photo in b/w. Best of both worlds :0)