Photo tinting

Prior to color film, any colorization of pictures was done by hand.  The process started in Europe, then spread to Japan, and eventually the United States.  The 1900-1940s were considered the "golden age" of hand colored photography. Basic dyes were used to color the pictures and they would often build up color using a wash of layers. Landscape photography was especially popular with artists and during the depression there was a dip in popularity due to the expense. Eventually color tinted stopped with the introduction of color film, but then in the 1960s it made a bit of a comeback as people wanted antiques in their homes.

I grew up seeing family pictures that had been hand tinted and I didn't fully appreciate the work involved with the whole process.

I had the opportunity to work on a photo for Susan. There were a few wrinkles and the picture had faded with time.  I love hearing the stories behind the pictures I restore. She told me she was the little girl in the yellow dress and this one a special picture to her mom.

So removing the wrinkles and bringing back the color gave the photo a whole new life. Seeing the joy in Susan's face and her excitement to show her mother made it all worth it.

If you or anyone you know have pictures that are damaged and/or faded, get in touch with me for a quote to restore your pictures.

Evergreen State Fair - 2014

For the 2nd year, I was a photographer at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, WA. It's always an amazing experience capturing the events of the fair. I love watching the people as they participate in the fair. Covering the entire fairgrounds, I had the opportunity to see so much.  One day, I noticed a dad standing over his son who was laying on the ground crying. It made me chuckle because as a parent, I've done the same thing when my kids have had a meltdown.

Watch out, you're going to be wet.

One of the perks of being the fair photographer is having inside access. The logging show is always a crowd favorite.  I needed a towel after the log rolling but it was so worth it. By time both loggers were done, I wasn't the only one who needed a towel.

You never know what is going to happen with the animals at the fair. The petting zoo welcomed 2 new kid goats to their family.  They were about 2 hours old in these pictures. It was amazing to watch them learn to stand.

Shooting a rodeo is not something I get to do very often. Bull riding has limited opportunities if the bulls are having a good night. This particular night is was bulls 1 - cowboys - 0. I don't think any of the cowboys stayed on for more than a second or 2. But the next night, the cowboys had the better night. 

                                

The barrel racing adds excitement. If you've never seen a rodeo, the horse sprints at the beginning and end of the race and they have to go around 3 barrels. If you knock the barrels over, you're penalized. The sprint at the end is always intense as they race to finish strong.



                                                                                                                                                                              

The carnival is always full of action and excitement. I try to take advantage of the Ferris wheel and go up to capture the aerial view. This one is a favorite of mine because all the rides are at the peak of their ride.

 Contests are a part of the daily activities. The pie eating contest is a crowd favorite. The contestants were given a whole pie to eat, crust and all.  This man was a plant and the other contestants didn't know anything about it. He came out with a roll of paper to tuck into his shirt, he tried to use a knife and fork behind his back, and then he grabbed the plate to try and flip the pie.  He's wearing so much pie because a pie was smashed in his face.

 Eric - The One Man Band was performing and some boys couldn't but join in the fun and they started break-dancing. They were good and drew quite the crowd around them. The best part is they were just enjoying the fair and having a good time.






 

4-H is a huge part of the fair. The kids spend hours getting ready training and grooming their animals. The dogs enjoy posing and some will even smile for the camera.

 

 One of the highlights of the 2014 fair was the opportunity to see Bill Cosby perform. I was able to hand off my camera at the end of the meet and greet and have my picture taken with him. After the meet and greet, he sat back stage and talked. He was asking about the kettle corn that is sold on the grounds and asking how it is made. He was going into extreme detail and we just laughed. The amazing thing was when performed, he incorporated that backstage conversation into his opening bit. It was so much fun to see him.