Continuing along with my episode in Photo Restoration, the image of my grandparent’s wedding displayed on screen is at about 10% of the actual size of the digital image, but is about the same as the actual size of the physical photograph.
Looking at the image, ones attention is directed towards the bride, groom, the family members, the surroundings (the cobblestone, the street to the left); with the physical photograph, one can see the quality of the print, the clarity and delicate shades of the image.
I am able to go further and identify some of the people. The front row, left to right, are: Max Hertha, Anna Hertha, Berta Schellhorn, Heinrich Schellhorn, parents of the groom and bride. The second row of young men are Walter Schellhorn (brother of the bride) and Rudolph Hertha (brother of the groom); the third young man I don’t know. The third row are the bridge and groom, my grandparents. I don’t know the people in the fourth row. The fifth row starts with Lotta Hertha (sister of the groom) and Hans Winkler (her future husband), two young ladies I don’t know and then Edgar Hertha. The only other person I know is Fanny Nennstiel (aunt of the bride, sister of Berta Schellhorn in the front row) in the very back on the right. I believe the gentleman with the mustachio (back row, left) is Fanny’s husband, Oskar.
There are people missing, most noticeably, two of the brothers of the bride, Rudi and Otto. I believe Rudi was in the US by then and I’m not sure where Otto was.
As I work through the restoration process, I delve into the image at 100% looking for cracks, blotches and blemishes. It is better than a magnifying glass. It is at 100% that the interesting details emerge. One can see what people are holding in their hands; three are holding cigars.
Unexpectedly, another dimension of information is exposed; one is offered more insight into the event. A sense of the celebration shrouded in the formality of the photograph itself, hidden in the details.
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