Our
love of history has found us delving into historic photography
and movie restoration and preservation. About 15 years ago
we realized that our old family photo albums were falling
apart, our grandmother could not see them. and the photos
were slowly fading away. We investigated ways to preserve
and copy them before they were lost forever.
Computer
speed, memory, storage and monitor resolution technology
at the time was still in its infancy, in fact our first
hard drive was too small to store just one of today's image
files. Our analog solution was to grab our camcorder (another
emerging technology then), and using the macro lens we began
recording each photo using stills and some creative panning
(way before Ken who? lol). Our grandmother agreed to identify
the photographs but her failing eyesight had made seeing
and identifying those old photos difficult. Not a problem,
a quick connection to her television was made and she was
able to see photos she was unable to see for years.
We soon found ourselves combining our new video interest
with our graphic capabilities to produce several documentary
video productions and the preservation of a FORD MOTOR COMPANY
marketing film. We created digital titles, graphics, cell
animation, commercials and packaging for all of them. Our
Investment in equipment that was capable of recording and
editing video in resolutions twice that of broadcast quality
and the addition of a professional genlock capability meant
we could merge, overlay and insert computer graphics on
video, much like we see on news broadcasts today. All editing
was done using linear equipment and computer.
Today
powerful digital equipment and software is capable of scanning,
recording, archiving and duplicating video and photographs
and artwork with outstanding quality and at low cost. With
readily available fast, large capacity hard drives, cd-burners,
and capture video cards nearly anyone can record hours of
video and hundreds of photographs. Once in digital form
these images can be combined in a variety of ways to educate,
entertain and preserve our history.
We
still do video, graphics and titling but today we use digital
equipment and NLE software almost exclusively. We can convert
older analog magnetic tape media into multiple digital formats,
edit footage and combine photos with video. We can even
correct colors and individual frames of video. The completed
works can be output in digital form, photographs or even
back to tape!
We have the experience and patience to restore your photographs
and video to original condition or close to it. Pixel by
pixel if necessary. Although you could provide us with scans
of your images it is important you understand that a quality
image requires great software, a calibrated monitor, high
resolution scanner and most importantly an experienced eye.
For the highest quality result we would prefer you supply
us with your originals. We can only provide quality output
if the quality is input.
Back to our photography
and video page
