Nancy H. Vest, Writer

Keeping Grandma Alive...and all the others, too (including yourself)

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Colorization makes old photos new again

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MyHeritage.com has a free-trial of a new photo colorization tool. I had to try it out. It’s so fast, and I’m happy with the results for most of the photos I put to the tool.

In the past, I’ve been somewhat unsure about colorizing photos. It seemed disloyal to the original B&W, but I kept an open mind about it. Now that I’ve done some of the photos I own, I treasure both the original and the colorized versions. Both have value.

Today I am sharing B&W/Color comparisons of several photos, including the famous Martin family Rainmaker photo!  Hope you enjoy these ‘new’ glimpses at old photos. Comment at the end, please. I want to hear what you think of the photos.

B&W and Color comparison of photo of two boys in a creek. Both boys wearing white shirt, striped tie, and dark pants rolled up above the knee.
This is the colorized version of a photo from a recent blog post. These boys are my uncles, Carlisle and Chet Martin.
B&W and Color comparison of a man in his 20's. Medium brown hair, clean-shaven, wearing grey shirt and dark button-up vest, and dark pants.
This is my dad, Charles L. Heiser. He was handsome in B&W or color.
B&W and Color comparison. Both photos have a 40-ish year old woman wearing a dark shirt and light skirt, young man with dark hair and clean shaven wearing a plaid shirt and white pants, elderly man with white hair and clean shaven wearing a plaid shirt, glasses, suspenders, and dark pants.
My aunt, Dorothy Heiser Brown; her son, Norm; and my grandfather, Daniel W. Heiser. Anyone who knew my dad can see who my dad took after!
B&W and Color comparison of a young woman around 1914 wearing an off-white dress gathered at the waist. Her hair is dark brown and pulled back into a loose bun.
My grandmother, Florrie Thomas Martin, when she was a schoolteacher before marrying my grandfather. She’s about 19 years old here.
B&W and Color comparison of a man in his 20's taken in the 1910's. He has dark hair and is balding, also a dark mustache. Wearing a white shirt and tie and a dark brown suit coat.
Joel Daniel Martin, my grandfather. He looks to be in his 20’s here.
B&W and Color comparison of a family around 1929. Father and mother seated. Father wearing a grey suit, white shirt, and striped tie. He is bald. Mother wearing white dress with dark hair pulled back into a loose bun. Each parent has a child in their lap. Five other children are around them in this photo.
Daniel and Florrie Martin and family. This was around 1929 before Tommy was born. The kids are from left: Gladys, Chet, Carlisle, Ruby, Jerry. Bobby is in dad’s lap. Millie is on mom’s lap.
B&W and Color comparison of grandparents and 6 of their grandchildren. Grandparents sitting on steps at front of house and each holding a baby. Two children stand on steps behind. One child between the grandparents, and one child in front of that child.
Daniel and Florrie Martin with grandkids.
B&W and Color comparison of elderly woman playing an upright piano. She is wearing a plaid dress, and she has short graying hair and dark-rimmed glasses.
My grandmother, Florrie Thomas Martin, on the piano at her daughter’s house in 1957.
B&W and Color comparison of elderly couple outside a house with an open door. He is stooped and using a cane, wearing dark pants and a white shirt. He has dark hair and a dark beard and mustache. She is wearing an off-white dress and skirt. Her hair is white, and she is wearing glasses.
Montgomery Price (1859-1947) and wife Sallie Pyles Price (1862-1940) , my dad’s grandparents who raised him
B&W and Color comparison of an elderly couple standing side-by-side. He is wearing a white shirt, blue pants, suspenders, glasses,and a white hat. He has a mustache. She is wearing an off-white mid-calf dress with dark buttons the length of the dress. She has white hair pulled back.
My great-grandparents Dan Thomas (1858-1946) and wife Maggie Grant Thomas (1870-1948) They are the parents of Florrie Thomas Martin.
B&W and Color comparison o an elderly couple sitting down. She is wearing a black shirt and white shirt. Gray hair pulled back. He is wearing light blue pants, a dark black vest, a dark grey suit coat, a pale shirt and tie. He has nearly shoulder length grey or blonde hair, mustache and long beard same color. He is holding a cane and wearing a Confederate ribbon on his coat.
James S. Thomas (1828-1912) and his wife, Elizabeth Jane Davis Thomas (1828-1911). These are my 2nd great-grandparents. They are the parents of Dan Thomas in the previous photo. James served in the Confederate Army and was injured. He used a cane for the rest of his life.
B&W and Color comparison of a seated elderly woman with 5 of her grown children standing around her. She is wearing a black shirt and black shoes, a white shirt. She had white hair and glasses. The children are all wearing either black or black and white apparel. One man wears a hat, also.
My 2nd great-grandmother, Flora Ann Griffin Grant (1851-1930) with her children: Mattie, Zack, Arthur, Jessie, and Maggie. Flora is the mother of Maggie, my great-grandmother two photos back.
B&W and Color comparison of a middle aged woman and 3 of her grown children. She is wearing a white dress and a black tie . Both daughters are wearing white dresses with modest colored print on them. Son is wearing a white shirt and striped tie. All children have dark hair.
My great-grandmother, Lizzie Lee Martin (1868-1937). Her daughter, Florrie, is seated next to her. Daughter, Stella, and son, Gary, are behind. Lizzie is also the mother of my grandfather Daniel Martin, and several others.

Now for the Rainmaker photo. Below is the original that was handed down to me. It’s taken a beating, hasn’t it! Below that is the colorized version. I’ve labeled everyone in the colorized version.

B&W of a large family with the Rainmaker -a man who was hired to come make it rain. Family is partly on a porch and partly in front of the porch. Three generations in this photo.
Adolphus Burdine Martin and family with the the Rainmaker, circa 1910
Colorized photo of a large family with the Rainmaker -a man who was hired to come make it rain. Family is partly on a porch and partly in front of the porch. Three generations in this photo.
TOP ROW: Adolphus Burdine “A.B.” Martin (my great-grandfather) holding daughter Stella and son Gary, Annis Martin Windham (sis of A.B.), Lizzie Lee Martin (wife of A.B. and my great grandmother), Margaret Futrell Martin (1832-1928) (wife of Phillip Martin and mother to A.B., Annis, William Bookter in this photo, and also my 2nd great-grandmother), William Bookter Martin, Joel Daniel Martin (my grandfather)
MIDDLE ROW: The Rainmaker, Virgie Martin, Florrie Martin, Maggie Martin, neighbor kid, Mary Martin with sister Lizzie in front of her, Annis Martin
BOTTOM ROW: probably Alice Windham, either David or Harmon Windham, Adolphus Martin, Hubert Martin

And please comment below. I want to hear what you think about the photos.

Copyright © 2020 Nancy H. Vest   All Rights Reserved

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Comments

  1. Lynn (Martin) Hatcher says

    These pictures are fantastic. The colorized pictures are so clear I am saying a lot more detail to me. Thanks for sharing Nancy

    Reply

  4. Amy F Weatherford says

    These are fabulous! Brings these people into our present and helps us to see them as more than just an old photo. We see them as our family and friends who just happened to live long ago. Colorized photos really bring family history to life. The colorization of these photos is outstanding! Great job! I look forward to seeing more! 🙂

    Reply

    • Nancy H. Vest says

      Thanks, Amy. I thought I wouldn’t like them colorized, but I do! They are definitely more real to me now. That tool on MyHeritage.com is amazing.

      Reply

  5. Dorothy Lynn Hawkins Rodgers says

    I love the color added. Seems you see the face so much better and nice to compare. Great job. Keep up the great work. Enjoyed seeing the picture and k owing who they were.
    Love all you are doing. Bringing our HISTORY to us.
    Love you cousin!
    All my family thank you!

    Reply

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