Gransnet forums

Chat

Photoshop - the camera really does lie!

(11 Posts)
grannyactivist Fri 18-Feb-22 00:34:17

When looking for a photograph to go on the front of the Order of Service at my mother’s funeral this week I found myself stumped. My mum was not photogenic and having spent the last six years being bedridden there were no suitable recent photographs of her; older photographs were mostly of a quality that was too poor for reproduction.

Step up my husband, who found a good quality photo he took of mum some years ago. However, not to exaggerate, but she looked like a mass murderer with glaring eyes and the background was terrible. In less than half an hour he’d done some magic with her eyes, replaced the background with a flowering bush and lo and behold - we had a winning photo.

So Gransnetters, I will never again believe the ‘evidence’ of my own eyes when it comes to looking at photographs. ?‍?

crazyH Fri 18-Feb-22 00:41:30

Is it wrong to put a photo of my beautiful young self on the memorial card ?

grannyactivist Fri 18-Feb-22 06:15:12

The photo on the back of my mum’s card was exactly that crazyH. Just the week before she died a never-before-seen photo of mum was discovered. It’s sepia coloured and taken when she was about 22 years old. (She died aged almost 93.)

cornergran Fri 18-Feb-22 07:09:11

Many people do crazyH, no reason not to.

Blondiescot Fri 18-Feb-22 07:45:59

I used to work with Photoshop - you can do almost anything with it, and in the hands of a skilled Photoshop artist (which I was most definitely not!) it's very very hard to tell what has been altered.

JackyB Fri 18-Feb-22 08:20:46

I had taken a photo of my mother a few weeks before she died. The hairdresser had just been, she had a fresh blouse in and, while not exactly smiling, she looked perky and happy.

On the back, we put a beautiful photo of her from the 40s with a hairstyle like Rita Hayworth. No Photoshop needed.

I am always sceptical of photos, though. Anything can be done these days

Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Feb-22 09:39:56

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have a recent one (photoshopped a bit where necessary) and one of younger or at their best. I
It is good for the youngsters to see Grands/aunts in there heyday.
Instead of just oldies

Luckygirl3 Fri 18-Feb-22 09:54:11

I had my OH's graduation photo on the front of the order of service at his funeral. I wanted people to know what he had been and not the poor wreck of a man that he had become.

Witzend Sun 20-Feb-22 22:40:21

My poor mother had looked pretty dreadful for a few years before she died with dementia at 97.

I used a much older photo of her on the front of the funeral service card - looking very happy and attractive - hair still golden blonde - at our wedding.

On the back I used a very old B&W one of her with my father, both early 20s, beginning of WW2. They looked very happy there, too.

Chestnut Sun 20-Feb-22 23:16:27

A young photo is much better and that is what is mostly used these days. It is quite amazing to see that old fogey looking fresh faced and beautiful. I love the whole idea and feel it is important for everyone to see the person in their prime instead of a wrinkled old prune. I have a good one taken when I was 27 years which will be ideal.

Katie59 Mon 21-Feb-22 08:43:42

Yes, turn the clock back to see the person in their heyday, together with their obituary a whole different person is revealed.