Photographer Spends 1000s of Hours Painstakingly Restoring ‘Unrestorable’ Photos And Here Are His 16 Most Impressive Works
Mario Unger is a photographer, photoshop artist and musician from Austria who is currently fascinated with bringing old and damaged photos back to glorious, colorful life.
Mario's aim with his amazing editing skills is to reduce the feeling of time - bringing history to us in a way that is immediately more recognizable and relatable. Even though some of these photos were taken over 100 years ago they feel like we are living them again - that connection with history is real and very special.
What do you think? Do you feel a closer empathy with the subjects in Mario's restored photos? Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Unknown Woman, Ca 1880
"Texas Couple, Ca 1900, One Of The Hardest Restorations And Colorizations I Did So Far. Working Time, About 15 Hours"
Old Man, Photo By C.m.bell Ca 1890. Library Of Congress, Glass Plate Negative
Not The Easiest Restoration
Westover Landing, Virginia. Officers Of 3rd And 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry Illustrating The Hardships Of War. 1862
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd), 1855
Man 1890, Name K.c.holt, Photographer C.m.bell
Young Girl's Photo Restoration
I love old photos of people in their gardens, and that you placed roses in her hands.
The Photographers Daughter, C.m.bell 1870
I know this is morbid, so I apologize, but I look at old pics like this and it's fascinating to me that this child has grown, had children, lived a full life, and passed away. Yet, in this photograph, she will forever be three years old. life is weird.
Antietam, Md. President Lincoln And Gen. George B. Mcclellan In The General's Tent 3. Okt. 1863
Interested to know the story of the Confederate flag laying on the ground...
Arthur Morgan Chase, Ca 1916
Joseph Dore, Ca 1862
I like the B & W pics the best, as that is how they would have been at the time.
Vintage Photo Restoration
Her rolled down stockings on the right- It was obviously hot so 0-flecks given.
All of the men are happy go lucky and the ladies look miserable!!!! Not a smile to be found.
Save me, save me if you please, I got a big fat mamma trying to photo me. And I love to live so happily, Live that life of luxury, lazin' on a Sunday afternoon. In the summertime. In the summertime. In the summertime. Expli
All the women look miserable and that man looks thrilled.. wtf was he doing to them?
I was just about to ask the same question. It's so strange that the men have genuine smiles and all the women, even the little girls, look so miserable. 🤷♀️
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The man and boy smile, the women and girls practically scowl! Wonder if there's a reason for that.
The problem I see is that whenever a wrinkle or rip goes through a persons face, the restoration fails. It always looks wrong. Look at the girl on the right: In the restored picture her left eye looks deformed and scarred. That's probably not the case, the area was just wrinkled in the original.
In those cases, I think it would be better to leave the area damaged.
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A typical 1940's(?) family? No-one looks particularly pleased . Wonder where they all are now?
It looks like the sons got their father's disposition.Thank goodness. Or perhaps the ladies reflect the hard life women lived at that time.
Why completely change that girl's dress sleeve pattern? It's so poorly done. Also seems like the little girl has more of her hand and leg in the original.
Those little girls on the left sure inherited their mom's sour stinkeye!
Heavily Damaged Photograph, Ca. 1960
Vintage Photo Restoration
Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875). The 17th President Of The United States
Sorry to say this,but why does it look like he smells something disgusting
Stunning! So much training to get these results. And I bet he gets countless emails from people asking him to do one for them for free or obscenely cheap.
As a Civil War enthusiast, I love seeing the restored pictures from then.
Yes - I just wrote a short story set in 1893, so these strike a note with me as well.
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I AM A LOVER OF ALL PHOTOGRAPHY MY DAD HAD A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO IN BECKLEY WVA HE GAVE IT UP WHEN I WAS THREE BUT I ENJOY ALL PHOTO'S SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO YOUR VERY GOOD AT IT
wow--love the photos and the awesome job done with them! that has to be some very gratifying work
Some of these brought tears just thinking of the friends and relatives who got to see these people restored and as alive as they can ever be. Thank you.
I wonder why the colored version of this kind of photo restoration look so vintage. They are made to look colored version of old cameras...why not modern ones?
For me, adding colour brings the photos to life. This man does an incredible job. Kudos to him.
Stunning! So much training to get these results. And I bet he gets countless emails from people asking him to do one for them for free or obscenely cheap.
As a Civil War enthusiast, I love seeing the restored pictures from then.
Yes - I just wrote a short story set in 1893, so these strike a note with me as well.
Load More Replies... I AM A LOVER OF ALL PHOTOGRAPHY MY DAD HAD A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO IN BECKLEY WVA HE GAVE IT UP WHEN I WAS THREE BUT I ENJOY ALL PHOTO'S SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO YOUR VERY GOOD AT IT
wow--love the photos and the awesome job done with them! that has to be some very gratifying work
Some of these brought tears just thinking of the friends and relatives who got to see these people restored and as alive as they can ever be. Thank you.
I wonder why the colored version of this kind of photo restoration look so vintage. They are made to look colored version of old cameras...why not modern ones?
For me, adding colour brings the photos to life. This man does an incredible job. Kudos to him.
