Photos of Nicholas II #2

[Ally Kumari]

Here´s the incriminated picture:

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

Thank you for the picture!

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

 If the photo has been manipulated, Maria Alexandrovna was not present, and who other can have been subsequently added?

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Attention "RomanovFan4Ever:"     I don't have my source book directly in front of me ("The Camera and the Tsars"), but it essentially says that in another version of this photo, the Grand Duke Vladimir is shown leaning on an EMPTY chair where the inserted figure of the Empress MA is now shown in the example here.  The shadows in the present photo are falling on the OPPOSITE side of MA's face, rather than from a different side source of light on the faces of the others.  Additionally the background has been painted-in, as opposed to the earlier version where it is a plain curtain. It is also postulated that this photo may also be a COMPOSITE of smaller family groupings/portraits.  Regards,  AP

[Olga Maria]

Here´s the incriminated picture:

Thanks for this, Ally!

Yes, it looks like a bit manipulated but...I think what gives it that impression is the quality of the photo.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Do not underestimate the quality of 19th century photos!   Many could be, and are, razor-sharp in quality.   AP

[nena]

When you mentioned 19th century photos, may I ask when first ever photo was made? In 1820s, or in 1830s.? (I know it is either one or another years) Thank you very much. Sorry for topic - off. Regards!

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Hello, and thank you for your question!  There is controversy about when the FIRST "photo" was taken (one of which we have supporting/existing evidence), etc.  IMO, a good GUESS would be in the late 1820's era, probably in France.  Regards,  AP   

[nena]

You are welcome, and it seems you are right, late 1820s, look here.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Thank you!  I appreciate your response.  One of my favorite early photos (I believe in the 1830's and also French) is that of a gentleman in a top hat, taken from an elevated window at a bit of a distance, getting his shoes/boots shined on a city sidewalk.  He stands in left-facing profile, but you cannot see the shoeshine boy, because he is moving around so much that his image was not stable enough to be captured!    Best regards,  AP

[Olga Maria]

 Many could be, and are, razor-sharp in quality.   AP

Hmm...From what I saw on Alix and Nicky's engagement photos, I certify that.

[RealAnastasia]

Here´s the incriminated picture:

Thanks for this, Ally!

Yes, it looks like a bit manipulated but...I think what gives it that impression is the quality of the photo.

Yes. I know  that some pics from back then were not clear enough, so they retouched them a little, with a somewhat drawing technique (I don't know how can I write it in English). I had a professional relative who worked as a photograph since 1860 to 1910 (his name was D'Azzierno) and he used to retouch pics in such a way. Of course, it was only if the pic was not clear enough, a thing that could happen for a too much exposure to light, or quite the opposite, it there were no light enough to show up the people on the pic. Evidently, if things wll be 100% good, the picture was extremely clear, even perfect. I've seen excellent photos from the earliest decades of Daguerrotype techniques...and very bad ones too.

RealAnastasia.

[Olga Maria]

Sorry, I don't know how to explain these well.
All of the pictures produced in 19th century are in their best quality, of course.
Some that are not produced well are just the ones retouched.
That incriminated picture is indeed at its best quality before but just lost its quality due to the way it was kept and several conditions which can affect the quality of photos.

[Carolath Habsburg]

That picture looks odd cause its a composite one, that means the person who did it took parts of different pictures to make one, with all the members of the family ;-)

[Terence]

You are welcome, and it seems you are right, late 1820s, look here.

Well, you and AP are right, there was experimental photography before, but as the article you referenced states, 1839 is the first date that one could have a photo taken. "first public announcements of photographic processes in 1839"

Even throughout the 1840s photos remained very rare.  The oldest I've ever seen in person was one of Pres. John Quincy Adams, taken in his coffin in 1848.

T