[Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

[Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

Some of the most iconic black and white images of our time, shown colorized by Sanna Dullaway, gives us a glimpse into how these images would have looked had they been taken in full color.

At first, I was just expecting another plain old restoration job. Then I started to scroll down through the set and I immediately realized how amazing these were. The thought of ‘yeah I could do that’ immediately dwindled away as I realized the sheer artistry involved in getting these to look as beautiful as they are. I immediately knew these were special.

Are they better in color or left in black and white? Which ones did you find better in color?

sanna dullaway 01 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

sanna dullaway 02 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

sanna dullaway 05 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

sanna dullaway 07 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

sanna dullaway 08 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

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sanna dullaway 20 [Pics] Unbelievable Colorization Of Black And White Iconic Images

Sent in via [Tegan Jae] via [Reddit]

From Pratik:

As a new member of the team, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me via my facebook or my website.

January 17, 2012

Pratik Naik

Photojournalistic

Pictures

Post Production

http://www.markjp.com Mark J P

Surprisingly I preferred most of them in colour. They are all really well done. A fascinating project.
Anonymous

wow!!!
http://www.digitalqmedia.com Chuck Navarro

Black and white is nice but the color really just brings it all back to life. Its almost as if they were never before seen pictures. Whole different set of emotions. Very nicely done.
http://thegirlinthemiddle.wordpress.com/ Molly_Mac

Normally I am on the side of the original film. I am such a purist, but dang. I do really like some of these images
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=716882270 Clay Kerri

I was impressed but not gripped really by any of them. That is, until the one of the burning monk. My eyes about popped out of my skull because of how much more emotion the color brought to the image.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1353257020 Jordan Murphy

Wow, these are amazing! I love how they dont’ look fake but rather…. if I hadn’t seen the original before I’d have no way of knowing they were colorized!
http://www.solsticeretouch.com/ Pratik Naik

That’s the one that got me as well!
http://www.solsticeretouch.com/ Pratik Naik

When I originally saw the title to her work, I questioned whether or not film should even be modified to this degree, especially with such iconic imagery. Then I actually saw the images and my opinion flipped immediately as well.
http://www.facebook.com/squeakachu Sarah Gramelspacher

The Einstein and Churchill ones are pretty special.
Tulaga Whitcombe

There’s no way like the “American Way”
The “Double Standard Way”
http://www.facebook.com/MattImagines Matt Fitzgerald

I find it fascinating that most of these images work quite well considering that B+W photography doesn’t always translate to color (& vice versa) well. Just goes to show that proper composition, light & exposure can make virtually any image work with color or without. Very cool!
Anonymous

Wrong answer.
Jesus DeLaTorre

No credit to reddit?
Anonymous

W O W ! ! !
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754554855 Edd Carlile

Colour surprisingly is better!
Anonymous

Totally agree.
Chris Blizzard

On the whole, I think it’s incredible. There are a couple of odd colour choices which I find a little distracting, and the one with the sign, definitely works better in B&W because in colour it’s too distracting, but it’s incredible work!
Mike M

Many of these images are better, and more timeless in black and white, but none the less Sanna does an incredible job restoring these.

I’d imagine at least 3-10 hours per image, if not much much more for some of the more detail oriented ones.
Anonymous

Color does make the images feel more “modern” versus the timelessness of black and white. Can’t make a preferential determination.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Matias-Acevedo/1014569066 Matias Acevedo

nice!
http://twitter.com/enduratweet Enduratweet

I like both the B & W and color but the Lincoln image moves him out of the history books. Suddenly he’s not an icon but an older man. An older man with the weight of the world clearly on his shoulders.
http://www.solsticeretouch.com/ Pratik Naik

Thank you Jesus! I had a friend send me that imgur.com link to me so I wasn’t sure it was from Reddit at all. I went back and credited reddit in the post.
http://twitter.com/nickshek Nick Shek

incredible.
Anonymous

Why would you credit an aggregator? Extra level of indirection that isn’t related to the content.
Anonymous

as a photoprinter the b/w always had a flavor of authenticity and finality, mayb because I’m from the color generation. The work now seems to have a enduring statement and soul especially the monk and the Nick ut photo of the head shot. I’d hate to see the other vietnam photo of the little girl running from the nepalm bomb attack on her villiage…..You’ve brought my favorite president back to life! great work!
Anonymous

as a photoprinter the b/w always had a flavor of authenticity and finality, mayb because I’m from the color generation. The work now seems to have a enduring statement and soul especially the monk and the Nick ut photo of the head shot. I’d hate to see the other vietnam photo of the little girl running from the nepalm bomb attack on her villiage…..You’ve brought my favorite president back to life! great work!
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Benett/636068546 David Benett

Amazing ,the color really humanizes the images ,brings a reality that maybe was lost in the black and white,well done