Old/New Collection

The Old/New Photograph Collection

“Old & New” has been an ongoing project over the last few years. My reason to do these images, began when the McLean Museum published the Eugene Mehat Collection online (https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=inverclydeheritage&set=a.507784659567612).

Eugene Mehat, had the foresight to photograph and document the dramatic changes occurring in Greenock in the 1960s, and like so many, I was fascinated and amazed by these images. They were an instant conversation starter, with people trying to work out where these images were captured. 

 About the same time, another Photographer, Sergey Lrenkov, used his photo manipulation skills to merge World War 2 photographs with their current locations. (https://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com) These astounding collages, transported you back in time as well as bringing the historical images into modern times.

 So, purely to help my own difficulties in locating historical images of Inverclyde, I started trying to work out where the original photographers stood, and which lenses they used etc and then got out and about, and tried to recreate them, and merge the two photographs.

 It is a fun and very educational process and depending on the image, varies from relatively simple, to a full blown research project, involving analysing local Post Office Directories, National Library of Scotland’s “Old town street maps”, and the amazing knowledge and support from fellow researchers online. (Greenock in Old Photos Facebook page, I can’t thank you enough! )- https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenock

Not all images work, sometimes the place where the original photographer stood is no longer accessible, or too different (the raised street from Bullring along High St is a particular bugbear.)

 When I merge the images (in Photoshop), I decide how much of the “Old” image I reveal, so that you have enough of the Modern location visible, to understand the location and this isn’t always successful. I have published on here, some that I think are not particularly well done, but I hope, they at least, achieve their initial goal.

 During research, I found a website offering a very clever method to show “Old & New” images in a novel way (https://juxtapose.knightlab.com). Now an interactive slider on screen allowed the user to see each image completely and swipe back and forth.

 Armed with this new option, I went back to my collection and started repurposing them for this interactive presentation. One problem was, now that a user could see, “behind the curtain,” all my hidden sins were exposed, and I needed to redo many of my creations as elements of the images were not as accurate as they should be. Back out on the streets with my camera! 

Finally, I have tried to be as accurate as possible with these image. A few, I have used a little artistic license, mainly to make the resultant collage to look more pleasing, but as with all thing heritage, my primary concern was on authenticity. Some, were changed or removed, after expert feedback, and I am always willing to accept, that I have got the proposed location of an image, completely wrong and happy to learn, but after what seemed like a full blown detective mystery thriller involving Greenock in Old Photos, I am happy to fall on all my swords, that Carroll’s Sewing Machine shop was on Cross Shore St!

Chris Bradley May 2021