Fauxtography
Occasionally we have a client who asks us to create a new composite image out of other photos. For example, maybe they want to add in a person who was missing for a family photo. In more extreme cases, folks ask us to combine multiple photos into one scene that never existed in real life.
These sort of faked photos are often called “fauxtography” because it’s a faked image instead of a captured photograph. Here’s a popular (and extreme) example from the internet, titled “Shark attacks helicopter.”
Or you might remember Kate Middleton’s family photo fiasco where one photo was created from multiple sources and found to be a composite fake. If the British royal family can’t pull it off, then it must be difficult.
So what makes “fauxtography” such a tricky endeavor? Unless you can control all the source images including:
- light angle
- light intensity
- light color
- camera angle
- lens focal length
- lens aperture
- image resolution
- subject pose and eye position
Then you’ll end up with multiple images that just don’t look right together, even with excellent Photoshop skills. It’s very difficult to ensure great results if you can’t control all the ingredients.
That’s why we don’t offer a “fauxtography” service.
Instead, we offer expert photo restoration of vintage, damaged, faded, and silvered photos. Instead of creating a new scene that never existed, we restore photos to how they used to look.
Here’s a few examples of photo restoration projects we’ve completed for clients:
Interested in working with Chaos to Memories?
If you’re near Chicago and ready to get started, come visit our Wheaton Studio Monday – Friday, 10-5. Please bring your memories with you.
Contact us for more information, shipping instructions, and to get started on your project.