Old Union Soldier

[Christopher Miller]

I took this photo a few years back at a Civil War reenactment. This old reenactor was happy to pose for me. He deliberately didn't smile because back then people didn't smile for photos since it would be difficult to hold a smile for the long exposures needed.

I converted this to B&W and then made it look old using four of my own textures and a texture called "Revenant" from Shadowhouse Creations here. I also added a few slight blur overlays so that the details weren't too crisp. Any comments and suggestions would be most appreciated!

[Hazel Grant]

has the look of a real CW photo...old. Good work. I love the brown tones you use a lot in photos. Is this a duotone in PS?

[Christopher Miller]

Sometimes I use duotones, Hazel, but not in this case. The textures provided all the color toning. Thanks for commenting!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

You are really good with this technique. Like the intensity in the eyes and the highlight just below the chin, it really makes it look like an old photo. Good isolation of subject and uncluttered BG.

[Kerry Perkins]

Christopher, I think this is a wonderful image! You have certainly developed a style that looks so much like early photographic work. This one really makes me think of Mathew Brady, who photographed almost the entire Civil War and virtually invented photojournalism. Your image looks very much like an albumen print from that era, and your subject certainly understood the conditions of the time. Very nice work Christopher!

[Christopher Miller]

Thanks very much, Jackie and Kerry. I greatly appreciate your comments! :)