Woah! This Filipino Student Taught Himself How To Restore His Family’s Old Photos Into Color

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An impressive art form, to say the least.

With the help of Photoshop, Wilfredo Dauis II is turning his family’s old black and white photos into color, and the results are stunning.

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It is said that pictures speak a thousand words. The moment forever captured in the photo contains a treasure trove of memories that could fill an entire history book. There’s a story in nearly every photo, whether mundane or personal, especially photos taken decades ago. While these images may often look old, worn out, and lacking color, there is always something there worth exploring.

This is something Wilfredo Dauis II knows all too well. The Batangas State University student is a history buff and understands the importance of preserving those records. And he is doing just that with his family’s old photos. With a little self-taught knowledge courtesy of YouTube and Photoshop, Wilfredo is using his skills to turn decades-old black and white photos into crisp color images.

Wilfredo Dauis II restoration work on a photo taken in the 1920s.

Now, he has restored photos from his great aunt and great grandparents to name a few. His work on digital photo restoration is bringing these images back to life and renewing the familial history behind them. NYLON Manila recently chatted with the young photo restorer where he shared how he got into the hobby, how his family feels about his work, and much more.

How did you get into restoring old photos? 

Actually, family history talaga ang interest ko. One time, after ng isang malakas na bagyo, naglilinis kami ng lumang bahay ng mga lola ko and nakita ko ‘yung mga lumang album nila na naglalaman ng pictures as early as 1910’s. Unfortunately, marami ang nabasa at talagang nanlumo ako. ‘Yung mga kaya pang i-save, talagang sinave at ini-scan ko, then naisipan kong i-restore ‘yung mga scratches lang at ‘yun, nagtuloy-tuloy na hanggang sa pinag-aralan ko na din ang pagkukulay.

Could you describe the process of how you restore old photos?

First, tinatanggal ko muna ‘yung dust sa pictures by using cotton and alcohol, then inii-scan ko siya ng mataas ang resolution. Kapag may damage tulad ng punit or nabasa, nililinis ko muna siya by using different tools sa Photoshop. Inaaral ko rin kung anong taon kinuhanan ang larawan para at least alam ko ang paleta ng kulay na gagamitin ko. Sa pagkukulay naman, inuuna ko ang pagkukulay ng skin, sunod ay ang mga details ng mukha tulad ng labi, kilay mata or kung may make up, nilalagyan ko rin. After ko makulayan, kino-color grade or tinitimpla ko ang bawat picture para mas ma-attain ko talaga ‘yung value ng mga kulay sa isang picture.

 How did you learn how to restore old photos?

Natuto ako magkulay by watching tutorials from YouTube. Fortunately, meron din kaming classes noong highschool na related sa pag-e-edit kaya medyo napag-aralan ko ang pagrerestore at pagkukulay. Mayroon din akong mga kaibigan na napapagtanungan ko ng iba’t-ibang techniques kung papano mag-restore at color ng isang lumang larawan.

Wilfredo Dauis II restoration work on a photo

 How do you pick which photos to restore?

Depende sa story ng picture ang pagpili ko, if medyo interesting ‘yung picture kinukulayan ko siya after i-restore. Minsan may mga pictures akong nire-restore na nireretain ko lang yung pagka-sepia niya dahil sa tingin ko, mas mape-preserve ‘yung memory niya if mananatili siyang sepia.

 What’s your most and least favorite part of the restoration process?

My most favorite part is ‘yung pagkukulay ng skintone, dahil sa process na ito parang biglang nabubuhay ko agad ang isang larawan. My least favorite part naman ay ang pagre-reconstruct ng mga damaged parts ng isang picture.

How does your family feel about you restoring their old photos into color?

Natutuwa sila, lalo na ang mga lolo at lola…parang nanariwa sa kanila ‘yung mga panahon noong kinuhanan ang mga larawang ni-restore ko. Minsan, nagre-request talaga sila ng mga pictures na ipapa-restore nila at katulong ko rin sila sa pagre-restore, sila ‘yung nagsasabi ng mga kulay ng damit, or ibang details sa larawan. 

Wilfredo Dauis II restoration work on a photo

Has your digital photo restoration changed and affected the way you see your family? 

Mas nagkaroon ako ng mas malalim na koneksyon sa aking pamilya lalo na sa aking mga ancestors. Kumbaga, mas napalapit ako sa kanila at sa kanilang mga istorya after restoring their photos. 

Your work has gone viral on social media. How do you feel about all the love and attention it’s been getting?

Nakakatuwa, na madaming nakaka-appreciate sa sining na ito. Parang na-inspire lalo ako na bigyang kulay at buhay ang mga larawang kupas upang mas ma-appreciate nila lalo ang buhay noong nakaraang panahon.

Out of all the things you could have done, why photo restoration? 

Old photos are one of the most neglected treasure of a family. Napili kong pagyamanin ang sining na ito dahil bibihira lamang ang nagkakainteres sa pangangalaga ng mga lumang larawan at sa aking sariling pamamaraan, naiibahagi ko ang kahalagahan ng pagsasa-ayos ng mga lumang larawan.

Wilfredo Dauis II restoration work on a photo of his grandparents

What’s one thing about old photo restoration you wish more people knew?

Ang layunin ng Photo Restoration ay hindi lamang maisaayos ang bawat larawan kundi ang mapreserve ang ala-ala ng kahapon at nang sa gayon, mayroon tayong ala-alang maipakita sa susunod na henerasyon. Sana mabatid rin ng mga tao or ng mga family nila na ang pagtatago sa mga larawan ng mga nakaraan ay isang pagsisinop ng yaman.

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