Although some of us already know how to blur out or colorize parts of their pictures, taking a black and white picture and colorizing it is no easy deal. Here you will find some of the most stunning reproductions of old and iconic pictures, that look breath taking.
This top will contain 22 black and white pictures colorized by different designers.
Even though some argue about how the use of colors and tones is not accurate enough, tons of work is required to achieve these masterpieces and no harm is done to the original photos, so keep your mind open and see how new people can recreate old events just by adding a little bit of color.
In some of the pictures, the impact is actually enhanced by adding a dab of color and old family pictures receive a brand new look, offering them a fresh start.
This top includes old pictures of famous people, revolutionaries, old war photos or even pictures of ordinary people that have been given a breath of color.
1. Charles Darwin
The colors give Charles Darwin a warmer look while still keeping all of his face features.
2. Che Guevara
Che Guevara continues to influence younger generations and he was a hero during his time.
3. Theodore Roosevelt
The picture of the former US president holding a baby is heart-warming, with or without colors.
4. Anne Frank
Anne Frank was a Jewish writer who was murdered during the Holocaust. Still, her memory is kept alive through her pictures, which have now received a colorful touch.
5. Abraham Lincoln
One of the most iconic personalities in US history, Abraham Lincoln still keeps his serious and dramatic look, even in colored pictures.
6. Mark Twain
There is nothing more relaxing than enjoying yourself in nature, as you can see in this colorized picture of Mark Twain in his garden.
7. Alfred Hitchcock
“The master of suspense” is still alive through his movies and pictures and he shall never be forgotten.
8. Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is vastly known for his genius, but what most people don’t know is the fact that he also had a lovely personality, as seen in this picture of him. Black and white or colored, Einstein remains an icon of the 21st century.
9. Elizabeth Taylor
When looking at old pictures of iconic women you can actually understand the term “diva”. Elizabeth Taylor looks stunning in both B&W and colors.
10. Marilyn Monroe
Even though there are a lot of controversies around Marilyn, she remains a sex symbol even after death.
11. Nicola Tesla
Nicola Tesla was not only an inventor but he was also a people person, giving away most of his designs so that others can surpass them
12. Salvador Dali
Salvador Dali was a genius and a true master of the surrealist style. Here you can find him with an ocelot, a cane and his iconic moustache.
Colorization: Sanna Dullaway
13. Audrey Hepburn
Sadly, we have lost the values that once made women irresistible and we are now concentrating on nudity instead of grace and beauty. Audrey Hepburn is still an example of how women can be beautiful in any environment.
Colorization: Kevin Ger
14. Big Jay McNeely
Who does not miss a concert meant to leave you speechless? Big Jay McNeely sure knew how to leave a crowd wanting more.
Colorization: traquea
15. Abandoned Boy
This old photograph also comes with a story, written by the photographer himself, Tony Frissel:
“I was told he had come back from playing and found his house a shambles—his mother, father and brother dead under the rubble…he was looking up at the sky, his face an expression of both confusion and defiance. The defiance made him look like a young Winston Churchill. This photograph was used by IBM to publicize a show in London. The boy grew up to become a truck driver after the war, and walking past the IBM offices, he recognized his picture.”
Colorization: HansLucifer
16. Monk setting himself on fire
People have gone through a lot to protest and the picture of the monk igniting himself is one of the most powerful pictures in history.
Colorization: Sanna Dullaway
17. Famous Times Square kiss
If we didn’t already know about this famous picture, you could’ve easily mistaken the colored version of it as a Halloween party in nowadays Times Square.
Colorization: Sanna Dullaway
18. Hindenburg disaster
The Hindenburg disaster ended with the death of 36 passengers and the colored version of the old black and white pictures is still terrifying.
Colorization: klassixx
19. Miss America 1924
It’s surprising to take a look in the past and see how beauty standards have changed over the decades.
20. Family portrait
There’s nothing quite as fulfilling as viewing your old family pics getting a makeover.
Colorization: salsifufu
21. Old wedding picture
Red roses, white dress, a happy couple, it seems that we have managed to keep at least the wedding traditions intact.
Colorization: Sanna Dullaway
22. Old war picture
Colorization: metacolor
For more Black and White pictures colorized you can follow this link. If you want to know more about how to use Photoshop to draw colors into pictures, find a Photoshop colorization tutorial here.
If you are interested in how to make a picture black and white, start small maybe with black and white flower pictures or ordinary black and white pictures on tumblr. Find the Photoshop tutorial here.
If you want to see how black and white pictures with colors are made, check the Photoshop colorizing tutorial mentioned above.
For black and white picture quotes follow this link.