[Emagazine]- Black and white photos, the colors of time

Quang Ngai Newspaper) - Although the photos are only in black and white, they attract viewers. Each photo not only preserves moments but also contains memories of a time gone by. Many people still keep black and white photos for decades, some even as old as their own lives.

The profession of meticulousness and carefulness

Mr. Tran Trong Ninh next to a black and white photo (restored) taken when he was young.

Mr. Tran Trong Ninh (91 years old), in Nguyen Nghiem ward (Quang Ngai city) is the owner of Photo Ninh, one of the long-standing photo shops in Quang Ngai. Mr. Ninh said that in the past, when there were no digital cameras and modern photo printing rooms like today, photographers had to take photos with mechanical cameras. Photographers had to understand and perform the steps from taking photos with a film roll machine, developing photos and printing photos.

When he was young, Mr. Ninh studied and worked hard to learn photography and photo development formulas. Even now, despite his old age, he still remembers the formulas for mixing film development chemicals and photo printing chemicals, because photography has been his life's work. "When a black and white photo has too dark colors, such as hair or eyes that are too dark, it also makes the photo not beautiful. A black and white photo must have moderate, balanced colors. The photographer must be careful with every small detail to print a beautiful photo," said Mr. Ninh.

With 50 years of experience as a photographer, Mr. Phan Tan Hai (74 years old), on Nguyen Cong Phuong Street (Quang Ngai City) shared that in the past, developing black and white photos was very laborious. The photographer had to buy photo paper, chemicals to develop the film and develop the photos. After the photographer took a roll of 36 (or 72) photos, he brought them to the dark room to develop the film, then brought them outside to dry. The photographer had to use a specialized pencil to correct each stroke on the film before proceeding to the photo projection stage. The photo projection stage also had to be done in the dark room, because light damaged the film paper... Thanks to being carefully and meticulously made, the black and white photos in the past had beautiful sharpness and high durability.

The color of time

Until now, Mr. Dang Ngoc Linh (67 years old), in group 5, Nghia Lo ward (Quang Ngai city) still keeps black and white photos taken decades ago. Among them, there are photos taken by his father of his mother when she was 7 months pregnant with him and photos of him when he was just born... Although time has passed, the photos still retain their original colors and textures.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Linh keeps black and white photos taken by his father on December 31, 1957 when Mr. Linh was nearly 1 year old.

Mr. Linh’s father is Mr. Dang Tung, the son of Mr. Dang Chau. Mr. Dang Chau was a famous photographer, the first person to open a photo studio in Quang Ngai. Mr. Dang Tung took many photos of his family members. The black and white photos not only preserve the childhood memories of his children, but also contain the love of a father for his children.

Mr. Linh said that he kept all the black and white photos taken by his father very carefully. Although he is not a photographer, to continue his father's meaningful work, Mr. Linh made albums to preserve images of his daughters and grandchildren. The albums of his children (born in 1985 and 1987) have both black and white and color photos. Mr. Linh's albums, bearing the mark of time, make viewers excited and impressed.

Mr. Phan Tan Hai looks back at black and white photos of his youth.

Mr. Phan Tan Hai also kept black and white photos of his siblings when they were young. Mr. Hai talked about a photo of his nine siblings lined up in order from the youngest to the oldest. That photo was taken before 1978. Mr. Hai's youngest sister was still young at that time, holding a bouquet of flowers, wearing the same shirt as her two older sisters. Now, the youngest sister has five grandchildren.

Nowadays, many people still keep black and white photos, especially the generation from 40 years old and above. Looking at black and white photos of childhood, or youth... makes many people feel nostalgic every time they look at them.

Article and photos: Bao Hoa

Design, presentation: PD

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