Alex K

Something a little different, Chandra Bose, who started the Freies Indien movement in conjunction with Himmler, as a means of removing "British Imperial colonialism" from India, together with one of his "Foot soldiers". If my history is wrong please let me know. regards Alex Original source for Chandra Bose indicated

Last ones for tonight, Grand Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz and Unknown imperial naval officer. Tirpitz, whilst a grand admiral was not awarded to normal crossed batons on his epaullettes, instead he wore four "Pips"

Hi and thanks, Heydrich actually looks better in a larger format. regards Alex

Hello Spasm, I can only answer for myself, I CAN indeed end up with many, many layers, (It depends on the image). It is very much like the old method of producing cartoon films, (Disney) where you start of with a basic background and then lay subsequent clear layers (Cells) over the top, each layer represents a different part of the image, as individual layers, you can manipulate them to give you the desired effect. once satisfied, the layers are merged and you end up with the end effect, It's actually not difficult, but can be time consuming, Uniforms, medals badges are really quite easy, for me it is the facial tones, which again are done with layers, I do study genuine wartime colour photo's which allow me to replicate the original with possibly a modern twist (Digital Camera) Hope this helps regards Alex

My comparison, before and after regards

Hi Peter, very nice image, it would look great framed and wall mounted, is it family or unknown? regards Alex

Hi Peter, nice one, I like how you "Cleaned up" the image before colourizing, It's something I also do. (BTW I love your avatar, it would look great in my collection ) regards

an "Aged" Hans Joachim Marseilles, Eberhard Milch, Johannes Trauttloft

OK Ok!! You've twisted my arm, two slightly different ones, Unknown Luftwaffe Band member and unknown officer, Note he is wearing the Silesian order First and second class, original sources no longer known regards

Hi Chris, Thanks, I don't want to oveload the thread because I genuinely would like to see contributions from other members, It's not a one man show. As I've said I do have so many, but in the end, as a forum other contributors are more than welcome. There are some really good skills out there. regards Alex

Another favourite, (I don't know why!) Unknown major, source Bundesarchiv If I'm posting too many let me know, I'll book myself a vacation!!!

Amongst the many I've done, I have favourites, this is one, Erich Hartmann, the emblem indicated on top right is worn on his lapel and was also painted on the side of his aircraft, (Took a bit of researching to find it!)

Hi Chris, attached a modified version of Bernard Schmidt based on your comments regards, hope you approve Alex

One image I think many may have seen before, my colourisation

Hitler (Grofaz) and Himmler playing soldiers

Hi Larry, yes it is basically Photoshop. My version is V4.0, this is actually, by modern standards quite ancient, (Designed originally for Windows 95 operating system). For the technically interested my current operating system is Windows 7, it keeps telling me that the photoshop software will not work, but it DOES,! so I don't worry Regards Alex

Hi Chris, That to me is fantastic information, I can now put a name to the image. With regards to the collar tabs, it is sometimes difficult to separate shades of grey, I look for original items from collectors etc and have a large library of original examples, I then try to replicate them. In this instance, I will now re-visit my original colourisation, and amend. Thanks for your help regards Alex

Hi TacHel, it has crossed my mind, the problem lies sometimes with who still owns the original, if any, copyright to the image, most, if not all, of the images I use are freely available (Public Domain) on the internet. I actually do this for fun, without any "Commercial interest". Many are from the German Bundesarchiv, who have published their collections on-line without, it seems any restrictions, others are from NARA, Life, etc which are freely available for download. That being said, any copyright holder who wishes to have an image "Colourised", then I would be happy to consider it. One reason I "Watermark" the images is to ensure that it is a colourised and not a true colour image, where the source is known I also indicate that, only images posted are watermarked. regards Alex

Hi Laurence, I'm humbly flattered regards Alex I'm on a roll now, a few more, (I've got so many), might as well post them somewhere!!

Just having a quick sortout, Wermacht clergy The first on the left is of Catholic faith, (Denoted by the effigy of Christ on the cross), the second and third, unknown but I suspect Protestant or Lutheran, (The cross was the same without the effigy, (I could be wrong!)

Hello Brian, thanks for the compliments, You are of course quite right with regards to Julian Byng. I take a particular pride and determination to produce the most accurate colourisations I can, it does require patience and research into the subject you are working on, hopefully 99% of what I do is not too far of the mark. I have numerous almost completed images which I will not post as I have certain doubts about uniforms, badges and escpecially medal ribbon bars, (which I hate!!), I do eventually find the info I need then they get completed. regards Alex

Hi, You are quite right, Genarals cap devices were in silver, (Eagle and Wreath) up unto about 1942, after which they SHOULD be wearing Gold versions. I look at the images and try to identify the period when they were taken which can sometimes be found at other parts of the image, before 1942, silver, after, gold. Many Officers did continue to wear outdated insignia, but when you are a General, who's going to argue with you . I do have many colourisations of Generals, (Not posted yet) where it is clear that they are gold, it depends on the amount of time you spend researching the subject and image. regards An example, Erich Abraham who I believed recieved to Oaks after 1942

Sir Julian Byng, Governor of Canada?

Hi Paul, thanks, it's quite an enjoyable and absorbing past-time. With regards to the Krebs image, I have read several accounts that the negotiations didn't go too well. Krebs went with pre-determined instructions from Goebbels with a "Conditional surrender, these were dismissed out of hand by the Soviets who insisted on "Unconditional" surrender". Krebs returned to the Bunker and for the next few days seemed resigned and suicidal, he did in the end commit suicide in the bunker. There are images of his remains after being removed from the bunker, in-line, with the remains of the Goebels family, I'm not sure of forum rules regarding posting these type of images so choose not to. regards Alex

Ok, one more!!! Hans Frank,