Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
People Are Sharing ‘Then And Now’ Pics On This Page To Show How Time Changes Things (40 New Pics)
The subreddit r/OldPhotosInRealLife is pretty much the closest thing we have to a time machine. Its 596k members are constantly comparing past and present through rephotography — the act of taking a photo of a place that has already been photographed before. The end result is like a portal, fusing together two different periods.
After we at Bored Panda published our first story on this online community, we've kept an eye on it and quickly realized that its earlier posts weren't a fluke. From overgrown Machu Picchu in 1915 compared to the site in 2020 to visitors in The Metropolitan Museum Of Art in 1910 and 2019, r/OldPhotosInRealLife consistently features interesting angles, presenting things in a different perspective to the one we're used to.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Big Oak; Thomasville, Ga (1895/2020)
RELATED:
#2
My Family Farm C.1900/2000. It Was In Our Family For 125 Years. My Childhood Bedroom Window Is In The Top Center. It Was Also My Father’s And My Grandfather’s Bedroom
As I wrote in my previous piece, most of these photos portray not only the passage of time but human progress as well. City skylines keep expanding, people within them switch from horses to cars... But that's just the visuals. How do we actually calculate our advancement?
For this task, many use the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI provides a single index measure to capture three key dimensions of our development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living.
#3
Ancient Greece Before And After Excavation
Debbie Barnes 3 years ago
You would never have thought that nature would completely cover a Colosseum to that extent. You can almost hear the roars of the crowds and imagine scenes from a different world..
#4
Craftsmanship
The Human Development Index utilizes four key metrics:
- life expectancy at birth – to assess a long and healthy life,
- expected years of schooling – to assess access to knowledge for the young generation, 3) average years of schooling – to assess access to knowledge for the older generation, 4) gross national income (GNI) per capita – to assess the standard of living.
#5
Here Is My Great Great Grandfather’s Nashville House In 1896, Two Years Before My Grandfather Was Born. This Picture Has Always Been In The Family Of Course, But Only Today Did I Use Google Maps To Look Up The Address And Find It How It Looks Today. I’m Thrilled That I Found It
#6
The Golden Cross Inn, Coventry. 1819 vs. Now
In 2019, the United Nations Development Programme used the HDI to find out which countries are the most developed. The first place went to Norway, Switzerland came in second, and Ireland was third. The US tied the UK for the 15th spot.
Naturally, the HDI -- just like most similar metrics -- has been criticized. Mostly, for the alleged lack of consideration of technological development or contributions to human civilization. But it remains one of the most used measures worldwide to calculate how advanced countries are. Until rephotography takes over!
#7
Visitors In The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Viewing Painting (Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing The Delaware - 1851) 1910 And 2019
#8
The Berlin Wall Fell 31 Years Ago Today!
Dynein 3 years ago (edited)
To this day, the position of the wall is marked on the ground all the way from one end to the other. By the more noteworthy places there are information boards. If you ever go to Berlin and want to get a broader picture of the town, I recommend a Berlin Wall hike - take public transport to one end of the Berlin Wall (Memorial or East Side Gallery), then follow the line on the ground all the way to the other end. Takes you to all kinds of places, from famous landmarks to back alleys. It's a day trip, but if you don't mind walking and love to explore for the sake of exploring, it's really worth it.
#9
Hiroshima 75 Years Ago
#10
Machu Picchu, Peru. 1915 & 2020
#11
Amazing Looking Home Restored In Detroit. 1993 And Now
#12
Czech Out Prague 1910 And 2020
Couch potato 3 years ago
The first photo is what claustrophobic people wished it looked like in the second photo
#13
Milan, Italy 1950s And 2021
#14
Hick's Court, St Ives, England - 1888 And Today
#15
English Tank In The Streets Of My Town, 1945-2021
#16
Town Square In Uelzen, Lower Saxony, Germany- During The Battle Of The Rhine, April 1945 And 2021
#17
Van Gogh’s ‘Cafe Terrace At Night’ From 1888 And Present
#18
Today vs. Childhood Memory
Debbie Barnes 3 years ago
That is literally the nearest you'll get to a time machine. I love this..
#19
In 2005, Some Friends And I Found The Road To Jabba's Palace Off Twenty Mule Team Canyon In Death Valley, Ca
#20
Church St. Martin In Cologne, Germany 1946 And 2021
#21
Theodore Roosevelt Would Be Proud
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
You can actually see where some parts of the falls have worn away in 115 years. Not a huge amount, but noticeable if you look close enough.
#22
Curtiss C-46 Commando, One Of Pablo Escobar / Carlos Lehder’s Drug Smuggling Planes Near Norman’s Cay In The Bahamas, After 35 Years Submerged In Saltwater
#23
The Royal Crescent, Bath, UK. 1829-2020. Built 1774
#24
The Main Entrance To The City, York, England 1865 - 2015
#25
It Hasn't Changed Much In 157 Years, Aside From The Platform Height And Electrification. The World's Oldest Undeground Station, Baker Street! *saxophone Plays In The Distance*
Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
It's easy to criticise the London Underground, e.g. why isn't it running 24 hours a day in this day and age? So it's worth being reminded just how old it is and what the expectations were when it was built. It doesn't have double tracks, so one can keep the service running while the other is being maintained at night, because no one in 1863 anticipated hoards of people wanting to travel around London at 3.30am
#26
Court Of The Lions, Granada, Spain - 1840 And Today
#27
Abandoned Restaurant In Petrópolis, Brazil (1960's And 2013)
#28
The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland - C.1847 And Today
#29
Unfinished Manhattan Bridge In 1908 And Now
#30
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1925, 1980, 2002, 2021]
![Buenos Aires, Argentina [1925, 1980, 2002, 2021]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/before-after-old-photos-real-life-45357-61518e2e37dd5__700.jpg "Buenos Aires, Argentina [1925, 1980, 2002, 2021]")
#31
Kraków, Poland (1939 And 2010s)
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
So happy they kept the electric trolleys, instead of converting to stinky busses.
#32
Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, India. 1798 Lithograph By Thomas Daniell And 2016. Built Between 1003-1010
#33
Arch Of Constantine In Rome, 1943 (Taken By My Grandfather), And What It Looks Like Today
#34
Stonehenge: 1877 And 2019
#35
Woodstock Festival Site- 1969 / 2020
#36
St Francis Of Assisi Church
#37
A Former Public Bath In Wuppertal, Germany, Now A Brewery And Beer Hall. 1993 vs. 2019
#38
Hong Kong’s Kowloon Peninsula 1964 - 2016
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Pixie 3 years ago
A lot of pictures on WW II. I posted the following text as an answer to the first of them I encountered, but wanted to say it to all of them, so I am gonna repeat myself here: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Our ancestors (German here) had no warning, no real Idea what could happen. We today have their example what will happen if we let racist facist people get into power. I'm so scared and saddened about the growing number of people wanting to repeat this terrible piece of history.
Memere 3 years ago
And what's truly horrifying is that so many of the people in power who are heading that direction are here in my country, the U.S. The racism, misogyny, & bigotry is steadily growing at the highest levels.
Load More Replies...
Sue Lynn Chan 3 years ago
Growing up in an heritage city, it's a shame that many of the buildings need to be demolished to gave way ugly simple building.
Pixie 3 years ago
A lot of pictures on WW II. I posted the following text as an answer to the first of them I encountered, but wanted to say it to all of them, so I am gonna repeat myself here: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Our ancestors (German here) had no warning, no real Idea what could happen. We today have their example what will happen if we let racist facist people get into power. I'm so scared and saddened about the growing number of people wanting to repeat this terrible piece of history.
Memere 3 years ago
And what's truly horrifying is that so many of the people in power who are heading that direction are here in my country, the U.S. The racism, misogyny, & bigotry is steadily growing at the highest levels.
Load More Replies... Sue Lynn Chan 3 years ago
Growing up in an heritage city, it's a shame that many of the buildings need to be demolished to gave way ugly simple building.
You May Like 50 Times People Captured Perfect Street Scenes And Had To Share It In This Online Group Magical Rainbow Pics That People Happened To Capture (40 Pics)
Gabija Saveiskyte
Miglė
Related on Bored Panda
