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I Made Immigrants’ Dream Come True By Photoshopping Them Into Today’s New York
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I Made Immigrants’ Dream Come True By Photoshopping Them Into Today’s New York

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I would like to draw attention to the Immigrants who wanted to live a better life following the American dream. I tried to connect past and present with visualizing these people from vintage photos in today’s environment.

Last year I’ve been to Ellis Island, and I immediately had a bad feeling about that place. I approximately knew what happened in Ellis Island, and later, I’ve been thinking about the likeness of current migration reforms and immigrant crisis in the United States. I did research, and it’s really sad what happened to many Immigrants. Many of them died in Ellis Island while waiting and hoping for an opportunity for a new life.

In this way, their dream came true. I created this photo manipulation project as a reminder and commemorated to the 3,500 people who died there.

Old photos from the previous century are often forgotten, so I did picture colorization on them and some photo editing to make more connections to the present. The images are fictional, and many people couldn’t even get into Manhattan or live in America.

Migration is an ongoing situation, and the story of Ellis Island is still relevant nowadays.

This is not history. This is today.

More info: floraborsi.com

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    Flora Borsi

    Flora Borsi

    Author, Community member

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    Visual Artist

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    Flora Borsi

    Flora Borsi

    Author, Community member

    Visual Artist

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kate Baxter
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think this is a great article. Love the pictures. I don't think people understand that you are talking about the immigrants in the picture not today's immigrants. Fortunately the attitude displayed by a lot of commentators is not held by the majority of Americans.

    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except they aren't immigrants. Just random people in other countries that this person spliced together. "The images are fictional"

    Load More Replies...
    Curtis S
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's their dream, really? To be photoshopped into somewhere else?

    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FFS do you people have to take everything so literally? Don't you understand subtext when applied to art? My God grow up.

    Load More Replies...
    Andrea Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your Photoshop work colorizing these historic photographs is amazing! I love this series. Thank you for sharing!

    Mancave Pictures
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Terrific Photoshop job and wonderful idea! Never mind the comments from those who have created nothing interesting.

    Trickster
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear Flora, I think your project is amazing - the idea, the concept and all. We would love to share this also on our page - www.thiscityknows.com - We shall, of course, provide credits/links to your page. If you are interested, send us the buzz at info@thiscityknows.com

    John Neanda
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nice work, i like the behind the scenes part too. great stuff

    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Archive images were made at Ellis Island / New York of real Immigrants around the 1900's. Please read the text. Thank you! orphans-59...74383d.jpg orphans-592b04174383d.jpg

    Yugan Talovich
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're going to get run over and flipped off, standing in the middle of a NY street.

    Eva Monroe
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At present time, I'd jump at the chance to go to Canada, Switzerland, Geremany, France, the Netherlands, pretty much anywhere. The country is in the toilet. Corporate greed rules and dark money influences. Lying goes completely unpunished. Americans are brainwashed. Each day we lose more of the principles our country was founded on. I'm angry and disgusted by my own people. Never in my life have I felt this way, but we're not the best country on the planet.

    Matt Eliason
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Recognised the Georgian costume before the explanation. This costume is still worn now on special occasions. Me-and-Geo...ingers.jpg Me-and-Georgian-Singers.jpg

    Erik Pan
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You made their dreams come true? Seriously?? For God's sake get over yourself. The photos are good, but don't make more of them than they are.

    Michelangelo
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is r******d if you really cared about immigrants the you would give them food, water, and money. Not photoshop the into NY

    Katie J.
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's called "art," and amazingly enough, people can have creative hobbies while also volunteering for causes they care about, working at non-profit organizations, and/or donating money to charities.

    Load More Replies...
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellisislandnps/6905487520/in/album-72157629755325885

    Rodrigo Luna Kan
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it, after more than one hundred years, we're available to compare different momments in human history, to create a new perspective about the past, the people within and to contrast it with ourselves and the present we're living. It's amazing how do we preserved momments while the time keeps it's course and our lives go with it.

    John L
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Almost all of them look out of place, except the woman on the subway, leaning against her suitcase. That one looks best of all, and could have occurred just yesterday. :D

    Ashley Bruce
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an insulting headline. Where was the frame of mind when this was created? This is not made by an artist but by a performer.

    Irene Walton
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We assimilated, learned english and blended with everyone. It's NOT happening now

    Ciara Doyle
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The saturation of these photos are painful, it distracted from a pretty good idea

    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    "The images are fictional, many people couldn’t ever get into Manhattan or live in America." lol

    nameme the undieing
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I live in New York City and people like that are killing my city it's culture and it's history

    Katie J.
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ....said the descendents of Italian immigrants about Jews, descendents of Irish immigrants about Italians, descendents of British colonists about the Irish, and every Native nation about the British colonists, who were the only ones who actually DID lose their culture and homes. It's called America. None of us are supposed to be here.

    Load More Replies...
    Joe Dad
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    To all immigrants especially Muslims: running away from your problems do not help anyone, least of all yourself. Stay and fix your country.

    Kate Baxter
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think this is a great article. Love the pictures. I don't think people understand that you are talking about the immigrants in the picture not today's immigrants. Fortunately the attitude displayed by a lot of commentators is not held by the majority of Americans.

    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except they aren't immigrants. Just random people in other countries that this person spliced together. "The images are fictional"

    Load More Replies...
    Curtis S
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's their dream, really? To be photoshopped into somewhere else?

    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FFS do you people have to take everything so literally? Don't you understand subtext when applied to art? My God grow up.

    Load More Replies...
    Andrea Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your Photoshop work colorizing these historic photographs is amazing! I love this series. Thank you for sharing!

    Mancave Pictures
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Terrific Photoshop job and wonderful idea! Never mind the comments from those who have created nothing interesting.

    Trickster
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear Flora, I think your project is amazing - the idea, the concept and all. We would love to share this also on our page - www.thiscityknows.com - We shall, of course, provide credits/links to your page. If you are interested, send us the buzz at info@thiscityknows.com

    John Neanda
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nice work, i like the behind the scenes part too. great stuff

    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Archive images were made at Ellis Island / New York of real Immigrants around the 1900's. Please read the text. Thank you! orphans-59...74383d.jpg orphans-592b04174383d.jpg

    Yugan Talovich
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're going to get run over and flipped off, standing in the middle of a NY street.

    Eva Monroe
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At present time, I'd jump at the chance to go to Canada, Switzerland, Geremany, France, the Netherlands, pretty much anywhere. The country is in the toilet. Corporate greed rules and dark money influences. Lying goes completely unpunished. Americans are brainwashed. Each day we lose more of the principles our country was founded on. I'm angry and disgusted by my own people. Never in my life have I felt this way, but we're not the best country on the planet.

    Matt Eliason
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Recognised the Georgian costume before the explanation. This costume is still worn now on special occasions. Me-and-Geo...ingers.jpg Me-and-Georgian-Singers.jpg

    Erik Pan
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You made their dreams come true? Seriously?? For God's sake get over yourself. The photos are good, but don't make more of them than they are.

    Michelangelo
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is r******d if you really cared about immigrants the you would give them food, water, and money. Not photoshop the into NY

    Katie J.
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's called "art," and amazingly enough, people can have creative hobbies while also volunteering for causes they care about, working at non-profit organizations, and/or donating money to charities.

    Load More Replies...
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellisislandnps/6905487520/in/album-72157629755325885

    Rodrigo Luna Kan
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it, after more than one hundred years, we're available to compare different momments in human history, to create a new perspective about the past, the people within and to contrast it with ourselves and the present we're living. It's amazing how do we preserved momments while the time keeps it's course and our lives go with it.

    John L
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Almost all of them look out of place, except the woman on the subway, leaning against her suitcase. That one looks best of all, and could have occurred just yesterday. :D

    Ashley Bruce
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an insulting headline. Where was the frame of mind when this was created? This is not made by an artist but by a performer.

    Irene Walton
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We assimilated, learned english and blended with everyone. It's NOT happening now

    Ciara Doyle
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The saturation of these photos are painful, it distracted from a pretty good idea

    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    "The images are fictional, many people couldn’t ever get into Manhattan or live in America." lol

    nameme the undieing
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I live in New York City and people like that are killing my city it's culture and it's history

    Katie J.
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ....said the descendents of Italian immigrants about Jews, descendents of Irish immigrants about Italians, descendents of British colonists about the Irish, and every Native nation about the British colonists, who were the only ones who actually DID lose their culture and homes. It's called America. None of us are supposed to be here.

    Load More Replies...
    Joe Dad
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    To all immigrants especially Muslims: running away from your problems do not help anyone, least of all yourself. Stay and fix your country.

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