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Photographer Spends 1000s of Hours Painstakingly Restoring ‘Unrestorable’ Photos And Here Are His 16 Most Impressive Works

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Mario Unger is a photographer, photoshop artist and musician from Austria who is currently fascinated with bringing old and damaged photos back to glorious, colorful life.

Mario's aim with his amazing editing skills is to reduce the feeling of time - bringing history to us in a way that is immediately more recognizable and relatable. Even though some of these photos were taken over 100 years ago they feel like we are living them again - that connection with history is real and very special.

What do you think? Do you feel a closer empathy with the subjects in Mario's restored photos? Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

More info: unarts.at | Instagram | Facebook

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Unknown Woman, Ca 1880

Unknown Woman, Ca 1880

Final score:

169points

反社会的 5 years ago

This is beautiful.

38points

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#2

"Texas Couple, Ca 1900, One Of The Hardest Restorations And Colorizations I Did So Far. Working Time, About 15 Hours"

"Texas Couple, Ca 1900, One Of The Hardest Restorations And Colorizations I Did So Far. Working Time, About 15 Hours"

Final score:

156points

Natasha Forchione 5 years ago

Looks like it was taken yesterday...WOW

31points

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#3

Old Man, Photo By C.m.bell Ca 1890. Library Of Congress, Glass Plate Negative

Old Man, Photo By C.m.bell Ca 1890. Library Of Congress, Glass Plate Negative

Final score:

154points

CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago

This is one of the few colorization I like.

23points

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#4

Not The Easiest Restoration

Not The Easiest Restoration

Final score:

141points

Phantom Captain 5 years ago

Incredible!

21points

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#5

Westover Landing, Virginia. Officers Of 3rd And 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry Illustrating The Hardships Of War. 1862

Westover Landing, Virginia. Officers Of 3rd And 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry Illustrating The Hardships Of War. 1862

Final score:

120points

Caroline Cordery 5 years ago

I keep thinking I see some of them holding takeaway coffee cups.

19points

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#6

Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd), 1855

Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd), 1855

Final score:

117points

Mike Rumer 5 years ago

LLOKS LIKE DARTH VADER IN THE BACKGROUND.

73points

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#7

Man 1890, Name K.c.holt, Photographer C.m.bell

Man 1890, Name K.c.holt, Photographer C.m.bell

Final score:

113points

Caroline Cordery 5 years ago

They should sell that jacket nowadays.

22points

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#8

Young Girl's Photo Restoration

Young Girl's Photo Restoration

Final score:

109points

Chicago Kitty 5 years ago

I love old photos of people in their gardens, and that you placed roses in her hands.

22points

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#9

The Photographers Daughter, C.m.bell 1870

The Photographers Daughter, C.m.bell 1870

Final score:

108points

CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago

I know this is morbid, so I apologize, but I look at old pics like this and it's fascinating to me that this child has grown, had children, lived a full life, and passed away. Yet, in this photograph, she will forever be three years old. life is weird.

109points

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#10

Antietam, Md. President Lincoln And Gen. George B. Mcclellan In The General's Tent 3. Okt. 1863

Antietam, Md. President Lincoln And Gen. George B. Mcclellan In The General's Tent 3. Okt. 1863

Final score:

95points

Chicago Kitty 5 years ago

Interested to know the story of the Confederate flag laying on the ground...

23points

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#11

Arthur Morgan Chase, Ca 1916

Arthur Morgan Chase, Ca 1916

Final score:

90points

Bukky Olaneye 5 years ago

Dapper gentleman

23points

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#12

Joseph Dore, Ca 1862

Joseph Dore, Ca 1862

Final score:

86points

Mary Taylor 5 years ago

I like the B & W pics the best, as that is how they would have been at the time.

15points

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#13

Vintage Photo Restoration

Vintage Photo Restoration

Final score:

85points

Chicago Kitty 5 years ago

Her rolled down stockings on the right- It was obviously hot so 0-flecks given.

26points

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#14

Heavily Damaged Photograph, Ca. 1960

Heavily Damaged Photograph, Ca. 1960

Final score:

79points

Hańka 5 years ago

The restoration of the face of that kid is not a success, looks creepy!

20points

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#15

Vintage Photo Restoration

Vintage Photo Restoration

Final score:

75points

Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago

Wonder who he was and what he did for a living...?

15points

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#16

Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875). The 17th President Of The United States

Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875). The 17th President Of The United States

Final score:

67points

Bukky Olaneye 5 years ago

Sorry to say this,but why does it look like he smells something disgusting

17points

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Mindaugas Balčiauskas

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

James Caunt

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

What do you think ?

SandraG_lak 5 years ago

Stunning! So much training to get these results. And I bet he gets countless emails from people asking him to do one for them for free or obscenely cheap.

10points

Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago

For 'exposure' LOL.

4points

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Mihai Mara 5 years ago

So much work and so much talent. Wow!

8points

Lilli 5 years ago

wow! these are amazing!

2points

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SandraG_lak 5 years ago

Stunning! So much training to get these results. And I bet he gets countless emails from people asking him to do one for them for free or obscenely cheap.

10points

Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago

For 'exposure' LOL.

4points

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Mihai Mara 5 years ago

So much work and so much talent. Wow!

8points

Lilli 5 years ago

wow! these are amazing!

2points

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