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

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

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Unknown Woman, Ca 1880

Final score:

169points

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反社会的 5 years ago

This is beautiful.

38points

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

Final score:

156points

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Natasha Forchione 5 years ago

Looks like it was taken yesterday...WOW

31points

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

Final score:

154points

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CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago

This is one of the few colorization I like.

23points

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Not The Easiest Restoration

Final score:

141points

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Phantom Captain 5 years ago

Incredible!

21points

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

Final score:

120points

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Caroline Cordery 5 years ago

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

19points

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Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd), 1855

Final score:

117points

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Mike Rumer 5 years ago

LLOKS LIKE DARTH VADER IN THE BACKGROUND.

73points

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

Final score:

113points

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Caroline Cordery 5 years ago

They should sell that jacket nowadays.

22points

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Young Girl's Photo Restoration

Final score:

109points

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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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The Photographers Daughter, C.m.bell 1870

Final score:

108points

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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

Final score:

95points

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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

Final score:

90points

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Bukky Olaneye 5 years ago

Dapper gentleman

23points

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#12

Joseph Dore, Ca 1862

Final score:

86points

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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

Final score:

85points

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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

Final score:

79points

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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

Final score:

75points

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Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago

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

15points

Max L. 4 years ago

A farmer, to me..

0points

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Letitia Hedding 5 years ago

I honestly prefer the older version of the photo, it shows its age and it is so much more special

1point

Cybele Spanjaard 3 years ago

The owners of this would love this restoration of a possible loved family member

0points

Earna Winslow 4 years ago

A good restoration.

0points

Rhyme Magsino 5 years ago

Kinda looks like my grandpa; but, different hair colour....

0points

Id row 5 years ago

He could hear conversations from 3 blocks away.

0points

KT Trondsen 5 years ago

the restored photo makes him look older than he was in the original

0points

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#16

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

Final score:

67points

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Bukky Olaneye 5 years ago

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

17points

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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

For 'exposure' LOL.

4points

Mihai Mara 5 years ago

So much work and so much talent. Wow!

8points

Lilli 5 years ago

wow! these are amazing!

2points

Cody Eriksen 5 years ago

As a Civil War enthusiast, I love seeing the restored pictures from then.

Yes - I just wrote a short story set in 1893, so these strike a note with me as well.

Fiona Vella 4 years ago

Very impressed!

Fernando Vital 4 years ago

Moments money cannot buy.

Christine Lewis 4 years ago

Truly amazing 🤗🤗🤗

Susan Schultz 4 years ago

A trip back in time. They were fascinating!

Sally Spelbring 5 years ago

I AM A LOVER OF ALL PHOTOGRAPHY MY DAD HAD A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO IN BECKLEY WVA HE GAVE IT UP WHEN I WAS THREE BUT I ENJOY ALL PHOTO'S SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO YOUR VERY GOOD AT IT

Gracie Mae 5 years ago

wow--love the photos and the awesome job done with them! that has to be some very gratifying work

Robert Shanahan 5 years ago

Some of these brought tears just thinking of the friends and relatives who got to see these people restored and as alive as they can ever be. Thank you.

Adrian Mihoc 5 years ago

I wonder why the colored version of this kind of photo restoration look so vintage. They are made to look colored version of old cameras...why not modern ones?

Jane Dorothy Warner 5 years ago

For me, adding colour brings the photos to life. This man does an incredible job. Kudos to him.

Nikki D 5 years ago

I wonder how much the harder ones would cost?

Simba 5 years ago

OMG this is some serious painstaking & hand cramping master photoshop skills! Fantastic!

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

Unknown Woman, Ca 1880

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

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

Not The Easiest Restoration

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

Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd), 1855

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

Young Girl's Photo Restoration

The Photographers Daughter, C.m.bell 1870

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

Arthur Morgan Chase, Ca 1916

Joseph Dore, Ca 1862

Vintage Photo Restoration

Heavily Damaged Photograph, Ca. 1960

Vintage Photo Restoration

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

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