How's it done? Any advice??

OK, I failed miserably, I know that, but I want to know how it's done so if I ever get the chance to have another go I might get a better result.

I'm sure some of you have seen those then and now shots with the old photograph held up in front of the present day scene. I tried to do it when I went back to a much loved place I'd been to as a kid.

I know I didn't line it up properly but the road dropped away and I couldn't get far enough back to make them line up. The other problem I had was focus, I tried various f stops up to f22 but either one or the other was out of focus. I feel sure I've seen these photos were both are sharp. I only had my 50 1.4 to work with. Any advice please?

You've probably seen them on http://dearphotograph.​com/

My guess would be that you'll probably have more success with a P&S, due to its greater DOF.

Winck

awww thanks for the link, yes that's exactly what I wanted to do! I dont have a point and shoot dammit.

2 shots - focus on pic, the on background. Merge them together.

WOuld help to have a second person behind the lens to assist you in lining it up.

Part of the problem is you need to try and shoot from the same angle and with the same lens, or as close as you can. Looks here like the older image was shot from a lower angle. Also, I am in favor of taking two shots and merging them in post as well. By doing it that way you can re-size/warp/distort the two separate images so they align much better.

thanks for the advice and suggestions. I dont have a program that could merge like that but I might be able to get someone to do it for me. If I ever get back there I'll take another lens too.

It's no big deal...if you take the snapshot with you and equalize the field of view and angle of view when you take the shot.

I'm not gonna lie... it doesn't even look like you TRIED... It's pretty clear how this shot needs to be taken. Way closer the the house and from a lower vantage point. You ask us "how's it done" but I really hope you already knew the answer. You didn't have the right lens or placement, plain and simple.

Also, I agree with the merging of 2 shots.

Remember, the larger the number the less light it will let in. So, you will lose depth of field. You actually want to go the other way with it. To start.

You will also need to be off to the right just a bit. You can see where the rail is running off to the left in the old photo and straight on in the new photo.

ewheeler20 wrote in post #13515626
I'm not gonna lie... it doesn't even look like you TRIED... It's pretty clear how this shot needs to be taken. Way closer the the house and from a lower vantage point. You ask us "how's it done" but I really hope you already knew the answer. You didn't have the right lens or placement, plain and simple.

Also, I agree with the merging of 2 shots.

I've already said I know I failed miserably, but I promise you I tried to line it up, getting closer with the only lens I had wouldn't have worked because the building would have appeared even bigger than it was. I would've needed to get further away, but I couldn't because there was a huge drop off the roadside. I think I needed a wider angle lens, and then I could've got closer and a bit more to the right. The 50mm was wrong, but it was all I had.
I took this pic at f/22, I tried several but that had the background the most in focus.

of course you needed a wider angle lens.

I guess im just not sure why you are asking everybody here "how's it's done"? You had the 50mm and that was the wrong lens. You knew it was the wrong lens, and you knew you couldn't get the correct vantage point (backing up would not have worked even if you did have the room to do so). So, what are you asking us to figure out? How to buy an UWA lens?

ewheeler20 wrote in post #13516524
of course you needed a wider angle lens.

I guess im just not sure why you are asking everybody here "how's it's done"? You had the 50mm and that was the wrong lens. You knew it was the wrong lens, and you knew you couldn't get the correct vantage point (backing up would not have worked even if you did have the room to do so). So, what are you asking us to figure out? How to buy an UWA lens?

Ummmm, I didn't know it was the wrong lens until I tried it. To get to this place is a 2 1/2 hour drive over corrugated potholed dirt roads, it's not just down the street from me. I'd never tried to take a photo like that before, I had no idea the 50m would be wrong until I tried it. And what I was asking was how do you get both in focus, I'd already made it clear I knew I'd stuffed up the lens, did you actually read my first post?
here's the quote " The other problem I had was focus, I tried various f stops up to f22 but either one or the other was out of focus. I feel sure I've seen these photos were both are sharp." That's the main thing I wanted to know.
If my question bugs you, bugger off, dont waste your time, cause you haven't answered my question, others have though and I thank them.

Most of the shots you have seen have been photoshopped. They take a photo of the now and a photo of the then and merge them together,

Your best chance of doing it on site is with a point and shoot.

Whippeticious wrote in post #13512251
I know I didn't line it up properly but the road dropped away and I couldn't get far enough back to make them line up.

This is not correct. Just backing up (if you could) would not have solved the problem.

ewheeler20 wrote in post #13519540
This is not correct. Just backing up (if you could) would not have solved the problem.

I've got the answer I needed from others, give it a rest, go walk the dog or take some photos, you aren't contributing anything useful here. thanks....for nothing.