Mystery Picture 091109

You may have missed it because the original post was awhile ago, but Karen has been an awesome gumshoe tracking down information about the people in the portraits in Mystery Picture 091004. Check it out when you have a chance!

Continuing the portrait theme we've pursued lately, today we have a bunch of portraits that I know nothing about.








It's not exactly true that I know nothing about these pictures. The first one said "Ila Terry" on it, but I don't know much about Ila. She was in a mystery picture with Grandpa last week, but it looks like I may have gotten her name wrong. I wrote the names in that mystery picture as "Howard, Ila, Terry" since there are three people in the picture. In light of today's picture, perhaps it should be written "Howard, Ila Terry" with a third, unnamed person in the background? Thoughts?

correction

"Mom had fallen and couldn't get up. Alas the old cliché in play.

Update:  Today, when I recited my beautifully well crafted tongue-in-cheek-double-entantre to mom, she was a bit taken back by the word "alas".  So we  tried to find a substitute. But alas, everything we tried seemed to ruin the tone and funny factor...

After several minutes of working with it we came up with a slight change in tense and punctuation that we could both agree on... and then we proceeded to giggle...a lot!

Mom had fallen and couldn't get up; alas the old cliche' still stands. 

 (go ahead...giggle away, you have permission)

Cleaning Up Old Pictures

Today's school portraits of Tom included one very cute shot of him in second grade from 1952.


The picture has some obvious bending and cracking in it, but these are consistent with the age of the photo and -- at least IMHO -- do not distract from the portrait. The original picture, however, needed lots of work to look this good. Here is the original:

I picked this picture for more aggressive image editing than I typically use because it provides some good examples of how to clean up an old picture. All of these steps were done in Photoshop Elements 5, an older version of the program that I have and use for almost all of my editing. Note that I always copy the image to a new file before editing so that I do not mess up the original image.

Here are the steps I took to prepare this picture of Tom.

1. I cropped the picture very tight around Tom to 1) maximize the amount of space showing Tom and minimize the amount showing the background, 2) eliminate as much writing as possible from the top, and 3) eliminate the vertical line on the left side.
2. I cropped the picture to a 3x4 ratio, a standard ratio I use for almost all of the portraits, to provide a consistent look.
3. I resized the image to 450x600 pixels because I typically limit the largest size of the image to 600. I know this is small, but I do it this way because 1) the images take up less space on the blog and load faster, 2) this is the standard size I use, and 3) I have maintained the original in its full size for when I need the larger image.
4. I used Easy.Filter to improve the image contrast, using the automatic setting for the shadows (dark portions) and manually setting the highlights (light portions) to not blow out too many details.
5. I used automatic sharpening in Photoshop.
6. I used the spot healing brush tool in Photoshop to eliminate the most glaring cracks, marks, and writing on the image. This tool tries to match the area I select on an image with the surrounding parts of the image, making the cracks, marks, and writing less obvious. At this stage I was more aggressive than usual because there were no cracks across the face, which are more difficult to remove.
   
7. I saved the edited image as a highest quality JPG file to ensure that it looked good when loaded. The highest quality setting produces larger files than a lower quality setting, but with the images being small the file size is also pretty small.

And that's it! I posted the pictures here so that you can see the technique I use. Perhaps you will learn something about cleaning up old pictures or maybe even -- should I be so lucky -- you will share some of your techniques with me.

If you open both images in two separate browser tabs and click back and forth between them, you can see the differences between them more easily.

School Portrait - Tom

Continuing our look at school portraits, which previously featured Lori, Kent, and Craig, as well as some non-school portraits of Grandpa, GAP now presents Tom. I included the information I have from the pictures, and I tried to put them in the correct order. Please let me know if I got anything wrong.

1950 - Kindergarten (Ephraim, Utah)


Unknown


1952 - Second grade (Davis, California)


Third grade (Berkeley, California)


Fourth grade (Provo, Utah)


Fifth grade


Unknown


Unknown


Some of these pictures are in pretty rough shape, but the fashion diversity (which, incidentally, I think is very cool) shines right through. The last one was a bit of a mystery because the picture was labeled Joe, which didn't seem right to me. Several people told me it was Tom (Thanks Karla, Shari, and Ellen!), so I put it here.

Send in your current (or past) school portraits, and we will feature them on GAP.

Updates on Grandma and Grandpa

Ellen posted a medical update on Stutz Barn about Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandma and Grandpa have each had their share of medical excitement in the last few weeks. First, Grandma had that blood clot in her leg in October which required surgery. Although she is recovering well, she is suffering from sharp constant pain in her back which we believe is shingles. About all that the doctors can do for her is prescribe pain pills which help somewhat. Then Grandpa had an episode that sent him to the hospital this week. He was lethargic and sleepy all day on Wednesday. Things only got worse as the day went on. He wasn't eating or speaking and finally Grandma couldn't get him to respond at all. He was basically unconscious. When one of Grandma's nurses came by that evening, she called Craig and the paramedics and they took him to the hospital. His blood pressure was very low and he was dehydrated. They pumped some fluids into him by IV and he came around, perked up and wanted to go home. They released him that night and when I saw him the next morning he was back to normal. Grandpa and Grandma are both aging but just keep on going. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.

Susan provides another update from today on her blog, too.

dad called tom; tom called me; i called ellen; ellen called craig; craig called priscilla; priscilla called ellen; ellen called me back; i called tom back; tom called dad back; priscilla went over for the speedy rescue.

I exited off the gridlocked southbound freeway system. Tom continued with plans to take Wendy to the airport. Ellen continued doing Ellen-early-thanksgiving-family-dinner-farewell-things. Craig left work early to meet up with Priscilla. Priscilla, got Mom up off the floor and into bed where at last notification she was resting.

Mom had fallen and couldn't get up. Alas the old cliché in play.

Thank you for the updates, Ellen and Susan!

Non-Mystery Picture 091105

Keeping with the theme of family portraits, today we have portraits of Grandpa. We are not calling these school portraits for the simple reason that none of them appear to be school portraits. On the other hand, I don't know anything about the pictures, so who knows? Let's enjoy them -- presented in no particular order -- because they are very cool.















If you have any theories about these pictures -- such as whose hand is covering Grandpa's face or why there are so many portraits -- I would love to hear them.

If you have a favorite, drop a line into the comments. My favorite is the third to the last, the one with the Mona Lisa smile.

Itching for Names

This sounds desperate -- and it is -- but I would love to post a new group photo. I've been waiting for names to the last one, to no avail. I'll wait a month and then give up. If you know any of the names, send them in, pretty please.

Mystery Picture 091104

Today's mystery pictures have Ellen and John at Turtle Hills in slides developed in April 1971.

Where is Turtle Hills? What were they doing there?

UPDATE

John gives us a bunch of great background for these pictures in the comments.

Turtle Hills: Eastern Utah, although I think the name is one created at the time by grandpa. We were likely there doing the same thing we did hundreds of times, we were out collecting Atriplex.

Dad and Mom (grandparents) tried hard to make these outings fun for all of us. There are some other pictures in this series taken to give the impression that we were holding the moon in our hands.... Grandpa's photography tricks (old school).

Man alive, where do I begin! First thing first -- thanks to John for the comment. I have seen lots of atriplex pictures and will be sure to post some more here. Next, I have to find the other pictures with them holding the moon! Finally, holding the moon is a great old school example of making distant objects (the moon) look closer to near objects (the kids). I don't think I've heard Grandpa called "old school" before, but it sounds just right.

John then sent some slides that include a picture of him holding the moon, which is posted and discussed at Mystery Picture 091104 - Revisited.

School Portrait - Craig

Continuing our look at school portraits, which previously featured Lori and Kent, GAP now presents Craig. I included the information I have from the pictures, and I tried to put them in the correct order. Please let me know if I got anything wrong.

1948 - Kindergarten (Ephraim, Utah)

1949 - First grade (Ephraim, Utah)

1950 - Second grade

Sixth grade (Provo, Utah)

Eighth Grade

Some of these pictures could use additional information. As with Kent's portraits, I also wonder if -- based on the words on the last one -- there is another portrait of Craig from the same year.

Send in your current (or past) school portraits, and we will feature them on GAP.

Mystery Picture 091103

Do you know anything about this picture? Tell me!

This picture is a classic. Just a guess here, but that looks like Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier Park. I do not recognize the biker.

UPDATE

Ellen comments, "Looks like Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon to me. But I don't recognize the biker either." Thanks, Ellen!

Found On The Interwebs - Bishop Stutz

For our second FOTI installment we have another article contributed by Ellen to the Mormon Times, this one from September 25, 2008, entitled 3 still share bond 45 years later.

It was Oct. 13, 1963.

President David O. McKay was at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Beatles would soon appear on the "Ed Sullivan Show," and President John F. Kennedy would shortly make his fateful trip to Dallas, Texas.

And in the Edgemont 1st Ward in Provo, Utah, a new bishopric was being called. Brother Howard Stutz was sustained as bishop, and sustained as his counselors were Brothers Earl Wright and Shafter Bown. They served together until June 1967.

Now, 45 years later, on Sept. 7, 2008, these three men held a reunion at the home of Bishop Stutz, who was celebrating his 90th birthday.

Although their bodies are older and their hair is now white, the former bishopric still shares the same love for each other and the same devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ that they exhibited nearly a half-century ago. The old Edgemont 1st Ward has changed completely. What was once farmland and quiet country roads now resembles a bustling city with beautiful homes and thriving retail businesses. The ward in which these men served has been divided and divided and divided again and today encompasses two stakes, but Stutz's home still remains in the heart of the intact Edgemont 1st Ward.

It was a joyous time of remembrance for the former bishopric. Old newsletters were read and former auxiliary presidencies were remembered and praised.

Pictures were shared of ward outings and service projects and Scout camps long since forgotten. Testimonies were borne of miraculous priesthood blessings given to members of the ward and of the promises fulfilled.

The spirit of the evening was reminiscent of the joyful meeting described in the Book of Mormon as Alma met the sons of Mosiah in the wilderness after many years of serving as missionaries. "Therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently that they might know the word of God" (Alma17:2).

At the end of the evening, love was expressed and prayers were offered as the former bishop and counselors bid each other farewell. Although they now live miles apart, their service in the church formed a bond among them and their families that will remain strong forever.

Thanks for the story, Ellen!

I believe this picture is of the bishopric, although it would be great if anyone could match the names to the faces.

UPDATE

In the comments, John provides some names for the picture.

Pictured left toe right
Back row: Dale Haws, Jack Ashton, ? Stubbs, Verl Smith, ? Stacey.
Front row: Earl Wright, Howard Stutz, Shafter Bown.

Thanks for the names, John!

School Portrait - Kent

GAP began reviewing school portraits a few days ago with Lori, and now continues with Kent. I included the information I have from the pictures, and I tried to put them in the correct order. Please let me know if I got anything wrong.

1948 - First grade (Ephraim, Utah)

1949 - Second grade (Ephraim, Utah)

1950 - Third grade (Ephraim, Utah)

1952 - Fifth grade (Davis, California)

1953 - Sixth grade (Berkeley, California)

Unknown

These are all beautiful portraits, but I would really like to identify the last one. Does anyone have ideas? I also wonder if -- based on the words on the last one -- there is another portrait of Kent from the same year.

Send in your current (or past) school portraits, and we will feature them on GAP.

UPDATE

James writes in the comments that he is checking with Janet (his grandmother, Kent's wife, and my aunt) about the last picture. Perhaps he can get the time and place information for it? James, please say hello to Janet for me!

Mystery Picture 091102

"Howard, Ila, Terry" is caption on this picture. But where and when was it taken?


Bonus question -- What is the name of the mountain in the background?

UPDATE

I look at this post some more and include a more detailed image of the unnamed boy in Mystery Picture 091102 - Revisited.

Ellen provides some great background information from Grandma's book.

From "All You Immigrants" (Grandma Stutz's history) she writes: "Billy Heck was the name of our first home. It was a trailer house under an apple tree on 2nd North, 2nd West in Provo. It belonged to Ira and Eva Terry. Ira and Eva had more or less adopted Howard during his years at BYU and were almost like second parents to him. He had lived in the trailer house during his junior year." I don't think that this is a picture of "Billy Heck," but it is definately Provo and they are having a heck of a lot of fun.

Thanks, Ellen! This helps understand both this picture and the first portrait in Mystery Picture 091109. I am presuming that Ila = Ira due to poor reading on my part of the names on the pictures. Hopefully, GAP will incorporate more of Grandma's writings in the future. Does anyone want to help with this?

Ellen also writes, "Oh, and the bonus question - the name of the mountain in the background is unofficially 'y-Mount.' Is there another name?" AFAIK, Y Mountain is its name. Great job!

Mystery Picture 091101

Do you know anything about this picture? Tell me!

Like the mystery picture from the beginning of last month, I suspect this one is easy to recognize if you've been there.

UPDATE

John writes in the comments, "Taken at the Salt Lake Tabernacle but I don't recognize the individuals." Thanks, John! I tried identifying the monument behind them, but had no luck after a quick search. Any ideas?