35 votes

I found a hobby

Posted by EightRoundsRapid
Tags: photography, documentation, historic england, history, signage.ghost

For years people have been telling me I should get a hobby, something to occupy my mind with, something I enjoy.

I finally found one. I've always enjoyed aimlessly wondering about, seeing what I can see along the way, and now I have something specific to look out for on my aimless wanderings. It also helps document an aspect of our past that is rapidly disappearing as gentrification and redevelopment continues apace in all our urban and industrial areas.

The entry barrier is low as well. All you need is mobility of some form, and a camera capable of taking reasonably good images, something most smartphones have these days

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/ghost-signs/

7 comments

  1. JCAPER
    Link
    This sounds interesting, but it looks like that website is focused on UK only. Wonder if there could be enough interest to build a worldwide platform

    This sounds interesting, but it looks like that website is focused on UK only.

    Wonder if there could be enough interest to build a worldwide platform

    7 votes
  2. [6]
    boon
    Link
    I didn’t know these had a name! Love seeing these out and about while walking around, always a fun window into the past. Definitely going to keep a keener eye out for them in future.

    I didn’t know these had a name! Love seeing these out and about while walking around, always a fun window into the past.

    Definitely going to keep a keener eye out for them in future.

    4 votes
    1. [5]
      EightRoundsRapid
      Link Parent
      I've only been doing this for a week or so, and now that I'm actively looking for them I see more than realised were still visible, and sadly, a lot of illegible, barely discernable unrecorded...

      I've only been doing this for a week or so, and now that I'm actively looking for them I see more than realised were still visible, and sadly, a lot of illegible, barely discernable unrecorded traces of long gone signage.

      3 votes
      1. [4]
        g33kphr33k
        Link Parent
        What's the chance of getting AI to rebuild the old ones to see how they'd have looked in their prime? Maybe people that like doing photo restoration could get involved, I'm sure there are loads of...

        What's the chance of getting AI to rebuild the old ones to see how they'd have looked in their prime?

        Maybe people that like doing photo restoration could get involved, I'm sure there are loads of people who'd find it fascinating and would do this in their spare time. Definitely a project someone might want to take on in the future.

        Just thinking of having side by side images so people could see how they are today (when pic was taken) Vs how they would have looked.

        Great hobby!

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          EightRoundsRapid
          Link Parent
          What I know about AI could be written on the back of a postage stamp, but without any context I don't think there's much that could be done with this. I couldn't find any info on what was here...

          What I know about AI could be written on the back of a postage stamp, but without any context I don't think there's much that could be done with this. I couldn't find any info on what was here before it converted into housing. I suspect it was a local general goods shop, but who knows.

          https://i.imgur.com/xgNQaqo.jpg

          2 votes
          1. g33kphr33k
            Link Parent
            Without an older photo there's nothing that could reconstruct that.

            Without an older photo there's nothing that could reconstruct that.

            1 vote
        2. oniony
          Link Parent
          Or you could go to your local library and look in the local interest section.

          Or you could go to your local library and look in the local interest section.

          1 vote