Reproductions

Spirit of South Carolina, Charleston Harbor, SC  -  2013

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photography has come a long way since the 19th century. Most would say it's better today, and I would certainly agree. Still, there's something about the look of vintage photos that continues to appeal to viewers today, so much so that various software have been developed to reproduce the "look" of 19th century photos. There are even some who still use the original processes of that era to get an even more realistic looking product. To each his own; I'll stick with the modern digital processes.

Ship builders seem to like reproductions too. This tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina, was launched in 2007 and serves as a sailing school vessel in Charleston harbor. The ship is reminiscent of the Francis Elizabeth, a schooner built in Charleston in 1879. The Spirit of South Carolina was built in the traditional manner with woods and rigging typically used in the late 19th century. However, for safety, the ship is equipped with two diesel engines, and modern electronic communication and navigational equipment. Is that cheating? No more than photographing it with a digital camera and producing the finished image on a computer with modern software. I think reproductions can honor the original without having to be an exact copy.