With that in mind, this week I have selected 26 photographic images with either deliberate or accidental flaws. Marks, scratches, poor processing, decay, age deterioration, repairs, cracks, tears, rips, and more. Here's to the beauty of imperfect images, and to the beauty to be found in imperfection.
Click on any image to find the source.
Total eclipse of moon on cracked glass plate
Photo by Miroslav Tichý
Mirror-reversed daguerreotype of the moon, attributed to John W. Draper, believed to have been taken March 26, 1840 from his rooftop observatory at New York University.
Torn and Marked Photograph of Hands
Pieced together photograph of young man
Repaired photograph
Retouched press photo
Badly deteriorated photo of 19th century gentleman
Artist unknown, possibly intentional manipulation of old photograph
Marked on photograph
Natural deterioration of photograph
Glass plate photograph of painting in extreme decay
Collection of John Foster
Nicely torn image of woman
Decayed or damaged negative from The Turconi Collection
Decayed or damaged negative from The Turconi Collection
Collection of John Foster
Haphazardly cut photo for publication
Effect of the heat!
Deteriorated photograph
Oddly deteriorated emulsion
Deteriorated glass plate of Missouri bridge
Collection of John Foster
Deteriorated glass plate of Missouri riverboat
Collection of John Foster
Intentionally damaged photo, collection of © Nick Osborne, The Boat Lullabies
Intentionally damaged photo, collection of © Nick Osborne, The Boat Lullabies
Deteriorated photo, collection of © Nick Osborne, The Boat Lullabies
Extremely damaged photo, collection of © Nick Osborne, The Boat Lullabies
