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Preserve Your Past - restoration, preservation, archiving service Restoration of a photograph stuck to broken glass. Preserve Your Past New York

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Young aviators stand smiling  in front of an airplane made of canvas and wood, posing for a handshake with a mayor of the town where their flying machine made a landing. The Apollo 8 spaceship surges into the sky amid fire and smoke. A few lines of faded handwriting on a worn-out paper declare that a soldier has been honorably discharged from the Union Army for which he volunteered in 1862 at the age of 15. Two grizzled combat engineers from General Patton’s Ghost Army are driving a truck on the way to the Rhine. A Holocaust survivor stands in a silent prayer touching The Western Wall.

Those and many other photographs and documents were brought to Sebastian Wintermute’s Preserve Your Past studio to be restored by the local residents, others were sent in from as far away as Hawaii. Many were lovingly kept in family albums, passed from one generation to the next. Others were found in dusty attics and dirty basements. However, all of them contain great personal value as well as a visual history of people, their families and the country as a whole.

 

Preserve Your Past was founded in 2002 by Sebastian Wintermute, who recognized that each year, countless valuable photographs filled with personal and sentimental significance, as well as the visual history of families and nations, are at risk of fading away. Driven by a strong passion for history, especially family history, Sebastian utilized his skills and knowledge in photography, restoration, conservation, and photo retouching to assist those who lacked access to museum-based conservation services, enabling them to preserve their visual heritage for future generations.

Due to his exceptional talent, high-quality work, and meticulous attention to detail, Sebastian gradually earned the trust of not only individual clients across the nation but also some of the most esteemed companies and organizations, establishing himself as one of the foremost photo restoration experts in the country. He is often sought after to provide his expertise on projects involving rare, antique, and unique photographs and images for various media, including publishing, film, and television.

Sebastian Wintermute was credited with restoring many historically and personally important photographs that appeared in books, publications, documentary films, and programs, notably:

The list of some of the former and present clients includes:

             and many other renowned companies and institutions.

Sebastian’s skills, knowledge and dedication made him a true expert in the field of photo restoration, while his deep knowledge and passion for history often turns seemingly simple restoration project into a fascinating journey of discovery of forgotten names, places and events.

 

When he is not busy restoring faded snapshots or carefully retouching and colorizing photographs of world statesmen, Sebastian volunteers his time and skills at New York's South Street Seaport Museum assisting in restoration, preservation, and maintains of sailing ship Wavertree, schooner Pioneer and tugboat W.O. Decker, educating museum visitors on history, environment, and development of New York City, and participating in programs dedicated to preservation of New York Waterfront.

 

 

 
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