Colourised photos bring World War II’s famous Blitz spirit to life… from Christmas in a bomb shelter to a quiet cuppa in the rubble
The historic black and white photos have been brought to life with vivid retouching
JAW-DROPPING snaps of the UK during the Blitz have been brought to life through vivid colourisation.
The stunning images bring Britain’s famous World War II spirit to life as the nation rallied in the face of terror.
From a milkman continuing his round despite the trail of destruction, to a woman sipping on a cuppa amidst the carnage, the photographs encapsulate British strength.
Others show families celebrating Christmas in a festively-decorated underground shelter and survivors huddling together.
The snaps also highlight the extent of the damage caused by the air raids, including one of men looking into the wreckage on Elephant and Castle road in London.
The Blitz lasted for eight months from September 1940 to May 1941.
Tragically, the raids by Nazi Germany killed 43,000 civilians.
Royston Leonard, from Cardiff, Wales, is the man who brought these incredible photos to life.
The 54-year-old electrician explained what inspired him to take on the exciting project.
He said: “The Blitz was a very hard time when life still carried on around the country.
“The pictures show that community is all that matters, not buildings or material things.
“Their message is that the more people try to destroy us, the more we will smile and carry on.”
Since taking on the editing projects, Royston believes the work has helped improve his own photography skills.
He revealed: “I learned colourisation by trying out ideas by myself.
“I have learned so much from colourising, I feel it has helped my photography along the way.”
He added: “The message is already there for all to see in the pictures themselves, but I do feel that colourisation helps the younger generation to understand that what happened was real.
“I love giving more life to the pictures and I think that colour improves the story that the photographs tell.”
Royston isn’t the first to bring colour to historic black-and-white photos.
Artist Frederic Duirez brought trench warfare in World War One to life in vivid colour.
And stunning retouched postcards from 1890 captured life in the seaside towns and ruined castles of Scotland in the Victorian age.