These are my Grandfather Fred’s medals from the Great War and World War II. From left to right they are his 1914/15 Star, awarded for service with the Territorials at Gallipoli; the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service with the RFC in Egypt; the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal and a Long Service Medal for the National Fire Brigade Service – during World War II Fred fought the fires at Southampton and Portsmouth blitzes.
The medals are in much better condition than they appear here. They are laid on top of a December 1914 copy of The Sphere illustrated newspaper. The magazine is open at a page displaying the lyrics for It’s a long way to Tipperary, written and composed that same year by Jack Judge and Harry Williams. The linear light blended texture which provides the slightly gruesome overtones is Coffee 6208 courtesy of Leanne Cole Photography.
(click on the image to enlarge)
northumbrian : light 
I love these textures that Leanne Cole and Public domain textures supply us with.. They really alter a photo and give our pictures a whole new dimension.
I like the element of surprise – overlay a texture and then start cycling through the blending modes; it can be surprising what turns up 🙂
This is wonderful… and very beautiful.
I can only imagine how proud you must be of these medals from your grandfather.
Thank you for sharing this, Robin.
Many thanks Malin – yes, you are right, he is my favourite relative by some margin. He was in the army, the very early air force, a fireman, a mechanic, an ambulance driver, a bus driver and he used to race cars and motorbikes. A very full life indeed.
A hero. 🙂
Great composite image, Robin, works really well…. I have been meaning to do some experiments along these lines, it’s got relegated to the “one day” pile!
Thanks Sue – I only got round to it because I am not inclined to go outside at the moment; I managed my weekly dose of exercise on the golf course yesterday – wet, windy and ruddy perishing 😦
I’m staying indoors…not good for the fitness!
I love these montage still-life shots of yours. Did you use the same set up as before?
Wonderfully vintage feeling, and what a great array of medals.
Yup, the PZO Warszawa UR9711 Copying Stand strikes again 🙂
Great to give it a second outing 🙂
That is so cool that you have those.
I am very lucky, I have quite a collection of his photographs, stripes, badges and other memorabilia.
Your grandfather would have been thrilled to know that you honored him in such a beautiful way. I really like the photo effect!
Many thanks, he was the perfect granddad – I can conjure him up with the smell from Three Nuns pipe tobacco and Brylcreem.
great processing
Thanks Ian, I enjoyed doing that one.
An elegant tribute to your grandfather. Love that texture!
Thanks Julie – surprising result bearing in mind the texture is a picture of frothy coffee.
This is terrific-very nice work!
Many thanks, much appreciated. Strange to think of those hard-won medals being shown around the world using technology my grandfather could not begin to imagine.
Very cool shot!
Many thanks, I enjoyed doing that one.
It’s good that you have the medals. I don’t know what happened to Gt Uncle Giles’s.
Yes, they are quite a treasure. They are on display in our kitchen which I know sounds odd but my next post will show how (assuming I can get the lighting right).
Great post. My grandfather had all those first world war medals and his name was Fred as well !!
uncanny. I will have to get them out and put them on display now. Thankyou
I look forward to seeing your interpretation Craig – judging by your other iphoneography based posts it will be very interesting to see.