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Click here to download the RAK 2 photographer!
It’s easy!
Open the photo in the correct resolution screen for laptop, desktop computer, or smartphone. Right-click the photo and select ‘Set as desktop background’ from the shortcut menu. And then you’re done!
A freshly colored photo of the RAK 2 with Fritz von Opel. When press photographer Walter Gircke captured this moment of celebration, the grandson of the company’s founder had just reached a speed of 238 km / h on 23 May 1928 at the Avus Track in Berlin behind the wheel of the rocket-powered racer. The black and white photographer has been part of the Opel archive ever since. Leif Rohwedder took it some time to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the event. “We were inspired by colorist Marina AmaralSays Rohwedder, who is in charge of Visual Communications in the Opel Press Office. Brazilian artist Amaral began colorizing historical photos several years ago, leading the way into a worldwide trend.
Serious research
Plenty of historical research into the RAK 2 colorization process. Rohwedder explains, “We had to figure out, for example, the original color of the clothing. Newspaper reported Fritz von Opel was wearing a blue leather jacket and white pants. The hats worn by some of the spectators indicate that they were police officers. Rohwedder, who assembles the puzzle piece by piece, explains: “At that time, police would make dark blue uniforms,” so Rohwedder, who assembled the puzzle piece by piece. After completing his research, Rohwedder turned to photographer Axel Wierdemann for assistance. Wierdemann’s detailed digital work restored the original color. Opel first published the finished photograph in a press release and is now available for download here.
January 2019