Using AI to identify photos.

I inherited this unnamed photograph from my father, who in turn inherited it from my grandmother, Pieteriza Cilliers van Ellewee. You can read more about the photo here.
I requested additional details and a date for the picture from ChatGPT.
I made use of the free edition.

It was a really fast response.

 🗓️ Dating the Photo Based on your grandmother’s birth in 1901, and the visual clues in the photo, the school photo most likely dates from around 1908 to 1912, possibly as early as 1905. Here’s why: 🔍 Visual & Historical Clues
📚 Setting & Chalkboard: The writing on the back wall says “A III School Mesklip” (or possibly “A IIIe klas” — which would be “Standard III”, or grade 5 in the old Cape Colony school system). The rough plaster wall and bare ground are typical of rural Cape Province school buildings in the early 1900s. “Mesklip” likely refers to Matzikama region, possibly near Vanrhynsdorp, which fits beautifully with your family’s history.
👗 Clothing Styles: The girls’ dresses, with high necklines, long sleeves, and bows, are typical of 1900–1912. Boys wear a mix of Norfolk jackets, sailor collars, and short pants — all popular before WWI. Hair is neatly parted and long on the girls, short and slicked on the boys — another early Edwardian trend.
🪑 Photographic Style & Format: The sepia tone and the cabinet card-style mount (6½” × 4″) were standard in late 1800s to early 1900s. The mounting style suggests this was a studio photographer’s field visit or a photo professionally developed offsite. 🇿🇦 Cape Colony Education Context In 1905, the Cape Education Department was expanding formal schooling in rural areas like Vanrhynsdorp. By 1907–1910, even smaller farm schools were photographing their pupils, especially around standard III–V.
✅ Final Estimation:
📅 Circa 1908–1912, likely taken in the Mesklip (or Masklip) area near Vanrhynsdorp, at a rural school where your grandmother may have been a student or just too young to attend. I've added more images along with really useful descriptions. I think it's a very helpful tool.

RELATED: 

ChatGPT: AI-Powered Genealogy – See Your Images Differently Gen-AI and Genealogy Made SimpleOrphan Photo/Onbekende foto.

P.S. My signature was made with ChatGPT.

Print or save a webpage.

You can print or save any post from a webpage that you find useful in a PDF format using the free website  Printfriendly. This is great for recipes.

 

The post I used as an example is Genealogy Links

You can edit the post by removing photos, and changing font size,  before you print, save or email the page.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJQtWVRglX8?si=zTvcpAtbR5akhc7c]

How to convert any webpage to a print-friendly PDF

You will have an option to email, save as a PDF, or print the post. Click the "Download" button after selecting PDF and the file will be saved to your computer.

By selecting Print and saving as PDF, users of Google Chrome can now save any page as a PDF

You can also use the PRINTFRIENDLY Chrome Extension for Printing and Converting Web Pages to PDFs

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Genealogy Links

Tokeloshe ©

Genealogy do-over.

 

What better way to start the new year than with a genealogy do-over, especially with the chilly weather we have been having?

Thomas MacEntee - My Genealogy Do-Over.

I've made a useful Google Sheets chart to monitor the development of my family history research. Excel can also be used for this. The spreadsheet displays some of the genealogical records I own for individuals in my family tree. Seeing what I still need and using this chart during free campaigns, like Ancestry's free Remembrance Day search, is quite helpful. Easily sharing the material with family and having access to it across several devices are just a couple of the benefits.

An easy Google docs tutorial for family history work [2022]

I've included links to online documents, family trees, websites, etc. To save space, I've inserted comments. You can download a copy of the template here to edit or print for personnel use only.

Related:

Genealogy do-over group on Facebook, look in the files for free PDFs.

Google Sheets: Getting Started

Ancestry Free Charts and Forms

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Organizing family photos.

Familie fotos organisasie

Tokeloshe©

PhotoRoom Fun

Using the free version of Photoroom app, I had more fun changing backdrops to the original photos. I enjoy dressing up as different characters with my handmade books and hats.

 

Photoroom Fun.
Watch on YouTube.
   

The original background of the photo was replaced using the free Photoroom app.

 

PhotoRoom Ballet 
Watch on YouTube

The original background of the photos was replaced using the free Photoroom app. Most of these photos were restored and coloured by Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures. (a Facebook group)

Making the composites. I downloaded two different PNG images with a transparent background using the Photoroom app I opened a canvas in Gimp, a free image editor and copied and pasted the images on the canvas.

The original background of the photo was replaced using the free Photoroom app Being able to take ballet lessons when I was around 6 years old was a great blessing for me. The Gardner Sisters, who taught the Royal Academy of Dancing Method in the Masonic Hall in Springs, which was located at the intersection of First Avenue and Seventh Street, were my initial instructors.

  

The original background of the photo was replaced using the free Photoroom app

Russian Ballet Trio, Springs Musical festival, Springs, South Africa 1964. My outfit was sewn by my mother, which was quite an accomplishment because her old sewing machine was incapable of doing zigzag. We rented boots and the skirt was red. Dad used his 1956 Kodak camera to snap the pictures. I also own an 8 mm film in colour that shows the colors of the original costumes.

   

The original background was replaced using the free Photoroom app. Recreating Old Fashioned Portraits. Click above for more information.

The original background was replaced using the free Photoroom app.
Recreating Old Fashioned Portraits. Click above for more information.

Related:

How to use PhotoRoom Step By Step Tutorial

How To Remove Unwanted Objects From Photos For Free | PhotoRoom Tutorial

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Halloween Photoshoot

TOKELOSHE ©

Preserving our past.

The Jumbl high-resolution digital scanner is new to me, and I'm happy with the outcome. It was not given as a complimentary scanner to use for testing and reviewing. This review is solely based on my own experience with the product. It is compact, quick to operate, and simple to understand.

Jumbl 22MP All In 1 Film & Slide Scanner w Speed

Use cotton gloves to handle the negatives and slides as little as possible; a brush is provided to wipe the negatives and slides. 

Restored and Colorized Family Photos Part 1

These are some of our family photos and Negatives restored and Coloured by Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures.  (Facebook group) Showing original negative or photo, restoration and different colours.

To take pictures, I placed the huge negatives atop a lightbox. The camera is mounted upside down over the lightbox. You can unscrew the plate at the end of the centre column, slide the tube out, reverse it and feed it through from underneath. We have a good camera and a lightbox, but some of the old negatives are thick, so that does not always work either.

Restored and Colorized Family Photos Part 2

These are some more of our family photos and Negatives restored and Coloured by Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures. (a Facebook group) 

Family Photos Restored by Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures.

My first scanner, an Epson Perfection 1260 Flatbed with a 35 mm slide and negative converter, is how I scanned the majority of the photos and negatives. Nevertheless, Windows regrettably no longer supports the drives. I currently use an Epson WF 3620, however, it isn't capable of scanning negatives.

This is an album of mine that has archival negatives within the sleeves. Negatives are also stored in boxes that I own.

Photos Restored by Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures. (Facebook group)

Digitizing Negatives Without A Scanner, Using A Digital Camera

How to Convert Negatives to Digital Pictures

Kodak Kiosks can scan negatives.

I think Drugstores and Camera stores can also scan negatives.

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A portable Lightbox.

Organizing and scanning Family Photos.

Klik hier vir Afrikaans.

Tokeloshe ©

Halloween photoshoot.

I am wearing my Voodoo hat and holding my Spells book, which I made.
 The original background was removed using the free Photoroom app.
I replaced it with a cobweb wallpaper which I found online.

I am holding a walking stick which a friend made. I opened the wallpaper in Gimp, a free image editor, after selecting the transparent background image in the Photoroom app. I also launched Gimp, picked my PNG image, and pasted it on top of the wallpaper.

Click to read more about the walking stick which a friend made.

Click to read more about my Voodoo hat.

Click to read more about my handmade Spells book.

The skull jewellery is plastic and from the dollar store.
The Voodoo doll was a thrift store find.
The background was replaced using the Photoroom app.

I am wearing my Steampunk Hat and holding my Steampunk Book, which I made.
The background was removed using the Photoroom app. I replaced the background with Steampunk wallpaper from Wallpaperset.

The background was replaced using the Photoroom app.

Click to read more about my Steampunk Hat.

Click to read more about the Steampunk Book, which I made. 

Click here for the Slideshow.

TOKELOSHE ©

Camper Electronics.

Black Bears on Vancouver Island.

Garmin dash cam footage we took of Black Bears on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada during our 2022 vacation. Hint; Note the timestamp while driving, when you want to download a video. You will need a card reader to download it.

My Tablet sleeve. Blog Disclaimer: Products mentioned on my blog are for information purposes only.

Some of the electronics in the camper. On the right in the red shell is a MotoMaster Eliminator 100 W Inverter,
There is an extension cord and double adapters in the green bag.

 

We are charging the camera battery in the truck using a MotoMaster Eliminator 100 W Inverter, available from Canadian Tire. We keep it in a hardshell case. We keep our phone chargers in the ruck to charge while travelling.

These are some of the Electronics we use.
Garmen G.P.S with Tripadvisor, Foursquare & charger. Cameras, equipment: tripod, lenses, Accessories, Chargers, etc. Laptop, bag, mouse & charger. Walkie-talkies and charger Phones, chargers and charger blocks. External hard-drive Extension cord Earbuds. Samsung Galaxy Tablet S3, sleeve, cable and charger. Generator and cables. USB Wall Chargers Dash camera USB Cords Small rechargeable USB Fan to fan flames. Double adapter. Reader, sleeve, charging cable and charger block Yamaha Generator. Lantern Headlamps, Flashlights and batteries Water pump

 

 We use a RIDGID X4 18-Volt Cordless Mini Radio to keep up to date with the weather forecasts, news, etc. It is compatible with all 18V RIDGID Batteries/tools. We also have a flashlight and a drill, which uses the same rechargeable battery, to lower and lift our camper’s stabilizers.

C-Tech Wireless Weather Station.

40 W Coleman Solar panel charges two deep cycle 6V camper batteries.

Bluetti Portable Power Station

We use it to charge our phones, laptop, tablet, cameras, radios, walkie-talkies, etc. while boondocking or travelling. It can also be used for powering a small fridge when car camping.  It has USB ports and power outlets. We can also plug in a 110 V electric heated seat cushion, electric blanket, etc. when needed. The Bluetti and accessories fit in an Orange shotgun ammo case, part of a set of three available from Bass Pro and Cabela’s.

BAGSMART Electronic Organizer, Travel Cable Organizer Double Layer Electronics Accessories Cases Portable for Tablet 7.9″, USB Drive, Cords,

BAGSMART Travel Universal Cable Organizer Electronics Accessories Cases Review

 

 Earbuds, D-Link card reader & cable, charger block,  SD cards, etc. Even though we can use the same chargers for some devices, it is easier to pack them all as it makes it easier to charge everything simultaneously.

   

 Tablet charger cable, Portable Power Bank & Cable, External Portable Hard Drive & Cable, Reader charger, etc. Stylis, is not shown. 

   

 I labelled the external hard drive, card reader and battery pack with instructions.

These are some of the Apps that we find helpful:

Tripadvisor

Google Maps

AB Wildfire Status,

Alberta Fire Bans

Avenza Maps: Offline Mapping

Canada Topo Maps

GPS Offline Maps & Navigation

Alberta Wildfire

Gaia GPS: Offroad Hiking Maps

Google Drive

Related:

Transfer Files to Your Tablet or Other Device

Foursquare and Trip Advisor on Garmin Drive 52

Plan your next road trip with Google Maps

How To Transfer Photos From Camera To Android Device

Use Google Drive files offline

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Camping Hacks, hints equipment.

TOKELOSHE ©

Favourite Bookmarks.

I recently made a private page on Google Sites., for my favourite bookmarks, which I find very handy. I can click on the Icons and it takes me to where I want to be. I can easily edit them and add or remove them as I wish.

What Is Google Sites and Why Use It?

There is a very good tutorial on YouTube on how to do this. Google Sites: Insert Social Media Buttons!!

This is the same way that I added social icons to my Google site. 

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A better Homepage. 

TOKELOSHE ©