15 ‘Then And Now’ Pics That Show How Times Have Changed, Shared On ‘Old Photos In Real Life’

History has a lot to tell us, and photography offers a fascinating way to peek into the past. A single old pic, captured half a century ago, placed side by side with a contemporary one, can show big differences.

The subreddit  r/OldPhotosInRealLife does just that. It uses rephotography to show us old pictures of places, people, and moments from the past, combined with how they look today. Whether you're a history lover or a person captivated by the art of visual storytelling, you'll definitely want to explore our fresh compilation of these pictures from the online community.

15 PHOTOS

#1 Usually It’s The Other Way Around, But This Is So Nice! 1980s vs. 2022

Just like books, photography can take us on a journey through time. It's a relatively young art form, starting with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce's earliest photo in 1826 or 1827. If pictures from a hundred years ago reveal this much change, think about what we could uncover with images from the medieval or Stone Age periods.

#2 Rio De Janeiro's Reforestation

#3 Opening Up The Original River Through Gent, Belgium. 2009 vs. 2022

The 'Old Photos In Real Life' subreddit focuses on a particular style of photography called 'rephotography' or 'repeat photography'. It involves taking a picture at two different times in history and placing them next to each other. For instance, satellite images of a place before and after a flood, or photos of a person at various ages.

#4 The Same Whale Photographed 35 Years Apart! Both Photos Taken Off The Coast Of Mexico.⁣ The Recent Image Is From 2020, While The Old Photo Dates From 1985

#5 Sitting On Their 1947 Chevrolet In Front Of A Diner, And Then 63 Years Later

#6 1887 Queen Anne Victorian Brought Back In Remarkable Restoration (Photos)

Rephotography started in the natural sciences to reveal changes in the environment, like erosion or melting glaciers. It's also used in sociology to show how towns and cities transform. In education, rephotography can uncover changes in schools and campuses.

#7 Tried My Best To Find The Same Location. Satiam Wagon Road, Oregon. 2022 vs. Date Unknown. Road Was Used 1860-1930s

#8 Unlucky House In San Francisco, 1936 And 2022

#9 My Hometown Kharkov In Ukraine 2022-2022

Rephotography is cool because it can show how cities change, and can also demonstrate the effects of climate change. For example, a picture from 2004 might capture a boat sailing along a waterway, whereas a photo from 1899 taken at the same spot shows a massive glacier. On the edges of the waterway, there are now lots of green trees and bushes growing on what used to be a snowy rocky area a hundred years ago.

#10 Oxford

#11 Haarlemmerdijk Street In Amsterdam, Netherlands (1971 And 2020)

#12 So Refreshing. No Skyscrapers Or Parking Lots In Sight!!

Using old photos of Alaska as his guide, photographer Ron Karpilo embarked on a journey through mountains, rivers, and untamed terrain. His mission? To recreate views captured by photographers of the past, showing the impact of climate change. Through his lens, Karpilo captured the transformation of melting glaciers, plant life, and landscapes over time.

#13 Woodstock

#14 Acropolis Of Athens (Greece) 1851 vs. 2021

#15 An Abandoned Victorian Home Has Been Dramatically Restored In Rarden, Ohio, USA

In a conversation with 'Yale Climate Connections,' Karpilo shared his thoughts about using pictures to tell stories. He used beautiful pictures of Alaska's changing environment to keep people interested and curious. "You're showing pretty pictures of Alaska, and they get interested, and so it kind of hooks them and makes it so they can understand," Karpilo explained. This idea connects with a lot of people: "Everyone's taken pictures, everyone can see what's happening. And so it's really a tool that speaks to anyone, and that's my favorite part about it."