Spread the love

Photographs, in a way, make time travel possible. They’re our portals to the past that instantly take us back to a precise moment preserved forever.

These images also capture a person’s evolution as years pass. Digital creator Ard Gelnick has been doing this for a while, collecting “then and now” pictures of celebrities and pasting them side-by-side.

His Instagram archive consists of stills of A-list actors like Bruce Willis and Heath Ledger and renowned musicians like Lady Gaga and Tracey Chapman.

If you enjoyed our previous pieces covering Gelnick’s photos, you may like this one, too.

#1 Heath Ledger

Image credits: ardgelinck

#2 David Beckham

Image credits: ardgelinck

#3 Madonna

Image credits: ardgelinck

Before-and-after photos like the ones on this list show progress, how ever much of it happened. In 2015, Vox featured a similar gallery that showed the different transformations of landscapes around the world.

These are NASA-captured satellite photos in a series titled “Images of Change.” One picture shows the state of Rondônia in Western Brazil between 1975 and 2009 when vast forest lands were turned into farms and pastures.

#4 Bruce Willis

Image credits: ardgelinck

#5 Gerard Ekdom

Image credits: ardgelinck

#6 Eddie Murphy

Image credits: ardgelinck

Another photo shows the transformation of Cancún, Mexico, between 1979 and 2009. The before-and-after pictures show the rapid urbanization after the city became a tourist hotspot in the ‘70s.

However, the economic boom from tourism came at a cost, as the expansion and gentrification led to pollution and loss of diversity.

#7 Dwayne Johnson

Image credits: ardgelinck

#8 George Michael

Image credits: ardgelinck

#9 Roger Federer

Image credits: ardgelinck

Before and after photos may indicate advancement but may also serve as harsh reminders. According to National Eating Disorders Association director Chelsea Kronengold, it may trigger an unhealthy comparison, especially among those with body dysmorphia issues.

“The impact of before and after photos lend to social and body comparisons, which can cause harm to anyone — especially people struggling with body image and eating concerns,” Kronengold told HuffPost.

#10 Jimmy Fallon

Image credits: ardgelinck

#11 John Travolta

Image credits: ardgelinck

#12 Anthony Michael Hall

Image credits: ardgelinck

However, before-and-after photos aren’t all bad. As entrepreneur and Social Triggers founder Derek Halpern points out, they can also be a way of creating connections with people.

“Showing your prospects where others came from and where they are now helps prove to them, ‘this can work for you, too,’” he stated.

#13 Kurt Cobain

Image credits: ardgelinck

#14 Mr. Al Pacino

Image credits: ardgelinck

#15 Rafael Nadal

Image credits: ardgelinck

What about you, dear readers? What do you think about these before and after photos? How much have these celebrities evolved over the years? We’d love to know your thoughts!