Amazing color photos from WWI

[Jamdin]

The process is called Autochrome:

"The Autochrome was patented on 17 December 1903 but not unveiled to the Academy of Science until 30 May 1904, which is why its centennial is celebrated in 2004.
The start of the 20th century saw thousands of photographs being taken all over the world using this transparency process, which Louis Lumière considered to be his masterpiece.
This open-air exhibition features largesize reproductions of many Autochromes, all of which are from the original Lumière Collection, with the aim of making them accessible to the general public. The photographs include a variety of family scenes and also a number of shots given to Louis Lumière by Autochrome-using friends, such as pictures of the Great War taken by Jean-Baptiste Tournassoud."

Full article and pictures are here

 

[johnsemlak]

Thanks for the info Jamdin

I saw an exhibition of color photos taken around the turn of the century by a man who travelled all over Russia (including to places like Uzbekistan and the Caucuses). For me, it was a stunning esperience to see color photos from that era, especially of people wearing period clothing and such. I was so used to seeing such images in B&W, that the color photos were rather breathtaking.

 

[domino]

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/ has several taken around the same time, but these are from Russia.

I especially like this one. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/images/p87-6040.jpg It's so vibrant.

And is what Johnselmak is talking about.

 

[Krieg]

Those are almost on par with some modern digital cameras...

They look to have almost as vibrant color as some modern tv shows..... and digital cameras.....

*blink* *blink* Umm, am I missing something here?

 

[domino]

*blink* *blink* Umm, am I missing something here?

Yes. The fact that some of these photos are nearly a century old.

 

[Krieg]

Yes. The fact that some of these photos are nearly a century old.

No I got that quite clearly, what I don't get is the hyperbole in describing them.

The color saturation and resolution is nowhere close to a modern digital camera.

If the posters were referring to a 6 y/o <1M Pixel camera then there might be a point of comparison, but beyond that it is nowhere remotely close to being apt.

 

[domino]

Well, when compared to decades old film photos, 6 year old digital cameras are still pretty modern.

 

[Krieg]

Well, when compared to decades old film photos, 6 year old digital cameras are still pretty modern.

I don't agree with that at all. The output of a 6 y/o digital camera was very primitive when compared to the capability of film even 3/4 of a century ago.

What do you think Ansel Adams work would have looked like if done on a sub 1M pixel digital camera?