Incredible!
Posted by James R. Rummel on February 25th, 2005 (All posts by James R. Rummel)
Here’s a webpage that claims to have color photos from WWI. It looks reasonably legit from what I can see, but I can’t say for sure.
Click on over and have a look.
UPDATE
Reader Paul Stinchfield has sent me two links where WWI color photos may be found. They are this one and this one.
If you’re interested in looking over a huge online archive of French photographic pioneers, then I suggest that you click this link and start browsing. Lots of stuff there.
(Hat tip to Spoons, and he got from Vodkapundit.)
February 25th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
There were color photos taken ten years before World War I. It was expensive and uncommon, but there is no doubt color photography being done at the time.
February 25th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
Here are some more.
February 25th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
Great photos, thanks for sharing.
February 25th, 2005 at 11:45 pm
Fabulous, thanks.
February 26th, 2005 at 12:00 am
Thanks. (I’m going to forward these to the guys that teach WWI–they will love them.)
February 26th, 2005 at 3:38 am
There was a show on the History Channel based on what they claimed was color film footage from WWI. I don’t know if it was true or a gimmick, but the colors looked funny to me, sort of like the colorized version of Ted Turner’s black and white movies.
February 26th, 2005 at 9:20 am
Yes there was colour photography and yes these are from WWI. Must be after 1914 scince the French have given up their red trousers. I saw these photos many months ago via Last of the Famous International Playboys.
Link
The French weren’t the only ones doing colour photography. There is an extensive pre-revolutionary Russia archive as well as a few photos of British and American origin. The French archive seems to be the largest of them. And the quality of the photos is simply something to be marveled at. Apparently the technique involved using various dyed potato mashes.
Also available at [Link]. Easy to navigate if you can read French.
February 26th, 2005 at 11:13 am
Check out this Library of Congress exhibit:
Link
I especially like the ones in the “Ethnic Diversity” link.
February 26th, 2005 at 11:36 am
Looking at these photos a second time I notice a bias toward bright summer days that I suspect were not typical. One does not get quite the impression of mud and bleakness that is common in B&W photos from the same period, and I don’t think that’s entirely because of the color. Maybe the color equipment’s limitations made it useable on only the brightest dry days. The old Russian color photos have a similar appearance.
February 27th, 2005 at 3:37 am
Thanks Chel. Stunningly beautiful pictures of turn of the century Russia.