WW1 color photos

Mark_Miller · 8 March 2004, 06:08 AM

Diego just posted this on the WW1 modlers list.
WOW - where have these been.

So, are they colorised ?
faked?
I can't tell - but they look legit to me
mark

color photos

Mark_Miller · 8 March 2004, 08:49 AM

Tried to tweak the color on the N21 photo.
I think it looks more "realistic"
hard to be sure though

8 March 2004, 09:37 AM

I didn't think color was around that early...if it was done, I think the negatives were hand tinted. Not quite sure though.

I think they're lovely, either way.

Mark_Miller · 8 March 2004, 09:43 AM

LFA
I'm not sure about the process
and the text is all in French.
but Diego posted this on the WW1 modelers list

Quote:

Diego wrote:
.... as far as I understood, the
pictures were taken with the usual B&W method but with different "coats" of colored emulsion made from potato flour which responded to different colours in a different way, resulting on a colour glass positive that could be shown as a modern slide.
The colours of the potato flour coats affected somewhat the colours of the finished image. Anyway, if the autochrome pics were too far off the real thing, the method would have been abandoned, right?
D.

JonathanS · 8 March 2004, 07:09 PM

I'm completely in awe over these. Although I have no idea if they are fake or not, I can say thanks to my quasi bilingualism

that what Diego wrote is essentially correct regarding both the translation and the photographic process (at least in theory anyways.)

I must say that after browsing through a number of these I think they could actually be legit. The thing that has semi clinched it for me is this one -( i can't seem to post this image) so click on this site and then go to the 2nd photo tilted Roye

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/...de%20la%20Somme

- it appears as though the developing process has gone awry.

some food for thought anyways,
cheers
Jonathan

Tim West · 8 March 2004, 10:37 PM

I think if the process worked than they are legit. The Russian photos from the same period look very similar even though they used a different technique.

But what I really want to know is.....what is this guy doing?

Mark_Miller · 9 March 2004, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JonathanS@Mar 8 2004, 10:09 PM
[b]I'm completely in awe over these. Although I have no idea if they are fake or not, I can say thanks to my quasi bilingualism

that what Diego wrote is essentially correct regarding both the translation and the photographic process (at least in theory anyways.)

I must say that after browsing through a number of these I think they could actually be legit.

JonathanS
I am also amazed at these photos.
Has anybody seen these before?

My favorite photo is the one with the soldier sitting by that monument.
The color allows you to empathise better.

I definitly belive they are "legitamate"
The color has been reproduced photographicaly.
The question is - how acurately is this process?

potatoes ???

In any case - there is valuable information here
mark

Mark_Miller · 9 March 2004, 04:31 AM

BTW - I also posted this N21 photo in my WIP thread on Thready
thready wip

Another user with some pshop experience tried some color manipulations with interesting results.
She also gives an explanation of her method.

Mark

Alan · 9 March 2004, 05:41 AM

All,

go to Google and use the language tools to translate the entire site...it helps!

10 March 2004, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim West@Mar 9 2004, 01:37 AM
[b] I think if the process worked than they are legit. The Russian photos from the same period look very similar even though they used a different technique.

But what I really want to know is.....what is this guy doing?

It's obvious.

He's "Takin' Care of Business."