Some very early colour photographs

[Mr_Flibble]

The images are also available in the book "Nostalgia - the Russian empire of czar Nicholas II"

 

[Richard G]

I agree with Erik. The subject matter, the historical insights, the compositions and most of all the light would make these just as compelling in black and white. I do love the colors of course.

 

[David Hughes]

I agree with Erik. The subject matter, the historical insights, the compositions and most of all the light would make these just as compelling in black and white. I do love the colors of course.

Hi,

FWIW, I ordered these two books and they were both delivered recently, worth reading if you are interested in the early attempts at colour photography.

Having said that I'll add that the photographs on the web look better and I guess things have improved a lot since the book of photo's was published. Its age (published 1980) suggests a 3 or 4 ink printing process without the benefit of computer editing.

BTW, the book mentions that a one shot colour camera producing three negatives might have been used (for some of the shots) as Prokudin-Gorskii patented one...

Regards, David

PS The smaller book is a reprint of one from 1898..

 

[sevo]

Thanks for posting these links! These photos are very helpful for a book I'm writing that's set in Russia during the Russian Civil War. I've lacked visuals to describe in order to help the reader get absorbed into the atmosphere of the time and place, and these photos provide me ample detail to sprinkle throughout as my main character discovers imperial Russia.

Scott

Bear in mind that these pictures are rather less than documentary - all people in there are conscious props, or they would not have frozen across the exposure times for three separate filtered plates (even less so given the minimal red sensitivity of pan plates back then).

 

[ssmc]

Thanks for the link - I'd only seen 3 or 4 of these wonderful images before!

Scott