Author Topic: Autochromes (Read 6012 times)

hookstrapped · « **on:** February 10, 2015, 07:48:32 PM »

Probably discussed in the past, maybe in regard to WWI color photos...

Interesting process
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autochrome_Lumi%C3%A8re

Love the look (photos by Albert Kahn)
http://tinyurl.com/ktflbmw

Current efforts at revival
http://www.autochromes.fr/english/last.html

jharr · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2015, 09:01:25 PM »

I love the look of autochromes. It is amazing that is has proven so difficult to replicate the process. There was a piece of heavy equipment involved in pressing the starch crystals on the glass. I think that is the part that is keeping this out of the hands of the masses. Very cool photos though.

Photo_Utopia · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2015, 10:04:10 AM »

I have a few in my collection including this pre first war one.

I have some info on my blog...

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/early-colour-processes-autochrome.html

And some first war pictures here:

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/great-war-in-colour.html

LT · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2015, 01:25:38 PM »

I love them. They bring normality and remove nostalgia from old photographs.

here are some from the nat geo archives.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/pictures/150131-pictures-autochrome-color-photography-history-people-culture/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20150201news-autochrome&utm_campaign=Content&sf7217410=1

Francois · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2015, 01:51:45 PM »

I've never seen one in real life...

Bryan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2015, 04:01:29 PM »

I wonder how they hold the color over time? Better or worse than Kodachrome?

jharr · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2015, 05:37:17 PM »

Quote from: BAC1967 on February 11, 2015, 04:01:29 PM

I wonder how they hold the color over time? Better or worse than Kodachrome?

I think they used aniline dyes for the color, so they probably fade if left out in the light. I think these were generally stored in the dark and "taken out" for viewing since they needed to be back lit.

zapsnaps · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2015, 08:34:20 AM »

I love these and would recommend the Albert Kahn museum the next time anyone is in Paris. It's in a wonderful garden setting - so take a camera - and the museum constantly revolves its archive. It's relatively unknown, but get there at opening time and you have it to yourself and can stand in front of the original autochromes in quiet contemplation.

mcduff · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2015, 02:29:15 AM »

I have also never seen one. I knew they existed, knew they used a different colour model that we now commonly use but that is all I knew. I did not know that coloured, potato starch granules were used in photography for example!! I will add seeing one of these in real life to the bucket list.

Indofunk · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:12:31 AM »

These are beautiful! I would love to see one in real life! And I was just in Paris last year, why didn't I know about this?

Verian · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2015, 11:39:24 AM »

Quote from: Indofunk on February 13, 2015, 05:12:31 AM

These are beautiful! I would love to see one in real life! And I was just in Paris last year, why didn't I know about this?

I was there as well, I also didn't know about these. They are lovely.

Francois · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2015, 03:01:08 PM »

Quote from: mcduff on February 13, 2015, 02:29:15 AM

I did not know that coloured, potato starch granules were used in photography for example!!

I guess powdered potatoes and food coloring can go a long way

Photo_Utopia · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2015, 03:17:57 PM »

Next time I go to Tesco I'll buy some Smash™ some red, green and blue food colouring –where would we get lampblack from? and a one ton press?

jharr · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2015, 03:21:17 PM »

Put the glass plate between two steel plates and park your car on it for a few days. You will also need to start lighting your house with whale oil lamps and collect the lampblack from the glass of the lamps. Can't wait to see your results!

Indofunk · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2015, 03:43:37 PM »

Always James with the apropos solutions.

6cmsquare · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2015, 05:18:15 AM »

I wonder if it would be possible to get an autochrome array of micro-dots printed on a piece of class and use it as a lens filter?
or if it would even work?

Francois · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2015, 02:18:23 PM »

I'm thinking it would be easier to get a laser printed transparency or better yet a stochastic pattern sent to a film printer and sandwich that with regular film...

Photo_Utopia · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2015, 05:58:49 PM »

There was a process (Dufay I think) that used printed lines of dye RGB on a screen I think about 500 to an inch. You could print them with an inkjet on transparency and then coat them with a silver emulsion-should work.

Francois · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:42:43 PM »

Yes, there was also this one... but it didn't look quite as good as the autochromes.

Photo_Utopia · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:58:18 PM »

I had a few old Dufay colours from the 1920-30 found in an old girlfriend's family collection (she retained them when we parted) and I think they're nicer than Autochromes certainly brighter; the Autochromes are quite dense and must have taken a lot of light to expose and view.
Found this on the interweb....

Ostend, Belgium, 1936 by The Patrick Montgomery Collection, on Flickr

Francois · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2015, 10:41:32 PM »

What always amazes me is the number of processes that were invented and that have essentially vanished with time...

Sid Dongre · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2015, 07:25:05 AM »

Quote from: Francois on February 25, 2015, 10:41:32 PM

What always amazes me is the number of processes that were invented and that have essentially vanished with time...

History favours the winners, so they say.

original_ann · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2015, 01:21:16 PM »

They make me feel like I'm getting to peer through the window of a time machine and really, really 'see'! And is it just me: though perhaps dressed from another time, I imagine people in autochromes to make facial expressions, speak with an affect, or gesticulate in a manner that would sound and feel no different than 'today'.

Francois · « **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2015, 03:07:17 PM »

I must admit that they bring a level or realism that is pretty incredible. I don't know if it's just me but I often have the feeling that those old images are more realistic in a way than what we see now in photography.