Contents
show
In 1913, Mervyn O’Gorman helped usher in the age of color photography.
O’Gorman was actually an aeronautical engineer who merely dabbled in the art of photography. Yet in 1913, he created an astounding series of color portraits rarely seen in that day and age.
The photos feature his daughter Christina clothed in red, and showcase O’Gorman’s amazing eye for the remarkable. Years ahead of their time, these early photographs are regularly featured in exhibitions today.
Christina’s bright red outfit stands out against the haze of an English beach.
A process called Autochrome Lumière isolated the main colors in the frame making them leap off the print.
The photos have a remarkably dreamlike feel.
Autochrome requires slower exposures giving the pictures a shallow depth-of-field. This along with Christina’s poses give the photos a dreamy feel.
Even a simple picnic takes on an ethereal quality.
Simply beautiful. Enjoy the rest of the series.
Here’s a great 7-minute video that explains the Autochrome technique further.