THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL
ORTHOCHROMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Orthochromatic photographic films were first produced in 1873 and were sensitive only to blue and green light, which allowed the film to be processed in a darkroom under a red safelight.
This type of film was widely used for black and white newspaper photos until the mid-1930s and often provides a totally misleading representation of team uniforms.
Black still looks black and white still looks white but many other real life colours in-between are inverted so that lighter colours (such as yellow, light green) look dark, and the darker colours (such as royal blue, green) look light.
|
UNIFORM COLOUR
Black Red Gold/yellow Light blue/sky blue Royal blue Dark blue/navy blue Light green Green Dark green |
HOW IT APPEARS IN B&W ORTHO. PHOTOS
Black Black Dark grey White Light grey Grey Dark Grey Grey Light Grey |
Two good examples of the orthochromatic effect are early VFA and Western Australian representative jumpers:
VFA 1905
Described in various contemporary sources as "royal blue and gold".
- In the photo below the uniform appears to be a gold jumper with a royal blue sash.
- In reality it was as described: a royal blue jumper with gold facings.
|
|
WA 1928
Described in various contemporary sources as "green and gold".
- In the photo below the uniform appears to be a gold jumper with a green neck (and a black swan).
- In reality, it was as described: a green jumper with gold facings (and a black swan).
|
|
PANCHROMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Panchromatic photographic plates were introduced in 1894 and were sensitive to all colours, including red. However, the first panchromatic films were not commercially available until the 1910s and their use did not become widespread until many years later. This lack of acceptance was due mainly to the film's red sensitivity requiring it to be developed in total darkness rather than under a red safelight.
The use of panchromatic film for black and white newspaper photos became widespread in the mid-1930s and provided a far more realistic image of the uniforms worn by each state team.
The use of panchromatic film for black and white newspaper photos became widespread in the mid-1930s and provided a far more realistic image of the uniforms worn by each state team.
FURTHER READING:
Image courtesy of thedarkroom.com
The Union Jack flag with colours appearing inverted due to the use of orthocromatic photographic film (Tannatt David (1858, †1934) - Shackleton, Ernest Henry, et al. (1909). The Heart of the Antarctic. J.B. Lippincott company)
|
