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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.

Picture
Picture

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).

Picture
Picture

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.


Interstate Uniforms (home)

FURTHER READING:


https://thedarkroom.com/orthochromatic-vs-panchromatic-film-a-photo-comparison/
​

Picture
Image courtesy of thedarkroom.com


​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthochromasia

Picture
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)

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The author is a proud member of the Australian Football Heritage Group (AFHG), which is dedicated to preserving Australian football's history.

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • AFL
    • Gardiner Medal
    • Grand Final Sprint
    • Interclub Medals & Trophies
    • Night Series & Pre-Season Cup
  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
      • Frosty Miller Medal (Leading Goalkicker)
      • Norm Goss Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.)
      • Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal
      • Frank Johnson Medal (Rep. B.O.G.)
      • Seconds/Thirds
    • FINALS >
      • Grand Finals
      • Grand Finals - A History
      • Premiership Captains/Coaches
      • Premiership Tables
      • Finals Records
      • Minor Premiers... no GF
      • Grand Finals - Second Division
      • Challenge Finals
      • Drawn & Postponed Finals
      • Finals Systems
    • NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES >
      • Centenary Cup
      • Foxtel Cup
      • Lightning Premierships
      • NFL Night Series
      • Practice/Exhibition Matches
      • Pre-Season Cup
      • Premiers Cup (VSFL)
      • Promotion Playoffs
      • VFL-TFL Challenge
    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
    • STATE MATCHES >
      • 1870s
      • 1880s
      • 1890s
      • 1900s
      • 1910s
      • 1920s
      • 1930s
      • 1940s
      • 1950s
    • STATE UNIFORMS >
      • QLD Uniforms
      • SA Uniforms
      • WA Uniforms
    • VICTORIA >
      • VIC Matches
      • VIC Uniforms
    • VFA-VFL COMBINE >
      • VFA Rep. Awards
      • VFA Rep. Captains-Coaches
      • VFA Rep Matches
      • VFA Rep. Records
      • VFA Rep. Uniforms
  • DISCOVERIES
    • UNEARTHING
    • MYTHBUSTING
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FURTHER READING
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT