Amazing Old Color Photos - Russia & USA

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the sharing and appreciation of old color photographs from Russia and the USA, particularly focusing on the technology used to create these images and their historical context. Participants share links to collections of these photographs and engage in trivia related to them.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express enthusiasm for the color photographs from Russia, noting the technology involving three black-and-white filtered cameras used to create them.
  • A participant mentions the Library of Congress archive where individual color-filtered images can be viewed before they are combined into the final color image.
  • There is a trivia question posed about which photograph in the Russian collection has the strongest connection to an algorithm, with a participant providing a detailed historical context related to the mathematician Al-Khwarizmi.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that Al Gore invented the algorithm, prompting further light-hearted exchanges.
  • Some participants share links to the photographs and express their amazement at the images, indicating a shared interest in the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

While participants generally agree on the interest and significance of the photographs, there are humorous disagreements regarding the origins of the term "algorithm," and the trivia question remains open for discussion without a definitive answer provided.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific images and their historical significance, but the discussion does not resolve the trivia question or clarify all assumptions regarding the connections made.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in historical photography, the technology of image creation, and the cultural significance of early color images may find this discussion engaging.

Hepth
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Have you guys seen this:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

Very cool.

Also:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/

If it hasn't been posted yet.

Anyone else know of any really cool old color photos? (The russian ones used 3 B&W filtered cameras, neat tech)
 
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The tech is really cool, isn't it? I especially enjoyed the Russian photos.
 
Hepth said:
Have you guys seen this:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

Very cool.

Also:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/

If it hasn't been posted yet.

Anyone else know of any really cool old color photos? (The russian ones used 3 B&W filtered cameras, neat tech)

Fantastic! thanks for the links.
 
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Presumably these must have been projected to view?
The 3color filter technology hasn't really changed today - but there would have been no way of printing in color then.
 
Hepth said:
Have you guys seen this:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

Very cool.

Also:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/

If it hasn't been posted yet.

Anyone else know of any really cool old color photos? (The russian ones used 3 B&W filtered cameras, neat tech)

I can't remember for sure, but I believe it was Borek about a year ago that introduced us to these images.

search search search

Yup. It was https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2438986&postcount=3825" , in the most cultured of threads.

:smile:
 
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Yes and now tineye has 64 results on that particular picture in 1.423 seconds that is.
 
Hepth said:
Have you guys seen this:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

Very cool.
Trivia question: Which of the 34 pictures in the Russian collection (link in quote) has the strongest connection to an algorithm, and why?
 
Gokul43201 said:
Trivia question: Which of the 34 pictures in the Russian collection (link in quote) has the strongest connection to an algorithm, and why?

I'd be interested to know the answer.


I was amazed when Borek first showed these- still am!
 
  • #10
fuzzyfelt said:
I'd be interested to know the answer.
The answer I was looking for is picture 7/8, of the Khan of the Russian protectorate of Khorezm. For most of the 1st millenium AD, Khorezm (then known as Khwarizm), was the seat of a Persian kingdom, and the birthplace of one Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (Al-Khwarizmi, for short), the mathematician who is credited with inventing algebra. In fact, the word 'algebra' is derived from Al-Khwarizmi's treatise, titled Kitab al jabr w al muqabala (commonly abbreviated as Al Jabr). And the word 'algorithm' is named after Al-Khwarizmi himself, via the Latin version of his name, Algoritmi.
 
  • #11
Gokul43201 said:
The answer I was looking for is picture 7/8, of the Khan of the Russian protectorate of Khorezm. For most of the 1st millenium AD, Khorezm (then known as Khwarizm), was the seat of a Persian kingdom, and the birthplace of one Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (Al-Khwarizmi, for short), the mathematician who is credited with inventing algebra. In fact, the word 'algebra' is derived from Al-Khwarizmi's treatise, titled Kitab al jabr w al muqabala (commonly abbreviated as Al Jabr). And the word 'algorithm' is named after Al-Khwarizmi himself, via the Latin version of his name, Algoritmi.

You sure? I think Al Gore invented the algorithm.
 
  • #13
lisab said:
You sure? I think Al Gore invented the algorithm.

:smile:
 
  • #14
lisab said:
You sure? I think Al Gore invented the algorithm.
Brilliant! I like it. :biggrin:
 
  • #15
Gokul43201 said:
The answer I was looking for is picture 7/8, of the Khan of the Russian protectorate of Khorezm. For most of the 1st millenium AD, Khorezm (then known as Khwarizm), was the seat of a Persian kingdom, and the birthplace of one Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (Al-Khwarizmi, for short), the mathematician who is credited with inventing algebra. In fact, the word 'algebra' is derived from Al-Khwarizmi's treatise, titled Kitab al jabr w al muqabala (commonly abbreviated as Al Jabr). And the word 'algorithm' is named after Al-Khwarizmi himself, via the Latin version of his name, Algoritmi.

Fascinating! Thanks!