Red Shirt School of Photography
Encyclopedia
The Red Shirt School of Photography is a trend in photography
which first became popular in the 1950s. It was pioneered by National Geographic photographers, who had subjects wear, or chose subjects who wore overly colorful clothes (not necessarily of the color red
, though red was preferred as it rendered best on Kodachrome
film). The earliest use of such techniques can be traced back to autochrome pioneers of the 1920s - like Gervais Courtellement - who worked on National Geographic assignments around the globe. Originally meant to describe the work of many of the National Geographic photographers of the period late 1950s - early 1960s, the term is loosely applied to photography creating images which fall into the category just described. The following quote refers to the method employed:
As color photography became popular and commonplace, color frequently became an important criterion while choosing subjects to photograph, or for selecting from previously photographed images. Photographers would thus not only choose colorful scenes, but put colorfully costumed people in it to enhance the viewing experience.
The method is especially popular in brightening up photographs with drab or earth-toned backgrounds, or to focus attention on a subject. Hence, the technique is popular mainly in landscape photography
, but has use in portrait photography
as well. A case in point are National Geographic photographs of the Maasai people of Africa
, who traditionally wear a red robe.
This method grew increasingly popular as color photography
technology improved, and was spurred on by color film companies like Kodak. Such techniques received a boost with the spread of digital photography
, as digital photographs can be easily enhanced by differential color saturation treatments on different parts of the image.
The technique has influenced numerous trends in contemporary photography, such as advertising photography, where it is used to highlight the advertised object in question. An extremal variation of the Red Shirt school is focal color photography, where optical and / or digital photographic filter
s are used to preserve color in only a single focal object or region of the photograph.
The term is sometimes also used in a deprecating sense, to convey a feeling of "set up" or tailored imagery. Such photographs have often been considered inferior, lacking originality or being non-notable, and criticism has often been targeted at National Geographic photographers in general. Ed Hannigan wrote:
This era culminated in what critics and detractors outside the National Geographic Society called the Red Shirt School of
Photography - the consistent use of red shirts, caps, and other apparel as
props to brighten up photographs.
However, the Red Shirt school probably came to be associated strongly with National Geographic not just due to society policy, but also the fact that National Geographic was one of the first publications to regularly publish in color. A quote from National Geographic photographer Luis Marden
:
The style should not be confused with commercial photography campaigns which highlight a color for purposes of drawing attention as well as brand association. Cases in point are Tiffany and Co.'s "blue box
" advertising campaign, and The Coca Cola Company's red and white, originally hand-painted
Christmas advertisement campaigns.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
which first became popular in the 1950s. It was pioneered by National Geographic photographers, who had subjects wear, or chose subjects who wore overly colorful clothes (not necessarily of the color red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
, though red was preferred as it rendered best on Kodachrome
Kodachrome
Kodachrome is the trademarked brand name of a type of color reversal film that was manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1935 to 2009.-Background:...
film). The earliest use of such techniques can be traced back to autochrome pioneers of the 1920s - like Gervais Courtellement - who worked on National Geographic assignments around the globe. Originally meant to describe the work of many of the National Geographic photographers of the period late 1950s - early 1960s, the term is loosely applied to photography creating images which fall into the category just described. The following quote refers to the method employed:
Even though Kodachrome was already unnaturally bright, photographers ... splashed the strongest possible colors in their pictures so that they would be more effective in print. One result was that the staff photographers - who were constantly being sent to colorful places to slake what was seen as the public's unquenching thirst for colorful scenes - would often find themselves needing more color to take advantage of the color film and would resort to placing the people in costume.
As color photography became popular and commonplace, color frequently became an important criterion while choosing subjects to photograph, or for selecting from previously photographed images. Photographers would thus not only choose colorful scenes, but put colorfully costumed people in it to enhance the viewing experience.
The method is especially popular in brightening up photographs with drab or earth-toned backgrounds, or to focus attention on a subject. Hence, the technique is popular mainly in landscape photography
Landscape photography
Landscape photography is a genre intended to show different spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. This popular style of photography is practiced by professionals and amateurs alike. Photographs typically capture the presence of nature and are often free...
, but has use in portrait photography
Portrait photography
Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people , in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject...
as well. A case in point are National Geographic photographs of the Maasai people of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, who traditionally wear a red robe.
This method grew increasingly popular as color photography
Color photography
Color photography is photography that uses media capable of representing colors, which are traditionally produced chemically during the photographic processing phase...
technology improved, and was spurred on by color film companies like Kodak. Such techniques received a boost with the spread of digital photography
Digital photography
Digital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film...
, as digital photographs can be easily enhanced by differential color saturation treatments on different parts of the image.
The technique has influenced numerous trends in contemporary photography, such as advertising photography, where it is used to highlight the advertised object in question. An extremal variation of the Red Shirt school is focal color photography, where optical and / or digital photographic filter
Photographic filter
In photography and videography, a filter is a camera accessory consisting of an optical filter that can be inserted in the optical path. The filter can be a square or oblong shape mounted in a holder accessory, or, more commonly, a glass or plastic disk with a metal or plastic ring frame, which...
s are used to preserve color in only a single focal object or region of the photograph.
The term is sometimes also used in a deprecating sense, to convey a feeling of "set up" or tailored imagery. Such photographs have often been considered inferior, lacking originality or being non-notable, and criticism has often been targeted at National Geographic photographers in general. Ed Hannigan wrote:
National Geographic's pictures, with rare exception, were all pretty much of the picture postcard type
of idealistic beauty, rather than photojournalism.
This era culminated in what critics and detractors outside the National Geographic Society called the Red Shirt School of
Photography - the consistent use of red shirts, caps, and other apparel as
props to brighten up photographs.
However, the Red Shirt school probably came to be associated strongly with National Geographic not just due to society policy, but also the fact that National Geographic was one of the first publications to regularly publish in color. A quote from National Geographic photographer Luis Marden
Luis Marden
Luis Marden was an American photographer, explorer, writer, filmmaker, diver, navigator, and linguist who worked for National Geographic Magazine. He worked as a photographer and reporter before serving as chief of the National Geographic foreign editorial staff...
:
The red shirt came to be associated with the Geographic because very few but the Geographic published color. It's easy to criticise the past - the trouble is we're doing it by today's standards.
The style should not be confused with commercial photography campaigns which highlight a color for purposes of drawing attention as well as brand association. Cases in point are Tiffany and Co.'s "blue box
Tiffany Blue
Tiffany Blue is the colloquial name for the light medium robin egg blue color associated with Tiffany & Co., the New York City jewelry company.The Tiffany Blue color is protected as a color trademark by Tiffany & Co...
" advertising campaign, and The Coca Cola Company's red and white, originally hand-painted
Haddon Sundblom
Haddon Hubbard "Sunny" Sundblom was an artist best known for the images of Santa Claus he created for The Coca-Cola Company.-Background:Sundblom was born in Muskegon, Michigan to a Swedish-speaking family...
Christmas advertisement campaigns.