Yael Martinez
21st Century and Contemporary Color Photography
Archival Paper, C Print, Digital
Finding the Right color-photography for You
Color photography evokes emotion that can bring a viewer into the scene. It can transport one to faraway places or back into the past.
The first color photograph, taken in 1861, was more of an exercise in science than art. Photographer Thomas Sutton and physicist James Clerk Maxwell used three separate exposures of a tartan ribbon — filtered through red, green and blue — and composited them into a single image, resulting in the first multicolor representation of an object.
Before this innovation, photographs were often tinted by hand. By the 1890s, color photography processes were introduced based on that 1860s experiment. In the early 20th century, autochromes brought color photography to a commercial audience.
Now color photography is widely available, with these historic photographs documenting moments and scenes that are still vivid generations later. Photographers in the 20th and 21st centuries have offered new perspectives in the evolving field of modern color photography with gripping portraiture, snow-capped landscapes, stunning architecture and lots more.
In the voluminous collection of photography on 1stDibs, find vibrant full-color images by Slim Aarons, Helen Levitt, Gordon Parks, Stefanie Schneider, Steve McCurry and other artists. Bring visual interest to any corner of your home with color photography — introduce a salon-style gallery hang or another arrangement that best fits your space.
Read More
Some of the Best Beatles Photos Were Taken by Paul McCartney
A trove of recently unearthed personal photos adds another dimension to the abundance of press images of the Fab Four.
Photographer to Know: Rinko Kawauchi
From toddlers playing to fires blazing, the Japanese lenswoman poetically captures fleeting dramas on planet Earth.
Photographer Jerry Schatzberg Remembers a Legendary Shoot with Bob Dylan
The acclaimed lensman and the folk-rock phenomenon clicked, and a captivating portrait followed.
Photographer to Know: Jeannette Montgomery Barron
Her stunning portraits of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and other artists chronicle a crucial chapter of New York’s cultural history.
11 of Annie Leibovitz’s Most Talked-About Photographs
See why the famed photographer's celebrity portraits have graced magazine covers and become headline grabbers in their own right for five decades and counting.
This Photo of the Salton Sea Captures a Serene Moment Amid an Environmental Disaster
Addison Jones shares how she got this gorgeous minimalist shot while immersed in the stink of dead fish.
This Photo of Big Sur Reveals the Awesomeness and Intimacy of Nature
When a beachcomber accidentally stepped in front of Jeffrey Conley’s camera, a perfect moment was captured.
Photographers to Know: E2 – Kleinveld & Julien
With elaborate staging and meticulous postproduction techniques, the subversive duo is reimagining art history.