iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

With Christmas fast approaching, now's your chance to get the perfect gift: my beautiful Autochrome Book at Half Price!! The publisher's sale usually only lasts a week, so don't miss out on this great opportunity. Links to the 50% sale are in the comments below ⬇️ Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I leave you with another gorgeous sunset in history, this time in Champigneulles, northeastern France, four years before the Great War. This stunning Autochrome was taken in 1910 by Julien Gérardin, using an early colour glass-plate process. It isn't colourised. Original post

061

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Very sad to hear of the death of Dolly Parton. A witty, kind and philanthropic woman. And a really great songwriter. RIP Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

So which of you deserve the Naughty Step today? These two Danish children look less than impressed being photographed by Maynard Owen Williams around 80 years ago. It is utterly charming and original colour, not colourised. 💔 Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Gone Fishing! Travel back in time 120 years, with this gorgeous 1906 autochrome by Auguste & Louis Lumière. I've polished-up this wonderful Autochrome glass plate, but it is original colour, not colourised. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

For International Cat Day I have cleaned-up for you this wonderful Autochrome plate by Arnold Genthe. It is entitled "Miss Anna Holch with the cat Buzzer" which was taken in colour 116 years ago using an early colour glass-plate process. It isn't colourised. Original post

020

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

This week I've shared some exceptionally beautiful Autochromes with you by the cream of early colour photographers, but I'm rather curious... which was your favourite? The painter on the Dordogne? The Christmas sunset in 1905? The Provençal olive groves of 1906? Let me know! Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

You might be surprised just how different St Paul's Cathedral looked before the Great Fire of London in 1666 Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Looking more like a Gainsborough painting than a photograph, this wondrous Autochrome portrait was taken in colour 116 years ago by the German-American photographer Arnold Genthe, using an early colour glass-plate process. It isn't colourised. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Thank you - I'm really glad you're enjoying the work! Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Photographed in colour exactly 100 years ago, I have cleaned-up this dramatically-lit autochrome portrait of British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937) (one of the principle founders of the Labour Party). It was taken in 1926 by Olive Edis and is not colourised. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The Irish playright George Bernard Shaw, photographed 119 years ago, at the age of 51. I have cleaned and enhanced this very striking Autochrome portrait by Alvin Langdon Coburn, taken in colour in 1907 via the Lumiere brother's newly-patented colour glass-plate process. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Let me take you back 100 years to the summer of 1926 - and what could be more ordinary than a young girl riding a Hereford Bull whilst holding a red bouquet? This striking image was taken in colour by Charles Martin at Pleasanton, California, and isn't colourised. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

October 1917, at the height of the Great War: French Photographer Fernand Cuville captures this fleeting moment of serenity over the Somme. I have cleaned-up this provocative autochrome of sunset above a bombed-out factory at Roye in Picardy 109 years ago. It was taken in… Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Today I have cleaned up a rather beautiful autochrome study of a windmill at sunset - taken in colour about 116 years ago - by the Belgian painter and photographer Alfonse Van Besten (1865–1926). It is an early colour glass-plate process and not colourised. Original post

021

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Photographed in colour 120 years ago, this beautiful autochrome portrait of Suzanne Lumière was photographed by her father Louis in 1906 (He had invested the autochrome process in 1903, alongside his brother Auguste). It was an early colour glass-plate process and isn't colourised. Original post

021

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

It is a large format art book, printed on premium art paper, stitch bound, 256 pages, with over 250 enhanced Autochromes. A beautiful coffee table book, don't miss out on the sale. It won't last long! Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Travel back 111 years to May 1915. This young lady is Germaine Maugny, a student at a domestic school in Nancy, France, during the Great War. Her autochrome portrait was taken by photographer Auguste Leon and is original colour, not colourised. Original post

021

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

A moment of childhood serenity... I have cleaned-up this charming autochrome study from 1907 by the American photographer Frank Eugene (1865-1936). It is a portrait of his daughter Kitty, taken in colour 119 years ago. It is original colour, not colourised. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Photographed in colour 100 years ago - this is an Autochrome portrait of a young Hindu girl in Agra, India, in 1926. It was photographed by the visiting French photographer Jules Gervais-Courtellemont and is original colour, not colourised. Original post

020

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

For those who didn't see it last year - this is the same chap. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Today I have cleaned-up a fascinating Autochrome of the 6th Paris Air Show, photographed on 22nd December 1919 within the Parisian Grand Palais. It was photographed in colour by Georges Chevalier 107 years ago and isn't colourised. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

An Edardian Christmas in colour. I have cleaned-up this charming autochrome plate of three children showing off their Christmas toys about 115 year ago. It is original colour (not colourised) Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Photographed in colour 114 years ago, I have enhanced this charming autochrome portrait by the Belgian artist Alfonse van Besten, entitled "Modesty". It is original colour from 1912 and isn't colourised. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Photographed in colour 114 years ago, I transport you back to the golden glow of October 1912. I've enhanced for you this beautiful autochrome of 12-year-old Audrey Green (1900-1991), taken by amateaur photographer Stephen Pegler in his Nottinghamshire hometown of Retford. The… Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Photographed in colour 112 years ago, I've cleaned-up this remarkable autochrome of Henri Lumiere, which was taken during the Great War by his father Auguste. It is such a casual, contemporary-looking photo I think it helps challenge our preconceptions of history. It was taken in… Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I've cleaned-up for you an autochrome of Malaga’s "cemetery" for derelicts of the sea in Spain in March 1929, photographed in colour by Jules Gervais Courtellemont for the National Geographic. It is original colour from 97 years ago, not colourised. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Photographed in colour 114 years ago, I've spruced-up this autochrome plate of a Christmas Tree in 1911, decorated with all the flags of the world (some of which, you may notice, no longer exist) It is original colour, not colourised. Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Something completely different for you - actor Robert De Niro in 1950. Cleaned & colourised by yours truly. It's hard to believe it was taken 76 years ago! Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

A little closer to home today, with a photo which is only 65 years old, but it is also - perhaps - a little closer to our hearts too: The magic of playthings in the hearts of little children. This is Henley, in Oxfordshire, England, in 1960. Original colour. Original post

010

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

1915 - a wounded soldier carries a Christmas Tree home to his family in Chelsea, London. I've cleaned-up this wonderfully poignant photograph captured 110 years ago. Merry Christmas to all. 🎄 Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

And here are the same two children running away from the toy shop. Their hands may be empty but their imaginations are overflowing! Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

People have asked me about bokeh, as it's not a particularly common word. So for those not familiar with it, I thought this may help. (In the case of the autochrome I posted, it's the burry circles of light formed around the tree's fairy-lights) Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Let me take you back 118 years to a picturesque woodland path in Champigneulles, Belle Fontaine, France, photographed in the autumn of 1908 by one of my favourite Autochrome photographers Julien Gérardin. It is original colour, not colourised Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Travel back to the Copenhagen of 1907. I have cleaned-up this fascinating autochrome view of the capital city of Denmark, photographed in colour 119 years ago. It is not colourised. Original post

020

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

And here are the same two children running away from the toy shop. Their hands may be empty but their imaginations are overflowing! Original post

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

I have cleaned-up this fascinating autochrome of James Thin (famous for his chain of bookshops), who was born 202 years ago (in Edinburgh on 23rd March 1824), making him (so far as is currently known) the earliest-born person ever to have been photographed in colour. He is seen here in the garden...

1123

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

And here are the same two children running away from the toy shop. Their hands may be empty but their imaginations are overflowing!

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Reading the newspaper over 120 years ago, this early colour photo was taken by the German scientist, photographer, lens designer and photochemist Adolf Miethe using a camera of his own design. It employed a three colour-filter method pre-dating the autochrome process. It is original colour, not c...

000

Babel Colour feed @babelcolour2.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

1915 - a wounded soldier carries a Christmas Tree home to his family in Chelsea, London. I've cleaned-up this wonderfully poignant photograph captured 110 years ago. Merry Christmas to all. 🎄

000