America in Color from 1939-1943

[Chris Dodkin]

A unique collection of color photographs, taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations.

The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit 'Bound for Glory: America in Color'.

70 images that bring color to a time which is mostly remembered in B&W

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

 

[Kev Pugh]

These are a fantastic snap shot of 40's life, I love this sort of thing and this is why I think it is so important to photograph our areas and communities, people doing ordinary stuff getting on with their lives, just wish I did more of it...

 

[Pete Askew]

Thank you for posting this Chris and I couldn't agree more Kev. This is a wonderful series and something worth emulating. Not quite the same but fr some time I have been think of asking all of the people I engage with in my everyday life if I could make a picture of them in their normal activities. I must get on and actually do it!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

AMAZING!!!!

 

[Paul Lange]

Before I looked at them I assumed that they would be interesting but just really snapshots. I was amazed to see that they are excellent photographs that just ooze skill.

 

[Brian Moore]

Wonderful! I'm guessing Kodachrome was the film. I'd love to know what cameras were used.

For what it's worth, #65 (P51 Mustang in flight. Inglewood, California) isn't Inglewood, California. I'm guessing that shot was taken over the San Gabriel Mountains, to the east of Los Angeles.

Thanks for posting these, Chris!

 

[Pete Askew]

Well, whatever the camera make, it was 5x4 in most cases by the look of it and if it was Kodachrome (which it certainly looks like), it would have been 8 ASA! It may have been some sort of aerial photo film I suppose but whatever it was the images are just wonderful.