Autochromes return to the RPS

[Michael Pritchard]

A collection of 224 autochrome plates made by Robert Bird from c1915-1920 has been given to the Royal Photographic Society more than one hundred years since the RPS first exhibited some of them in its annual exhibitions between 1915 and 1917. A few of the plates have only been seen publicly once since then in the 1950s when they were shown at a RPS Colour Group meeting. The plates were made by Robert Bland Bird and represent his entire oeuvre, before his business and political commitments took him away from autochrome photography, and his photographic interests moved on to cinematography. He was a member of the RPS from 1915 until his death in 1960.  

The RPS has produced a short film about the collection which is housed at its headquarters in Bristol. The film can be seen here: https://youtu.be/nYajirV_VU4 

The collection was also featured in the March/April 2021 issue of the RPS Journal and a copy can be had on request here. 

[Antares Wells]

Thank you for sharing the RPS film on this rich collection. Wonderful!