SUMMARY
Physicist James Clerk Maxwell, known for his work in electromagnetism, was fascinated by color and how humans perceive it. In 1855, he theorized that color images could be created by mixing three black-and-white photographs taken with different color filters. He collaborated with photographer Thomas Sutton in 1861 to test this theory, resulting in the world's first color photograph of a tartan ribbon. Although the chemicals used were not sensitive to all colors, the projected image demonstrated Maxwell's foundational concept, which is still relevant in modern display technology.
TAKEAWAYS
James Clerk Maxwell, a physicist, developed the theory for color photography.
The world's first color photograph was created in 1861 using Maxwell's theory.
Maxwell's concept of mixing red, green, and blue light is still used in modern displays.
The initial color photograph's success was partly due to an accidental sensitivity to ultraviolet light.