Ocean Grey and B+W photography

[Dave Fleming]

Following on from the previous threads on the apparent 'light' grey shades apparent on mid-war RAF fighters.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33780

My thoughts at the time were that a lot of it was down to mis-interpretation of the way the colours were reproduced in certain types B+W film, and particularly the 'blue' ocean grey. The clue to me was the way the colours of the roundels were produced. The problem was finding pics of the same aircraft that showed this shift.

When sorting some pics I had at the weekend it hit me I DID have some pics that showed this - and from an unusual and unexpected source!

First, the caveats! Some B+W film reacted differently to certain colours, but not all 'ortho' types showed yellow as black, filters had an effect as did post processing etc etc - in other words without knowing exactly what film stock, weather conditions, development, processing and printing were used, you can only make a best guess. However, hopefully the following will provide some food for thought.

First up, this one. This is very similar to the shots of Spit mk Ixs (and other RAF fighters) with 'light' grey uppers. Points to note include the fact that the yellow ring of the roundel is quite 'muddy' and almost indistinguishable from the background grey. Note also the tones of the roundels/finflash are the opposite to the 'expected' norm - the red is much darker than the blue.

Now here is the same aircraft, but illustrating a more 'normal tonal approach - roundel tones 'as expected and the ocean grey darker than the yellow of the roundel (which it's self is lighter than the underside!!)

And now the clincher, the same subject in colour!!

Credit to the original copyright holders of these photos, which are posted for the purposes of discussion!

Edited August 30, 2010 by Dave Fleming

[HOUSTON]

dave Nice photos....good to read your thread.