värifoto

Värifoto is a Finnish term that translates to "color photo" or "color photography." It refers to the art, practice, and technology of creating still or moving images that display colors. In its simplest form, värifoto encompasses any photograph that is not black and white or monochrome. The development of color photography began in the mid-19th century, with significant breakthroughs and practical applications emerging in the early 20th century. Early methods included additive processes like the Autochrome Lumière, which used dyed starch grains, and subtractive processes that became dominant with films like Kodachrome and Agfacolor Neu. The advent of digital photography has made color imaging ubiquitous, with virtually all digital cameras and sensors capturing color information by default. Värifoto is now the standard in most photographic applications, from personal snapshots to professional artistic endeavors and scientific imaging. The techniques and aesthetic considerations of värifoto are distinct from monochrome photography, focusing on color balance, saturation, and how colors interact to convey mood, depth, and realism.