Colour Theory - Max Pinckers

What if National Geographic photographers occasionally brought red clothing with them on assignment to put on their subjects, in order to make ‘better pictures’ on Kodachrome film?

When Kodachrome was introduced in 1936, National Geographic photographers were among the first to embrace the new colour film, which was admired for its exceptionally vibrant red. This eventually led to an exaggerated worship of colour that culminated in what became known as "The Red Shirt School of Photography": a rumour that photographers deliberately dressed people in red clothing to create stronger compositions, especially within the tradition of landscape photography.

People wearing red are often seen looking out over a vast landscape from a mountaintop ridge or balcony, a pose described as the ‘monarch-of-all-I-survey’. Time and again, the magazine featured white explorers, scientists, photographers and travellers perched out over distant landscapes, implying dominance and ownership over the land. The observer glorifies it as something beautiful, rich in resources and therefore ‘worth taking’.

Translating this colour theory into four-colour risograph printing emphasises the layering and blending of different colours in an attempt to attain that cherished Kodachrome red.

In a speculative game about the extent to which photographers manipulated their scenes, ‘Colour Theory’ brings together a selection of images from National Geographic magazines between 1936 and 2009—the lifespan of Kodachrome film—in which people could, perhaps, have been directed to wear red.

Softcover, 25 x 33 cm, 88 pages
Riso printed in 4 colours by Sébastien Girard and Max Pinckers, Toulouse
Typography by Rudy Latoir
Produced by De Bedoeling vzw, Brussels
Self-published by Max Pinckers & Victoria Gonzalez-Figueras, Brussels
Limited edition of 300 copies, signed, stamped and dated


--


Kodachromes by Alfred M. Bailey & Fred G. Bradenburg, Andrew H. Brown, Bates Littlehales, David S. Boyer, Edwin L. Braun, Howell Walker, Jack Breed, John E. Fletcher, Luis Marden, Ralph Gray, Richard H. Stewart, Stewart Anderson, Volkmar Wentzel, W. Robert Moore, et al. for National Geographic Society

Winner of the 2026 Susan McLaughlin Risograph Photobook Award 2026 by the Penumbra Foundation in New York, juried by Susan McLaughlin, Miwa Susuda, and Penumbra Foundation:

"Colour Theory stands out for the way its use of Risograph is conceptually integral to the work. The project examines how color—particularly the celebrated red of Kodachrome—has shaped and potentially manipulated photographic representation. Through four-color Risograph printing, color becomes visibly constructed through layering, blending, density, and subtle variations. Offset printing might reproduce the original photographs more accurately, but Risograph makes us conscious of how photographic color is created and manipulated. Another strength is that the book is more substantial and ambitious than a typical artist-made Riso publication, while its format remains simple and relatively undecorative. The production feels purposeful without becoming overly elaborate, giving the book a strong physical presence while keeping it approachable and accessible to a wider audience." – Miwa Susuda

Reference texts & reviews:
Carolina Semprucci, Der Greif, 2026