Meaning: The quote "When the shot is afterwards subjected to white light, color appears because of selective reflection" by Gabriel Lippmann refers to the process of creating color photographs using the Lippmann plate, an early method of producing color images. Gabriel Lippmann, a physicist and Nobel Prize winner, developed this technique in the late 19th century. His work on color photography laid the foundation for modern color imaging technology.

In the context of the quote, "the shot" likely refers to the photographic exposure. Lippmann's process involved exposing a photographic plate to a scene, typically through a special mirror system that captured the entire spectrum of light. Unlike other color photography methods of the time, the Lippmann process did not rely on dyes or pigments to record color information. Instead, it utilized the phenomenon of selective reflection to reproduce colors.

Selective reflection is the process by which certain wavelengths of light are reflected while others are absorbed or transmitted. In the case of the Lippmann process, the photographic plate was coated with a layer of microscopic mercury grains. When light struck the plate during exposure, the mercury grains selectively reflected different colors based on their size and spacing. This created a pattern of interference that recorded the color information in the final image.

After exposure, the Lippmann plate was developed using a complex chemical process to reveal the colors captured through selective reflection. When the developed plate was viewed under white light, the colors would appear due to the selective reflection phenomenon described in the quote. This revolutionary approach to color photography allowed for the creation of stunning, true-color images without the need for dyes or filters.

Lippmann's work was groundbreaking because it represented a departure from the additive and subtractive color methods used in contemporary photography. The Lippmann process was capable of producing exceptionally detailed and accurate color images, and it garnered significant attention within the scientific and photographic communities.

Despite its technical achievements, the Lippmann process was complex and difficult to execute. The chemical development process was intricate, and the resulting plates were fragile and challenging to reproduce. As a result, the practical application of Lippmann's color photography method was limited, and it was eventually surpassed by more practical and accessible color imaging technologies.

Nevertheless, Lippmann's contributions to the understanding of light, color, and photography were significant. His work paved the way for future advancements in color imaging and influenced the development of modern color photography techniques. Today, his legacy lives on in the ongoing exploration and innovation of color reproduction in photography and other visual technologies.

In conclusion, Gabriel Lippmann's quote encapsulates the fundamental principle behind his pioneering work in color photography. By harnessing the phenomenon of selective reflection, Lippmann developed a method for capturing and reproducing true-color images using the Lippmann plate. While the practical application of his process was limited, his contributions to the scientific understanding of color imaging continue to resonate in the field of photography and beyond.