How WWII Spy Tech Became a Psychedelic Art Form: The Story of Kodak's Aerochrome Film

The Birth of Aerochrome: A Spy’s Secret Weapon

Infrared color photography was originally designed to help World War II spy planes detect enemy troops hiding under camouflage. Scientists at Kodak developed a film called Aerochrome, which shifted the light spectrum so infrared reflections appeared as vivid red. The science was straightforward: healthy plants reflect infrared light strongly, while paint and fabrics do not. This made camouflaged soldiers stand out as green dots against a red forest in aerial images.

From Military Use to Cultural Icon

After two decades of military and forestry applications, Kodak introduced a consumer version, Ektachrome EIR, in the 1960s, according to The Art of Color Infrared Photography by Steven H. Begleiter. The film’s surreal, otherworldly aesthetic soon caught the attention of artists and musicians.

Psychedelic Album Covers and Rock ‘n’ Roll

Photographer Karl Ferris used Aerochrome to create the iconic pink-tinted cover for Jimi Hendrix’s debut album, Are You Experienced. Similarly, photographer Keith McMillan, working for Vertigo Records, employed the film for Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut. The film’s dreamlike quality made it a favorite among counterculture artists.

The Decline and Revival of Aerochrome

By the late 20th century, infrared photography had faded from mainstream use. Kodak discontinued Ektachrome EIR in 2007. However, photographer Dean Bennici had acquired a massive stock of military surplus Aerochrome. As he explained on his website, he obtained bulk Aerochrome “through an aerospace contact in Germany” and spent years unsuccessfully trying to sell it online. In 2013, photojournalist Richard Mosse used Bennici’s film to document the Congolese civil war, producing infrared stills for The New York Times and a haunting pink video for the Venice Biennale. This revival sparked renewed interest in Aerochrome, and Bennici hand-cut hundreds of thousands more rolls before selling out in 2021.

The Legacy of Aerochrome in Modern Art

Today, the remaining stock of Aerochrome and Ektachrome EIR is nearly impossible to find. While digital cameras can mimic the Aerochrome look, Bennici has criticized the practice, stating,

“Trying to be what you are not to me seems like a perversion of reality.”

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