Today, cameras are easily available and practically everywhere, from phones, to computers, even to small pen like devices, in addition to the traditional camera shapes. Photography has become something we can all do easily, that sometimes we take it for granted. But the history of this art and science is long and storied, going through a number of ups and downs before reaching the point we enjoy today.
Long before the dawn of chemical photography, our ancient ancestors have already begun experimenting on the fundamentals and concepts that will make photography possible. Ancient philosopher Mo Ti, and almost at the same time, Greek mathematicians Euclid and Aristotle, have toyed with what is called a pinhole camera, from as far back as the 5th and 4th centuries BC. But it wasn't just the ancient Greeks and Chinese that experimented, because during this time, Byzantine mathematicians have also been using their form of a camera obscura for multiple experiments.
But all of the examples above simply dabbled with the basic principles of photography, because it wouldn't be until 1826, that the first actual and permanent photograph would be produced. It was an image made by Joseph Nicephore Niepce, whose photographs were made on a combination of polished pewter plate, and bitumen of Judea, which hardens when exposed to light. Once the bitumen hardens on the metal plate, it leaves a negative image which can then be used to produce a print, by coating it with ink and pressing on paper.
From that point onward, many more developments in the basic process would be made over the years, like the calotype process, invented in 1840 by Fox Talbot, which used paper sheets covered in silver chloride. The paper sheet would then be used to make an intermediate negative image, which is needed, and used, to create the final positive print. It is this paper, along with the way the prints would be made, that would be one of the foundations of modern chemical film and modern film development.
During this time however, film and camera technologies weren't the only things being developed. Styles and techniques in taking photos were advancing as well, like in 1849 when Count Sergei Lvovich Levitsky, first suggested, and used, proper artificial lighting, and a dedicated studio, to take photos of subjects. It was a big step forward from the previous manner of taking photos, which just relied on natural or simple artificial lights.
All of these past milestones laid the groundwork for further development, which would lead to us enjoying the benefits of modern cameras today. Digital photography is now the norm in many areas, opening the doors to further developments in photography in the future. This would then attract even more people to photography, both as a hobby and as a career.
Long before the dawn of chemical photography, our ancient ancestors have already begun experimenting on the fundamentals and concepts that will make photography possible. Ancient philosopher Mo Ti, and almost at the same time, Greek mathematicians Euclid and Aristotle, have toyed with what is called a pinhole camera, from as far back as the 5th and 4th centuries BC. But it wasn't just the ancient Greeks and Chinese that experimented, because during this time, Byzantine mathematicians have also been using their form of a camera obscura for multiple experiments.
But all of the examples above simply dabbled with the basic principles of photography, because it wouldn't be until 1826, that the first actual and permanent photograph would be produced. It was an image made by Joseph Nicephore Niepce, whose photographs were made on a combination of polished pewter plate, and bitumen of Judea, which hardens when exposed to light. Once the bitumen hardens on the metal plate, it leaves a negative image which can then be used to produce a print, by coating it with ink and pressing on paper.
From that point onward, many more developments in the basic process would be made over the years, like the calotype process, invented in 1840 by Fox Talbot, which used paper sheets covered in silver chloride. The paper sheet would then be used to make an intermediate negative image, which is needed, and used, to create the final positive print. It is this paper, along with the way the prints would be made, that would be one of the foundations of modern chemical film and modern film development.
During this time however, film and camera technologies weren't the only things being developed. Styles and techniques in taking photos were advancing as well, like in 1849 when Count Sergei Lvovich Levitsky, first suggested, and used, proper artificial lighting, and a dedicated studio, to take photos of subjects. It was a big step forward from the previous manner of taking photos, which just relied on natural or simple artificial lights.
All of these past milestones laid the groundwork for further development, which would lead to us enjoying the benefits of modern cameras today. Digital photography is now the norm in many areas, opening the doors to further developments in photography in the future. This would then attract even more people to photography, both as a hobby and as a career.
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