Capturing Time: A Journey Through the History of Photography

Photography is the art, science, and practice of capturing images using light. Derived from the Greek words “photos” (light) and “graphos” (drawing), photography essentially means “drawing with light. Ultimately, photography is about freezing moments in time. It allows people to preserve memories, tell stories, document events, and express emotions or ideas. It’s a versatile medium that can serve various purposes, like artistic expression, journalistic reporting, scientific research, or personal documentation. In the 1820s, this changed with the development of a photographic process. As a result, this led to other processes that eventually set the stage for further innovations.

Extraction

Works

Background

Joseph’s background has an interesting history, particularly concerning him and his brother, who eventually became passionate about their pursuits. They were born to a wealthy lawyer, so they had some resources; however, they were also geniuses. If only they had been able to pursue multiple inventions on such a large scale! Huge in terms of inventing. We don’t know the exact date. Still, we do know from correspondence with his sister that it was at the very least by 1816. 

He was in some pretty heavy experimentation which really revolved around lithography. Which is a printing technique using a carved stone or wood tablet. Basically, covered in ink and you can make copies of pieces of art. He realized he wasn’t really artistic. He felt the need to pursue this idea of capturing an image produced from a camera obscura. 

About Camera Obscura

Indeed, a camera obscura is a pretty cool thing, especially if you have ever seen one. The idea is to take a whole project into a darkroom. Specifically, if the opening has the correct ratio to the distance to the screen, the image appears inverted. It effectively makes the inverted image visible. Camera obscura means dark room. Since the 11th century, people have consistently been using camera obscuras. They used them mainly as a drawing aid to project an image onto a screen. Then, they would put a piece of paper and sketch out the subject outside. People quickly discovered that by putting a lens in, they could use a wider aperture. These images could be sharper. But nobody had figured out how to capture that image onto something permanent in a reproducible manner.

Schulze’s Silver Nitrate Experiments

Schulze first conducted his silver nitrate experiments around 1717. In these experiments, he discovered that sunshine could discolor a slurry. It was not heat that caused the change. The slurry was made of chalk, nitric acid, and dissolved silver.

To showcase this discovery, Schulze used letter stencils on a bottle filled with the mixture. He exposed the bottle to sunlight. Dark characters of the stenciled words appeared on its surface. This revealed an early understanding of light’s role in image-making.

The impressions remained visible until someone shook the container. This action erased them. Exposing the bottle to more light also destroyed the impressions.

In a broad and literal sense, one could consider these impressions early forms of photographs. This is because they were created by the movement and impact of light. This was the goal of Nicéphore Niépce.

Nicéphore Niépce’s Innovations

In 1816, he had written to his sister. He mentioned that he had figured out something that might kind of work with silver chloride. And he did not realize at the time that he was producing negatives, and this frustrated him.

He wondered why it did not look right. So, he decided to investigate further. He discovered a substance called Bitumen of Judea. It is an asphalt-like material that hardens when exposed to sunlight. Recognizing this as the key, he began using lavender oil as a solvent with the Bitumen of Judea.

He would paint it onto metal, glass, and sheets. So, it started off more like a Xerox process, where he would take a sketch or something on paper. He placed the paper over the plates he created and exposed them to light.

Afterward, he removed the paper and wiped away the unhardened Bitumen of Judea that hadn’t been exposed to light. Subsequently, he could then base it with acid and use it in a lithographic manner.

He used this technique for exactly three different types of prints that we know of. One was of Pope Pius VII. He destroyed the picture while trying to make additional copies of it; however, one of the prints remained.

Final exposure

He used this process to create the image, though the picture of the Pope was ruined. Niépce likely realized he could make photographic copies of existing edges. He then used them in a Lithia graphic manner.  

The First Capture

He could put one of these plates in his camera obscura to expose it to light. Then, he would go through the same process. In the end, we would have our first ever photograph, which is a view from a window at grasses. This was taken between 1826 and 1827.

Nicéphore Niépce needed to show his ideas and pictures to the Royal Society. He did not include the details of how he did it, so, they rejected him. Unfortunately, he died in 1833 before he resubmits it.

In the years between, he met Louis Daguerre, who was also trying to develop a photographic process. Then, Daguerre later received much of the credit. His method involved using silver-coated copper plates, exposing them to light-sensitive fumes, and then washing, etching, and covering the plates.

As a result, the daguerreotype is often credited as the first photograph. Nonetheless, historians have since pointed out that Joseph Nicéphore Niépce was an important figure who deserves recognition for his work.

Niépce’s son continued collaborating with Louis Daguerre. In 1839, they officially called the process a daguerreotype. They then sold it. The French government agreed to pay their estates. Daguerre’s estate received 6,000 francs, and Niépce’s estate received 4,000 francs.

This upset Niépce’s son, who believed that Daguerre received too much credit for his father’s hard work. The original photograph was lost for some time. It was rediscovered in the 1950s and is now housed at the University of Texas in Austin.

Hopefully, history will continue to appreciate Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. He deserves recognition for his contribution to the invention of photography as we know it today.

Conclusion

The history of photography reflects a remarkable journey of innovation, creativity, and cultural impact. Photography began in the early 19th century with pioneers like Joseph Nicéphore Niépce and Louis Daguerre.

It evolved rapidly through technological advancements. These include the invention of film, the development of color photography, and the transition to digital formats.

Photography transformed the way we capture and share moments. It became a powerful tool for documenting history. It also expresses artistic vision.

Moreover, it shapes social and political narratives. Today, photography continues to develop through new technologies. These include smartphone cameras, AI-driven editing, and virtual reality. This ensures that this visual art form remains dynamic. It stays integral to modern communication and culture.

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Reference:

• en.wikipedia.org
• en.wikipedia.org
• en.wikipedia.org
• www.scribd.com
• en.wikipedia.org
• en.wikipedia.org
• en.wikipedia.org