I often begin a class, whatever the subject, with an introduction that looks at the history of the discipline in relation to the significant anniversaries for that year. So, I shall be starting this year’s photography classes with significant events from 1825/6, 1875/6, 1925/6, 1975/6, and 2000/1.
In 1825, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a French inventor, created the first photomechanical reproduction, an image of a man leading a horse, using his heliography process. This image was created by contact printing from an engraved plate, not with a camera. While not a camera photograph, it represents a significant step in the development of photography. Niépce’s earlier experiments with heliography, including a copy of an engraving of Pope Pius VII, were also important, though some were destroyed.
In 1826 or 1827, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce created the first known permanent photograph using a camera. This historic image, titled “View from the Window at Le Gras,” was made using the same process, which required an extremely long exposure time, possibly several days, and was captured on a pewter plate coated with bitumen. This ground-breaking achievement marked a significant milestone in the history of photography.
In 1875, quite a lot was happening on the photographic front.
- Eadweard Muybridge, known for his pioneering work in motion studies, was working on a faster shutter mechanism around this time. He was also dealing with personal issues, including the death of his wife and a court case, which would later be the subject of an opera.
- An image of a family at Stonehenge, possibly the earliest family photograph taken at the site, was captured in 1875. This photograph was part of an exhibition by English Heritage that explored how photography and people’s interactions with the monument had changed over time.
- The founder of Eastman Kodak, George Eastman, was working as a junior bookkeeper at the Rochester Savings Bank in 1875. He was also starting to study photography, preparing for a trip to Santo Domingo.
The following year, 1876, was busy too:
- Sensitometry Begins: Hurter & Driffield started their systematic evaluation of photographic emulsion sensitivity, a crucial step in understanding and improving how photographic materials respond to light.
- Dry Plates: While the concept of dry plates had been around for a while, the development of dry plates, which could be prepared in advance and developed later, gained momentum in the late 1870s, with several photographers contributing to their advancement. This innovation eliminated the need for a portable darkroom and allowed for more convenient photography.
- August Sander, the German portrait and documentary photographer, was born on November 17, 1876. He is known for his series “People of the 20th Century,” which aimed to capture a cross-section of society during the Weimar Republic.
1925
- The Leica I, designed by Oskar Barnack, was the first commercially available camera to use 35mm film. This smaller format allowed for more compact and portable cameras compared to the bulky box cameras of the past.
- Impact on Photography: The Leica’s introduction revolutionised photography by making it more accessible and flexible. Photographers could now capture candid moments, experiment with different angles and perspectives, and easily document their lives.
- Street Photography: The Leica’s portability and ease of use made it ideal for street photography, allowing photographers to capture spontaneous moments and everyday life in a way that was previously difficult to achieve.
In 1926, Dr. William Longley and Charles Martin created the world’s first underwater colour photograph, a milestone in photographic history. This pioneering image of a hogfish, taken using specialised waterproof camera housings and magnesium flash powder, marked a significant advancement in underwater photography. It demonstrated the potential for colour photography in previously inaccessible environments and paved the way for future developments in the field.
In 1975, Steven Sasson, an engineer at Eastman Kodak, invented the first self-contained digital camera. While the concept of digital photography had been around since the 1960s, this invention is considered a key moment because it was the first time a working prototype was created as a single, self-contained unit. This camera, while basic with a low resolution of 0.01 megapixels and a 23-second exposure time, marked the beginning of the digital revolution in photography.
While not a stills development, Steadicam is a brand of camera stabilizer mount for motion picture cameras invented by Garrett Brown and introduced in 1975 by Cinema Products Corporation. It was designed to isolate the camera from the camera operator’s movement, keeping the camera motion separate and controllable by a skilled operator. Technically, the Steadicam was first used in the Best Picture–nominated Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory (1976), however, two other films used it immediately after and were released beforehand – Rocky and Marathon Man.
In 2000, the J-SH04 was released by Sharp and their partner, J-Phone, in Japan. It was the first commercially available camera phone, and allowed users to capture and send photos electronically, unlike other phones at the time that required a connection to a computer to retrieve the images. This marked a turning point in accessibility and the beginning of a new era for photography, which became more readily available to the general public than it had done since the launch of the Instamatic .
Digital Cameras Overtake Film: 2001 was a turning point in photography as digital cameras gained widespread popularity and surpassed film cameras in sales. This event signalled the beginning of the digital photography era and its dominance of the field.
September 11th Attacks: The terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, resulted in a massive visual record, making it the most photographed disaster in history. Images were captured on both digital and film cameras, including those from disposable cameras and security cameras, showcasing the incredibly diverse ways cameras have permeated society.
