The Fascinating Story of Photography.
Photography has a fascinating history dating back to the early 19th century. August 19th is the birthday of photography and also World Photographic Day. Let’s talk about how photography started, the people who made it happen, and how it changed over time.
The Beginning of Photography
A View from the Window
(The earliest saved photographic image (Heliograph on pewter plate), taken sometime between 1822 and 1827 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, taken at Le Gras, France. Image and text from Wikipedia, Public Domain)
The story starts with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. He took the first photo in 1822, but it got destroyed because the method wasn’t good enough. Niépce didn’t give up and worked for three more years to make another one. The earliest photo we have of him is from 1827. He said it took eight hours to make, but now we think it took several days! It wasn’t photography; they probably called it a "sun print."
Where "Photography" Comes From
The word "photography" comes from Greek. "Photo" means light, and "graph" means recording. So, it means "painting or drawing with light." Niépce called his method heliography, which means "sun drawing."
Niépce became interested in photography because he needed good drawings for his engine work but wasn’t good at drawing. So, he thought maybe light could help him capture images.
Daguerre around 1844. Image and text from Wikipedia, Public Domain
Teaming Up with Louis Daguerre
Niépce worked with Louis Daguerre to improve the process. After Niépce died in 1833, Daguerre kept working and found a new method with silver halides, the daguerreotype. It made more explicit pictures and took less time. Daguerre wanted to sell this invention, which got much attention.
In 1839, the French government bought the invention, thanks to a politician named François Arago. They gave money to Daguerre and Niépce’s son, Isidore. This deal became law in August 1839, and that’s when we celebrate the birthday of photography. The invention was shown to the public in a big meeting, showing its importance for both science and art.
People Loved It
People were very excited about photography, and there were long lines to see it. The word "camera," which used to mean a vaulted room, started to mean the device used to take photos. The daguerreotype became very popular, and Daguerre was good at business, selling his equipment in France and other countries.
Other Inventors and Ideas
Daguerre wasn’t the only one working on photography. William Fox Talbot, who lived in England, created the calotype process. He said he did it before Daguerre, but the daguerreotype was better quality. Talbot kept his work secret, while Daguerre talked about it publicly, helping Daguerre become more famous. Another vital person was Hippolyte Bayard. He had the first photo exhibition in July 1839 but was mostly ignored because Arago wanted Daguerre to get all the credit. Bayard was so upset that he made a photo of himself as a drowned man with a suicide note, showing how sad he felt about being overlooked.
Conclusion
The history of photography is full of creativity and hard work. From Niépce’s first sun prints to Daguerre’s famous daguerreotypes and the work of Talbot and Bayard, photography has become a powerful way to capture and share our world. As we celebrate the birthday of photography on August 19th, we remember the pioneers who started it all and the fantastic photos that continue to inspire us.
Happy birthday, photography! Here’s to many more years of capturing light and memories.
