History of photography Early Days

NIÉPCE, Joseph Nicephore born 7 March 1765; died 5 July 1833 (pronounced Nee-ps) he is universally credited with producing the first successful photograph in June/July 1827

Niepce This is the first known photograph. It is difficult to decipher: a building on the left, a tree a third in from the left, and a barn immediately in front. The exposure lasted eight hours, so the sun had time to move from east to west, appearing to shine on both sides of the building. Niepce

Louis Deguerre Niepce teamed up with Louis Daguerre in 1829. The partnership was a short one, Niépce died in 1833, but Daguerre continued to experiment.

He made an important discovery by accident. In 1835 he put an exposed plate in his chemical cupboard, and some days later found, to his surprise, that the latent image had developed. Daguerre eventually concluded that this was due to the presence of mercury vapour from a broken thermometer.

This important discovery that a latent image could be developed made it possible to reduce the exposure time from some eight hours to thirty minutes. Daguerre. Fossils 1839

daguerreotypes Disadvantages: the length of the exposure necessary ruled out portraiture (too long to sit still).  the image was laterally reversed (as one sees oneself in a mirror). Many of the portraits reveal this from the way the coat was buttoned; if one required a picture the right way round, the camera would be pointed at a mirror reflecting the sitter's image.

daguerreotypes were very fragile. perhaps most limiting of all, it was a "once only" system what was needed was a means whereby copies of a photograph might easily be made there was an exception when a man stopped to have his shoes shined, (see bottom left of the larger picture) and though he remains anonymous he may have the distinction of being the first person ever to have been photographed. Image of first man photographed

Taken in 1839, this picture of a boulevard gives the impression of empty streets, because with long exposures moving objects would not register.

In 1839 , the announcement of the daguerreotype invention incited an Englishman, William Henry Fox Talbot, to resume research on the first negative-positive process that made it possible to multiply the same image.

Fox Talbot (1800-1877) Botanical Specimen 1839 In 1933 he started experimenting, and produced a “photogenic drawing”

Fox Talbot He produced the first positive/ negative photographic process Thus he could make multiple copies from a single negative.                          Lattice Window, 1838

“An Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing or the process by which natural objects may be made to delineate themselves without the aid of the artist's pencil.” This was one of the first official announcements of the birth of photography.                       

Lacock Abbey from the River Avon. Calotype by William Henry Fox Talbot Lacock Abbey from the River Avon. Calotype by William Henry Fox Talbot. Lacock Abbey Collection.